University News
Fire Administration Minor Goes the Distance
January 24, 2005
MACOMB, IL When Lt. Stuart Bevis, a Wichita, KS firefighter decided he wanted to take additional courses in fire science, Western Illinois Universitys fire administration minor in the law enforcement and justice administration (LEJA) department and certification program through the National Fire Academy (NFA) had just the program he was looking for.
Bevis applied through Westerns BOT/BA (Board of Trustees/Bachelor of Arts) degree program; and thanks to distance learning, he was able to acquire his bachelors degree, with a minor focus on fire administration. Westerns fire administration minor, which was established in the law enforcement and justice administration (LEJA) department in Fall 2002, along with its Open Learning Fire Service program through Non-Traditional Programs and the NFA, are offered as distance learning courses to firefighters throughout the world. Through a web-based program, firefighters and Western students can take fire science courses to fit their needs, be it for a minor, a BOT/BA degree, continuing education or certification.
My degree from Western is one of the key points on my resume, Bevis said. The advanced fire service courses have equipped me with theories and ideas that focus directly on the inner workings of a fire department. The specific nature of these courses have given me an edge in my career.
According to Retired LTC Stephen Reinhart, LEJA department chair, higher education has become essential to firefighters to keep current, as well as for career advancement. Westerns fire administration minor is offered as part of the BOT/BA program, and is also available as a minor to any WIU student, no matter their major.
The beauty of our fire science minor is that any Western student or fire services professional from around the world can enroll, Reinhart said. When the Open Learning program began on campus in 1979 it was designed solely for fire professionals. Now experienced fire professionals and Western students can enroll in the fire administration minor and take courses specific to their needs. Fire professionals can also earn a BOT/BA degree with an emphasis on fire science.
Because of the fire administration minor, our students are coming out of school ahead of the game, he added.
Don Bytner, LEJA assistant professor and retired Macomb Fire Chief, said that Western is one of only a few universities in the United States to offer a minor in fire administration and is one of just seven schools in the nation to offer NFA courses. Another unique aspect of both the fire administration minor and the Open Learning Fire Service program at Western is the involvement of other departments, said William McCamey, LEJA professor. Community health and health services management, engineering technology, sociology and psychology departments have teamed with LEJA to offer a myriad of courses that relate to fire science and administration.
Just last fall Western made its fire administration minor available at the WIU-Quad Cities campus. Fire administration classes are offered in a weekend format and through online and independent study courses at both campuses. However, Bytner and McCamey stressed that if a firefighter in Oregon wants to take the courses, he or she can do so without traveling to either Western Illinois campus. The Open Learning program was originally designed as an independent study course; however, now the program is available in both independent study and web-based formats, Reinhart added.
James Denna, shift commander for the Elk Grove (IL) Fire Department, had always wanted to go back to college to complete his degree, but never had the time. The distance learning format of the fire science program at Western made it possible for Denna to fulfill his dream.
Going back to college is one of the best things Ive done, Denna added. I have enjoyed the program at Western and the courses have been great.
In Fall 2004, 64 students declared fire administration as a minor. Reinhart said its the second fastest-growing minor at Western, gaining nearly 25 percent enrollment each semester.
The minor in fire administration will allow communities to recruit high-quality fire service applicants and insure a degree of professionalism in fire service organizations, McCamey added. In addition, the minor is important to the career advancement of in-service fire personnel and will prepare them for future leadership positions involving increasingly complex responsibilities.
For more information on the fire administration minor, contact the LEJA department at 309/298-1038 or visit www.wiu.edu/users/leja. For information on the Open Learning Fire Service program, contact Non-Traditional Programs at 309/298-2496 or visit www.wiu.edu/Extended Learning.
Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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