The Chicago Fire Department recently signed a partnership with Columbia Southern University (CSU). As a result, Chicago firefighters, along with their spouses and children, will receive a 10 percent tuition discount and the application fee will be waived.
“At CSU, we are committed to providing firefighters and emergency medical service personnel with the education they need to succeed in their careers,” said Chantell Cooley, vice president of partnership development. “They’re busy, they’re on shift work and online education [is] the key to their success.”
Of CSU’s 307 partnerships, 181 are fire departments, 40 are police departments, 12 are sheriff’s offices, 64 are corporations and 10 are municipalities.
“[The partnership helps] educate employees,” Cooley said. “They’re finally able to get that promotion [or] that pay raise. [And] it gives [the organization] a more qualified workforce.”
