Annual Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) Conference

May 31 - June 2, 2008

Every year, USFA hosts the annual Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) Conference on its campus in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Representatives from fire-related degrees programs, State and local fire service training agencies and national fire service organizations attend the three-day conference. There are significant products from these conferences resulting from the group work by the participants and presentations by national leaders and experts. Participation at the FESHE conferences is by invitation only to those in the target audiences.

The 10th Annual Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education conference will be held May 31 – June 2, 2008.

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Costs and Enrollment Information

Lodging and Meals

As in the past, travel and meal ($93.83) costs are borne by the attendees; however, USFA will provide lodging at no charge and scheduled bus transportation to and from a regional airport, as in past years. Do not book your travel plans until confirmation of your acceptance is received from our Admissions Office.

Lodging at the National Emergency Training Center (NETC) for this conference is limited to 200 rooms. One other representative from your institution or agency may attend the conference provided he/she submits a separate application; however, depending on room availability, additional representatives from your organization or those whose applications are received after the 200 mark must stay off campus at their own expense.

Selection Criteria

Priority No. 1: Those active in fire service professional development, including official representatives of regionally accredited academic fire programs, State and local fire service training, national and State fire associations, and those responsible for developing fire and emergency service personnel. Candidates within this audience will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Priority No. 2: Those with interest in the field of fire and emergency services professional development. Candidates within this audience will be reviewed for acceptance after the application closing date.

Application Information

For questions concerning the FESHE conference, please contact Lori Welch at (301) 447-1013 or FEMA-FESHE@dhs.gov. For any questions regarding enrollment, please contact the Admissions Office at (301) 447-1035.

For those also planning to attend Emergency Management Institute's Higher Education Conference, the dates are June 2 - 5, 2008.

Preliminary Conference Agenda - Coming Soon

The conference agenda, developed by the FESHE Steering Committee in December, is preliminary as some of the presenters are not yet confirmed. The committee reviewed last year's evaluations and suggestions and the agenda reflects many of the attendee views and recommendations.

Because of the rave reviews at last year's keynote, Ron Coleman was asked back to talk about the landmark 1947 Report on Fire Prevention which led to many changes and whose simple principles to solving the fire problem were Education, Engineering and Enforcement or "the 3 Es." As this report is still the topic of many meetings and conferences even today and as renewed efforts to promote fire prevention nationally begin in earnest, e.g., Vision 20/20, etc., the FESHE community should understand its historical importance.

This year, 2008, is a commemorative one for NFA's role in higher education. The Open Learning Fire Service Program, now known as the Degrees at a Distance Program, celebrates its 30th year of service since its founding in 1978. Likewise, with its establishment in 1998, FESHE turns 10 this year and with this being the 10th conference, it is a special one. This year, we will learn about our history as we celebrate it by offering two panels: Perspectives from the Legends, the pioneers who first started advocating higher education for the fire service in the 1970s; and, FESHE at 10, a panel of its founders and early leaders to discuss where the state of higher education was then compared today.

The conference segments are mostly the same as last year. A new segment that debuted last year, Ready to Use Tools with presentations that can be implemented in your programs relatively quickly, particularly in the classroom, was well received and is expanded this year. Last year, we collaborated with the Emergency Management Institute to simulate a disaster at "Columbia State University" in "Central City." As a continuation of that topic, a whole new segment called Campus Disaster Preparedness and Safety will expand significantly beyond what was covered in that simulation activity by focusing on actual campus incidents and planning efforts.

Other presentations, such as the Minneapolis Bridge Collapse, Fire 20/20, and the International Association of Fire Chiefs' Near-Miss Program, are designed to bring information about a recent disaster's lessons learned and programs of significance worthy of your faculty's and students' attention.

As presenters are confirmed, more information about the agenda will be provided in future Virtual Lamp Posts.

Previous Conferences