Meeting & Agendas

Present: Larry Whitis, Texas Commission on Fire Protection; Chief Jerry Doyle, Lockhart FD; Assistant Chief James Mallinger (Board Chair), Cedar Park FD; Acting Assistant Chief, Division Chief Dawn Clopton, Austin FD Operations; Battalion Chief Eric Carlson, Lake Travis Fire Rescue ESD 6; Battalion Chief Chris Watson, Austin FD Academy; and Captain Terry Hill, ACC Fire Academy Not Present: Chief Larry Hodge, Round Rock FD; and Assistant Chief Clay Shell, Georgetown FD; Lt. Troy Wenzel, Oak Hill FD ESD 3 Others Present: Assistant Chief Matt Orta, Austin FD Operations; Department Chair Paul Menches, ACC Fire Protection Technology; and Administrative Specialist III Lisa Carter, ACC Fire Protection Technology

Discussion: Dept. Chair Menches informed the board that the tuition waiver program that exempts tuition and lab fees for career firefighters enrolled in fire science curricula has been extended to include paid-on-call and volunteer firefighters with an accredited advanced level of certification or an equivalent under the State Fireman’s and Fire Marshals’ Association of Texas volunteer certification program. Asst. Chief Mallinger informed the board that the State Fireman’s and Fire Marshals’ Association of Texas Advanced Volunteer Firefighter Certification is the equivalent of Texas Commission on Fire Protection’s Basic Firefighter Certification Action: No action required

Discussion: Dept. Chair Menches informed the board of the proposed changes to the delivery of the AAS degree plan (refer to handout). Changes included re-sequencing the General Education and Fire Science courses being offered during the four semesters. This will streamline the delivery of the program by having the correct courses being taken at the entrée level. These proposed changes will be forwarded to the appropriate ACC levels in order to be considered for the Curriculum Review Board in September 2009. The changes will become effective starting Fall 2010. Action: Larry Whitis made motion to accept the proposed degree plan changes Motion 2nd by BC Watson Motion Carried

Next meeting October 13, 10:30-12:00

Minutes from 01/13/2009 Action: Motion to accept minutes made by BC Carlson with corrections to BC Carlson’s rank (change from Division Chief to Battalion Chief). Motion 2nd by BC Watson Motion Carried; Minutes from 01/13/2009 were approved.

Asst. Chief Mallinger suggested increasing the board by two members to ensure a quorum at each meeting. Dept Chair Menches would like to have representation from all of the ACC service areas to ensure we are meeting the needs of the customer. Action: Asst. Chief Mallinger will contact fire departments in San Marcos, Southeast Travis county, and Pflugerville areas for possible interest.

Discussion: Asst. Chief Mallinger presented the board with a rough draft of the fire protection technology mission statement. (Handout #3) Mission Statement: The Austin Community College Fire Protection Advisory Committee is comprised of fire service professionals who review the needs of the profession to help guide the curriculum development of the various ACC Fire Protection Technology programs. The committee provides the leadership and expertise in representing all current and future firefighters, ACC Board Members, students, taxpayers and faculty regarding changes in the Certificate and Associates of Applied Science degree programs. Action: Motion to accept mission statement as read by Asst. Chief Mallinger Motion 2nd by Captain Hill Motion carried- no discussion

Presently, the master firefighter certification from TCFP requires 60 college credit hours with 18 hours in fire science. Should TCFP require an Associates Degree for the Master Firefighter Certification? Discussion: Dept Chair Menches recommended that this item be placed on TCFP’s advisory board agenda so that it can at least be considered. Mr. Whitis advised that a phone call or email, some form of contact with a TCFP advisory board member to push the item is all that is needed. BC Carlson suggested that the ACC FIPR advisory board put together a position paper to present to TCFP advisory board. Asst. Chief Mallinger made comment that though more education is needed in the fire service, will the firefighters be receptive to being required to have a degree. Action: Dept Chair Menches and/or Asst. Chief Mallinger will query the attendees of the Central Texas Fire Chiefs meeting being held in Cedar Park in the upcoming weeks about their position on approaching TCFP about the Associates Degree requirement. Motion to table this item until the next meeting was made by BC Watson. Motion 2nd by BC Carlson Motion carried- no discussion

Due to recent changes in AFD, Assistant Chief Matt Orta will be replacing Division Chief Clopton in representing AFD Operations. We welcome the new addition of AC Orta and thank DC Clopton for all her strong support.

 Dept. Chair Menches and Captain Hill reported that the fire training academy received 35K to upgrade air packs and budgeted another 20K to have a training company certify FTA adjunct instructors on rope rescue. In addition, 4K was requested in next year’s budget to self-help/create an arson investigation trainer.  The academy is in need of UHF radios to allow for better communication on the training field during drills and live fire week. Captain Hill asked the board to check and see if they have any UHF radios in good shape and not in use by the departments to donate to the academy. In addition to the radios, there will also be a need for batteries and chargers for the radios. Action: Assistant Chief Orta will contact AFD Communications to see what was done with their old UHF radios.  ACC Fire Academy site may not be ready in time for the start of the fall semester. Per Division Chief Dawn Clopton, finding temporary training space within AFD’s complex should not be a problem.  The buildings are in place and the open house is planned for a weekday during October’s Fire Prevention Week.

 The rollout of the hybrid distance learning courses has been successful. By Fall 2010, ten fire science courses in the Associates of Applied Science degree plan will be offered as a hybrid distance learning course.  BC Watson gave an overview of how the hybrid classes are facilitated using the Blackboard platform.

 Western Illinois University (WIU) will take in the ACC Fire Protection Technology AAS but students will have to complete the remaining hours with WIU.  WIU is one of seven Universities that employs both the Fire Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) and National Fire Academy (NFA) models.  West Texas A&M offers an emergency management degree and will accept some of the AAS from ACC but not all. Action: Motion by Captain Hill to table until the next meeting in order to explore the WIU articulation draft. Motion 2nd by BC Carlson Motion carried- no discussion