By Juan Montoya
If you ever had the misfortune of requiring a city ambulance to come to your assistance, then you will be glad to hear that Texas Southmost College and the City of Brownsville have inked a Memorandum Of Understanding to make sure the paramedic who treats you is well trained and certified by the State of Texas.
This morning, with much fanfare and pomp, officials from both entities announced the MOU had been signed between city manager Charlie Cabler on behalf of the city and Mike Shannon, interim TSC president.
Attending the signing ceremony was the Fife and Drum Corps of the Brownsville Fire Dept.
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Under the terms of the agreement, the Paramedic Training Program will start in Fiscal 2017 and will train students who have been identified as meeting the paramedic pre-entrance requirements as set forth by TSC and selected by the city.
The program will start as soon as possible pending approval by the Texas Department of State Health Services. Didactic and lab components will be taught at TSC's International Technology, Education and Commerce Center (ITEC).
The students will be enrolled as TSC students under the Workforce Training and Continuing Education department and are not eligible for the same benefits as traditional students. At the successful completion of the course, the students will be awarded a certificate of completion. Students will be registered as continuing education students and will not receive college credits for the course.
The city will pay for the instructional materials for the students selected to participate in the training and the college will provide the instruction in line with nationally accepted curriculum and accreditation with the Emergency Medical Service Professions. The students will then be able to take the NRAMT-P exam.
In turn, the city agreed to provide instructors who are compliant with all TX DSHS requirements and are licensed paramedics and EMS instructors. At a minimum, the Brownsville Fire Department will provide one lead instructor and one instructor for every six students. The city will provide documentation that the students meet all requirements, including, but not limited to immunizations, criminal backgrounds, and drug screening.
TSC agreed to pay for the first attempt a student makes to pass the written NREMT-P exam and the city agrees to pay for any subsequent attempt after that.
"Good things are happening at TSC," said board chairperson Adela Garza. "We are looking forward to enter into many more partnerships with local entities to provide certifications in the different crafts and professions as well as to fulfill our academic functions, This is just a good beginning."
If you ever had the misfortune of requiring a city ambulance to come to your assistance, then you will be glad to hear that Texas Southmost College and the City of Brownsville have inked a Memorandum Of Understanding to make sure the paramedic who treats you is well trained and certified by the State of Texas.
This morning, with much fanfare and pomp, officials from both entities announced the MOU had been signed between city manager Charlie Cabler on behalf of the city and Mike Shannon, interim TSC president.
Attending the signing ceremony was the Fife and Drum Corps of the Brownsville Fire Dept.
Under the terms of the agreement, the Paramedic Training Program will start in Fiscal 2017 and will train students who have been identified as meeting the paramedic pre-entrance requirements as set forth by TSC and selected by the city.The program will start as soon as possible pending approval by the Texas Department of State Health Services. Didactic and lab components will be taught at TSC's International Technology, Education and Commerce Center (ITEC).
The students will be enrolled as TSC students under the Workforce Training and Continuing Education department and are not eligible for the same benefits as traditional students. At the successful completion of the course, the students will be awarded a certificate of completion. Students will be registered as continuing education students and will not receive college credits for the course.
The city will pay for the instructional materials for the students selected to participate in the training and the college will provide the instruction in line with nationally accepted curriculum and accreditation with the Emergency Medical Service Professions. The students will then be able to take the NRAMT-P exam.
In turn, the city agreed to provide instructors who are compliant with all TX DSHS requirements and are licensed paramedics and EMS instructors. At a minimum, the Brownsville Fire Department will provide one lead instructor and one instructor for every six students. The city will provide documentation that the students meet all requirements, including, but not limited to immunizations, criminal backgrounds, and drug screening.
TSC agreed to pay for the first attempt a student makes to pass the written NREMT-P exam and the city agrees to pay for any subsequent attempt after that.
"Good things are happening at TSC," said board chairperson Adela Garza. "We are looking forward to enter into many more partnerships with local entities to provide certifications in the different crafts and professions as well as to fulfill our academic functions, This is just a good beginning."