ARTICULATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN COLUMBIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND RICKY RESCUE TRAINING ACADEMY

1. Purpose

The purpose of this Articulation Agreement is to establish transfer credit criteria for training courses earned at Risky Rescue Training Academy that can be applied to undergraduate degree programs at Columbia Southern University (CSU). CSU is located at 21982 University Lane, Orange Beach, Alabama and Ricky Rescue Training Academy is located at 13861 Plantation Road, #104, Fort Myers, Florida.

2. Background

CSU is an undergraduate and graduate level institution that is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), which is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency. As an accredited, degree-granting member of the DEAC, Columbia Southern University is also an institutional member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CSU is licensed by the State of Alabama Department of Education pursuant to the Alabama Private School License Law Code of Alabama, Title 16-14-1 through 10. CSU is an institutional member of the American Council on Education (ACE). CSU is a Title IV school approved for federal financial aid, Veterans Administration benefits and tuition reimbursement for active duty military personnel through the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES).

3. Articulation Agreement

CSU recognizes the professional integrity and academic stature of Ricky Rescue Training Academy. CSU does and will continue to offer academic programs and courses accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission. Likewise, Ricky Rescue Training Academy does and will continue to offer quality training.

1. CSU prospective student information:

1) CSU will provide Ricky Rescue Training Academy students’ information on degree program requirements and general eduction options. This information is located on the CSU website and in the course catalog. All CSU Certificate and Degree programs are eligible for transfer credit review.

2) CSU will not charge Ricky Rescue Training Academy students and prospective students an application fee.

3) Ricky Rescue Training Academy students entering CSU will be required to meet all CSU admission’s requirements.

4) Ricky Rescue Training Academy students are required to abide by CSU transfer credit policies as they appear in the CSU catalog at the time of application. See Appendix I below for an outline of transfer credit pathways.

5) While in a program at CSU, Ricky Rescue Training Academy students are required to follow all institutional policies and procedures outlined in the University Catalog and Student Handbook.

6) Ricky Rescue Training Academy students will receive a 10% tuition discount as part of an included Learning Partnership.

Columbia Southern University reserves the right to modify degree program requirements at any time to preserve the University’s best practices and program integrity. CSU policies, regulations, procedures and curricula are subject to change without prior notice, if necessary, to keep the University in compliance with regulations of our accrediting bodies.

4. Commitment

CSU and Ricky Rescue Training Academy are committed to serve students and use technology to facilitate the transfer of students. Students participating in the degree programs at CSU must meet all criteria for admission. Likewise, all requirements for awarding of the CSU degree must be met. This Agreement will remain in effect for a period of five (5) years from the date of signature but may be terminated by either party by providing a written notification to the other party. CSU and Ricky Rescue Training Academy should review the agreement annually to determine whether it is achieving the desired results.

Appendix I

Here at Ricky Rescue Training Academy, we are committed to ensuring that qualified personnel who wish to advance their firefighting qualifications, renew their Florida Fire Services certification or undertake a Fire Science Degree, have access to the very best training available. Our complete range of Florida Bureau of Fire Standards and Training approved courses cover the course work and re-certification requirements for Florida Fire Officer, Fire Inspector, Fire Investigator, Fire Instructor, Fire Incident Safety Officer and Pump Operator. All our courses are offered online and are conveniently self-paced with open enrollment. You work at your pace and on your own time.

Ricky Rescue Training Academy also has articulation agreements in place with several of the top accredited universities in the US offering Associates in Fire Science degrees, including Columbia Southern University. This means that students wishing to transfer credits between Ricky Rescue Training Academy and these institutions to complete a relevant Bachelors Degree or Associates Degree can do so easily.

Enroll in our self-paced Florida State Fire College accredited courses as part of your coursework for a college degree in fire science. Take your fire-fighting career to the next level!