HCCC and Frankfort Fire Department Partner to Offer College Student Bunk-In Program 
July 20, 2010
Herkimer County Community College (HCCC) and the Village of Frankfort Fire Department (FFD) recently entered into an agreement to offer a housing option for students enrolled in the Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic program at HCCC. Approved students will stay in housing provided by the FFD in exchange for 25-hours duty time or on-call hours of service per week.
To be eligible, students must be at least 18 years of age, be enrolled full-time in the College’s EMT/Paramedic program and maintain current NYS Department of Health certification as an EMT Basic or greater level provider. All certifications must be current and maintained throughout the duration of the housing contract with the FFD. Students participating in the program are required to maintain enrollment at HCCC and be in good academic standing. The FFD will select up to four students each year.
Living quarters have been completed at the fire station to accommodate students in the program. A core committee of emergency medical technicians, officers and firefighters has been formed to monitor and mentor the program. The program will begin for the fall 2010 semester.
The objective of the program is to augment current volunteer emergency services staff and to mentor students considering a career in emergency medical services allowing them to practice skills involving patient care and transport to medical facilities.
Frankfort Fire Chief Charles Conigliaro said, “This is a win-win for the emergency services delivery, the community and students alike. We have to be pro-active to address present and future volunteer short falls, and to consider innovative programs to continue the continuity of the delivery of emergency services. We appreciate that HCCC is embracing this program partnership. We hope it will increase student enrollment in the Paramedic program and provide future participants in the Bunk-In program.”
“We are pleased to offer this program to our second-year EMT students. It is an innovative way to provide much-needed housing for students while benefiting the community,” said Michael Oriolo, HCCC Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.
Interested students must complete an application to the Frankfort Fire Department and be accepted as a member of the department in order to participate in the housing option. Applications to the FFD and the program are available at the HCCC Admissions Office or at http://villageoffrankfortny.org/content/PublicSafety/View/1.
For more information about the Frankfort Fire Department or the Bunk-In Program, contact Chief Conigliaro at 315-894-8621 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). For more information about the Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic program at HCCC, call 315-866-0300, ext. 8278 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).