Butler and Cowley Team Up to Help Others Tame Fires

The Fire Science departments of Butler Community College and Cowley College join forces to help students. The colleges have signed an agreement that allows Cowley College students the ability to receive an Associate of Applied Science degree in Fire Science from Butler after completing their Fire Science Certificate at Cowley.

Both schools understand a strong community is a healthy community. Supplying well-prepared firefighters to serve in one of Kansas’ more than 600 fire departments is integral to the state’s workforce development and wellbeing.

“By working together, Butler Community College and Cowley College are proud to be educating highly qualified first responders,” said Kim Krull, Ph.D., president of Butler Community College. “We are excited to partner with Cowley on another crucial program.”

For more than a decade, both community colleges have collaborated on a joint paramedic program. Students receive their EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) training from Butler and then complete their paramedic training from Cowley instructors who teach on Butler’s Andover campus.

“It is through the spirit of collaborative partnerships such as this one that we will succeed in providing high quality education which is both accessible and affordable,” shared Dennis C. Rittle, Ph.D., president of Cowley College. “Cowley College appreciates Butler Community College and looks forward to unveiling additional forward-thinking partnerships.”

In addition to offering an Associate of Applied Science degree, Butler’s Fire Science program offers a residency program. Students in this program live at the firehouse, work with the El Dorado Fire Department and have access to Butler’s state-of-the-art fire training tower.