In response to the ongoing paramedic shortage, Fox Valley Technical College has teamed up with several first responder agencies to create a new training program to address the workforce gap.

After a rigorous accreditation process, FVTC now has satellite sites at Grand Chute Fire Department (GCFD), Gold Cross Ambulance Service, Inc., and Waushara County Emergency Medical Services. The certified sites allow firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMT) employed at these agencies to pursue their Emergency Medical Technician - Paramedic licensure while on duty.

Creating this mutually beneficial partnership has allowed us to not only provide cutting-edge training to our members but also increase the service level provided to our community.

Steve Denzien, Chief, Grand Chute Fire Department

Students are taught by work colleagues or supervisors who are also certified adjunct instructors at FVTC. All training is done on-site, which allows students to attend class as part of their workday. For example, Grand Chute firefighters attend class during a portion of their 48-hour shift but remain nimble enough to respond to emergencies as needed.

“Creating this mutually beneficial partnership has allowed us to not only provide cutting-edge training to our members but also increase the service level provided to our community,” says GCFD Chief Steve Denzien, who led the launch of this partnership between the fire department and FVTC in the fall of 2023. “Through this relationship, we were able to provide the increased level of training to our members while still ensuring a beneficial work-life balance for the students.”

Since then, FVTC has started similar partnership programs with Gold Cross and Waushara County. Both emergency response agencies have experienced a shortage of paramedics and want to offer paramedic-level care to their communities.

“The agreements may be different, but they all have the same goal,” explains John Sorenson, dean of Public Safety. “They create a training environment where we can meet the needs of the student, the employer and the community. The result is we are training paramedics and putting them in a position to serve the public.”