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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Jim Rufer, EMS Battalion Chief
DATE: July 18, 2019
SUBJECT:
An affiliation agreement between the City of Aurora, on behalf of the Aurora Fire Department, and Waubonsee Community College and its Board of Trustees.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of the agreement is to provide students of the Waubonsee Community College paramedic program an opportunity to complete their required field internship program as riders on the Aurora Fire Department's paramedic ambulances.
BACKGROUND:
Being the largest EMS provider in the area, many students enrolled in the Waubonsee Community College (WCC) paramedic program from different fire departments have completed their required field internships on Aurora Fire Department ambulances. The last agreement signed between the City and WCC was in 2014. As the staffs of both the fire department and the college have changed greatly during that time, WCC asked that both parties sign an updated agreement.
DISCUSSION:
As the Aurora Fire Department (AFD) is a leader in the area for emergency medical services (EMS) and runs the most EMS calls in the area, many students from other fire departments request to ride with the AFD to complete their field internships. As part of the requirement for the ride time, Waubonsee Community College maintains a professional insurance policy covering the actions of the students while they are riding on AFD ambulances. This policy costs the city and the AFD nothing.
In addition to approving the agreement with Waubonsee, the resolution also authorizes the Fire Chief to enter into similar agreements with other educational facilities to provide similar internship opportunities.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
By agreeing to host paramedic students during their field internships, the Aurora Fire Department (AFD) paramedics have an opportunity to help young adults learn about working as a paramedics in a busy fire department. The students also get to learn about the AFD, and it is hoped that some of these students may desire to become members of the AFD.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City of Aurora enter into an agreement with Waubonsee Community College and its board of trustees to allow paramedic students to complete their field internships on the Aurora Fire Department ambulances.
cc: Public Health, Safety, and Transportation Commitee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution authorizing the Fire Chief to execute agreements with educational institutions for internship programs on behalf of the City.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the Aurora Fire Department is a leader in the area for providing fire and emergency medical services; and
WHEREAS, field internships are an important part the training received by students pursuing careers in fire and emergency medical services; and
WHEREAS, educational facilities from time-to-time request the placement of their students with the Aurora Fire Department for field internships; and
WHEREAS, Waubonsee Community College has requested the City's approval of an affiliation agreement to provide for field internships for its EMS students; and
WHEREAS, the City Council believes that the proposed relationship with Waubonsee Community College is in the best interest of the City and the Fire Department; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that it is appropriate to vest the Fire Chief with the authority to execute similar agreements with other educational facilities;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that the attached affiliation agreement with Waubonsee Community College (properly the "Board of Trustees of Community College District #516, Counties of Kane, Kendall, DeKalb, LaSalle, and Will Counties") is approved and the Fire Chief shall be and hereby is authorized to execute said agreement on behalf of the City; and further
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Fire Chief shall be and hereby is authorized to execute similar agreements with other educational facilities, public or private, when such agreements have been reviewed and approved by the Corporation Counsel.