Inevitably, many college students express worry about job security after finishing their degree. Anxieties range the emotional roulette, from feeding oneself to making rent.
The new Care Forward and Career Advance initiatives at Colorado Mesa University (CMU) Tech set degrees to high specialized careers as the precedent, not the exception.
CMU Tech’s programs span various positions, including emergency medical technicians (EMTs), firefighters and paramedics.
The institution has seen a total of 5.6 million dollars funding for these degrees since 2021, through the state-funded Care Forward and Career Advance programs.
These programs contribute to lowering the cost of enrollment in various programs for students. Affordable curriculums are now more accessible to students than ever before.
“Care Forward funding has been instrumental in helping us meet the growing demand for healthcare professionals in western Colorado,” explained Vice President of Technical Education and Workforce Development at CMU Tech Brigitte Sundermann.
As a result, the number of students enrolling at CMU Tech has skyrocketed. When compared to 2021-22, enrollment increased by 50 percent during the 2023-24 academic year.
These statistics include a graduated student base of over 440 individuals, who now use their unique skills to serve in their field of study.
The efforts and experience of the staff in CMU Tech’s programs is one of the many factors responsible for this dramatic rise.
Educators often have over a decade of history in the field they are teaching and provide applicable, hands-on coursework for their students.
This style of education allows students to feel knowledgeable and competent when stepping into highly specialized professions outside the classroom.
Prematurely preparing with scenarios also unlocks the necessary capabilities students require to move up their organizational ranks quickly.
“I didn’t have to worry about finances. I am one of those people who cannot bear to stress their family out. Other than that, I have really enjoyed a lot of help [from] Pam and her opportunities with ride-alongs. It has been a really humbling experience to see how many people at CMU want us to succeed,” said Creative Director of 760 Fire Photography and fire science program graduate Brian Bonar.
Bonar initially was not able to reach his full potential as a member of the paramedic program. His childhood goal was to be a firefighter and the educators in the applied fire sciences and paramedic programs, who did not give up on him, made that a reality.
Amongst these mentors is Paramedic Program Director Pamela Holder. Holder worked at the Lower Valley Fire Department, with 25 years of firefighting experience under her belt.
Retirement allowed her to tap into her passion for teaching. She has found recent fulfillment in her role of preparing students for their futures.
“Pam came into our class one day and said, ‘You all are signing up; this will be beneficial for you.’ [She] really did a good job of explaining what [Care Forward and Career Advance] was. [She said] this will get your education in the fire sciences program paid for,” mentioned Bonar.
Tight-knit bonds have formed outside the classroom and Bonar’s graduating group are all currently working together in the field. Holder is similarly familiar with everyone from the program.
She is leading the charge to ensure fire science students can be confident in their abilities going forward.
“We were able to reach out to many people who would have otherwise never gotten [fire science] education. We have such a diverse environment that we see. We do have people who are actively working. They are earning pay raises or promotions [because of] these programs,” explained Holder.
Graduates of the fire science program at CMU Tech have flocked to over 35 different fire stations on the western slope. Every graduate is in a different stage of career development, but remains dedicated to assisting citizens in Grand Junction.
“We have 100 percent job placement. Right now, we are running a 100 percent pass on the national exams [for the EMT program]. When we had COVID, it dropped quite a bit. We are recovering from that and the numbers keep going up,” added Holder.
With a consistently high placement and pass rate from the EMT program, the fire sciences and EMT programs have made learning valuable skills from real emergencies easier.
Education on potential issues, before they arise, has brought substantive growth. Members of the program have even gone on to begin occupying teaching roles as a result of these situations.
“We are now teaching at the academy as volunteer service instructors. Getting students in this program and allowing them to be recognized, to show them the value of the work I do, is invaluable,” commented Bonar.
The depth of the aforementioned scenario practice allows graduates to truly hit the ground running after completing their coursework. CMU Tech’s specialized curriculum continues to shape their informed approaches years after graduation.
“I think CMU [breeds] a culture of ‘You can be whatever you want to be: you just have to be the best at it,’” said Bonar.
