Meeting Community Needs: Safety And Fire Engineering Technology Program

The Safety and Fire Engineering Technology program at the University of HoustonDowntown developed in response to community needs and request for technical training in safety and fire science by area fire departments. The four years Bachelor of Engineering Technology is designed to prepare professionals to asses and reduce the loss potential in industrial settings with respect to fire, floods, tornadoes, explosion, and hazardous material accidents. The program provides the graduate skills and knowledge of current trends in industrial safety, fire science, equipment operation in practice, and computer simulations. The curriculum provides a solid foundation in basic and technical sciences and includes applied courses in facilities and catastrophe management. Courses offered by natural Sciences, Mathematics, Management, and Criminal Justice departments are also included in the curriculum. Courses in other areas support the program, such as Human Factors in Psychology. Other technology courses also complement the program. Computer usage is an essential component in the Safety and Fire program, thus, simulation program are used to train students in fire propagation studies and also in management methodologies for safety. Fire codes evolving from prescription of specifications to specifications of performance are included. Implementation of a program that fits the schedule of firefighters requires creative scheduling in delivery of course materials. Firemen work in alternating shifts that do not allow for participation in standard college courses. Most students joining the program will have preliminary college courses from two-year community colleges leading to associate degrees. Articulation agreements with these institutions have been established. The paper describes development of the Safety and Fire Engineering Technology program, institutional response to community needs, curriculum, facilities including laboratories and simulation programs, student background, and depicts program growth. Finally, conclusions describe reasons for success of the program and future plans for continued development.