Oxnard College's Fire Academy Receives National Recognition for CA's Reinventing Fire Instruction

OXNARD, Calif. - Jan. 29, 2021 - PRLog -- Oxnard College's Fire Academy won the prestigious 2021 Bellwether Award on Tuesday, Jan. 26, for its Project RECOVER, which established the state's first-ever hybrid format for firefighting instruction and helped sustain the state's much-needed pipeline of firefighters. The Fire Academy received the highly competitive, national recognition after beating out nine other finalists in the award's Workforce Development category.

Each year, the Bellwether College Consortium of award-winning colleges recognizes cutting-edge and trendsetting programs at institutions throughout the nation. Finalists participated in a rigorous two-round competitive process by peers that culminated at the virtual Community College Futures Assembly.

"We are thrilled by the national recognition our esteemed Fire Academy has received from the Bellwether College Consortium," shared Luis Sanchez, president of Oxnard College. "For decades, this program has produced generations of highly skilled graduates who have gone on to secure rewarding careers in public safety. We are honored to have the Bellwether Award affirm this legacy of service and are especially proud of the Fire Academy's successful efforts to maintain their high standards throughout the pandemic."

Following Governor Gavin Newsom's March 2020 Stay-at-Home order, public safety instruction programs throughout the state closed their doors. Oxnard College's Fire Academy quickly proposed and secured new modifications from various state regulatory agencies, paving the path for California's first-ever hybrid format in fire instruction and clearing the way for a return to campus with robust COVID-19 safeguards in place.

The program's success quickly benefited sister academies throughout the state, which replicated Oxnard College's model and reopened their programs, maintaining a much-needed pipeline of firefighting professionals for California during the pandemic. The breakthrough came as the state faced a record-breaking four million burned acres (more than double the previous record).

Project RECOVER (Revisions Encompassing COVID Operations, Valuing Emergency Responders) integrated state and county COVID-19 guidance while establishing standard operating procedures that included new screening processes, health and safety guidelines, and curriculum modifications. The plan was submitted to the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office and Ventura County Public Health for approval. As a result of their efforts, the Fire Academy achieved an impressive 100 percent completion rate, 100 percent pass rate on the California State Fire Training certification exam and zero instances of COVID exposures or cases.

"We're deeply proud of the effort we piloted for California firefighting instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Matthew Jewett, assistant dean overseeing Oxnard College's Fire Academy. "We're humbled that so many sister academies throughout the state were able to replicate our plan and pleased that our collective efforts helped maintain the state's pool of firefighting recruits during a crucial time."

To learn more about OC's award-winning programs visit http://bit.ly/OCBellwetherAward.