National Fire Academy: A Study of the Relationship of the National Fire Academy to the Fire-Related Education Programs in Colleges and Universities.

Overview & Synopsis

In this research study the principal objective was to identify and analyze the recognized needs of the target audience within the fire services, along with the educational programs presently established within colleges and universities for the solution of fire-related problems. A second objective involved analyzing and evaluating the five-year educational plan of the National Academy for Fire Prevention and Control relative to existing fire-related education programs in colleges and universities. Critical problems in existing programs were also identified with possible solutions suggested. The educational programs included fire protection engineering and two- and four-year fire-related education. Audiences were identified as: pre-service population, fire service population, two-year fire-related education program graduate, fire protection engineering student population, related student population, and practicing professional population. Problem areas identified include: enrollment policies, incentives for education participation, college credit for experience, quality of the faculty, uniformity of programs and courses, articulation and accreditation, and graduate and student opportunity. Selected five-year plan objectives are presented and a bibliography is included. (LBH)