FASNY HELP Has Expanded to Include SUNY Empire State College
Volunteer firefighters now can have up to 100 percent of their tuition costs for online courses at SUNY Empire State College’s Center for Distance Learning funded by FASNY Higher Education Learning Plan, or HELP.
Launched in 2011, FASNY established the HELP program to assist volunteer fire departments in attracting and retaining more members.
Under HELP, a student/volunteer firefighter who hasn’t already achieved an associate’s degree or higher will be eligible to have up to 100 percent of tuition reimbursed in exchange for maintaining good grades and fulfilling service requirements as a member in good standing in one of New York’s volunteer fire companies.
The program covers courses at all 29 SUNY community colleges throughout the state and has seen hundreds of students receive tuition reimbursement.
The partnership with SUNY Empire State College extends that coverage to include more than 500 courses and complete degree programs online. The college also educates students face to face at more than 35 locations in the state.
“By partnering with Empire State College, we are ensuring that more of our volunteer firefighters have access to higher education while at the same time providing lifesaving services to their communities,” said FASNY President James Burns. “Our HELP program has been an integral tool in recruiting and retaining new members. This new partnership will make our program even more robust.”
HELP is made possible through the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
SUNY Empire State College was established in 1971 to offer adult learners the opportunity to earn associate, bachelors and master’s degrees from SUNY.
FASNY members can get more information about SUNY Empire State College offerings online at http://choose.esc.edu/lp/partnerships/fasny.
Apply for HELP at www.fasny.com under the Resources tab.
| Corning Community College in Elmira is inviting student/volunteer firefighters from the Southern Tier and beyond to use HELP reimbursement to earn a fire science degree.CCC’s Directed Studies program is an associate in applied science degree designed to complement training offered by the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control.It includes general education courses to develop and enhance such areas as critical thinking, mathematics and scientific knowledge. Designed to meet the needs of fire service, this program serves a variety of students – those beginning a career in fire science, seeking a leadership position or pursuing a related career.
The hands-on fire science courses (approximately 30 credit hours) are completed with their local fire agencies. The remaining 33 credit hours are completed with Corning Community College either on campus or online. For further information on CCC’s Directed Studies program, |
Questions regarding FASNY HELP:
FASNY HELP
Firemen’s Association of the State of New York
107 Washington Ave.
Albany, New York 12210
Attn: John D’Alessandro,
Deputy Volunteer Programs Coordinator
Toll Free Phone: (855) 367-6933
Fax: (518) 694-3137
Email: HELP@fasny.com