The Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE), an international technical organization committed to leading the fire and emergency service industry to excellence, today announced the release of the Advanced Technical Writing program developed and administered by George Mason University (Mason) located in Fairfax, VA. This seven-course program addresses both foundations of technical writing and technical writing in organizations.
Offered entirely online, fire service professionals can register for weeklong courses in Writing Fundamentals, Plain Language, Understanding Audiences, Oral Presentation, Fundamentals of Grammar and Editing, Principles of Proposal Writing, and Communication in Organizations through Mason’s Continuing and Professional Education department and attend at their own pace.
Addressing why CPSE chose to develop this program, CPSE CEO Preet Bassi, CAE shared “we have surveyed and listened to our agencies and officers on how to assist them in their accreditation and credentialing goals. They have expressed a need for support improving their technical writing skills; we are excited to be able to address that need.”
Throughout 2020, a dedicated team from Mason’s English Department have worked with CPSE subject matter experts to identify what educational topics would best meet the expressed needs and design curriculum that would apply to real life use cases. Courses will be taught by Lourdes Fernandez, PhD, and Heidi Lawrence, PhD, both professors in the English department who are experts in professional and technical writing and have experience working with fire and emergency services agencies. Ernst Piercy, CFO, current Technical Advisor and former Commission on Fire Accreditation® Chair and Air Force Academy Fire Chief, led CPSE’s efforts with Mason. Reflecting on the courses, he shared “we have all done an excellent job in the development of our firefighters at the tactical level but have not done so well in developing future company and chief fire officers. This set of courses fit that bill. I wish they would have been available during my growth and development, to help our up and coming superstars become tremendous fire officers.”
Whether developing reports, policies, accreditation documents or presenting to colleagues, councils, or the public, these courses will enhance the firefighters, company officers, and chief officers’ communication skills. Students will earn digital badges and a certificate for completing the program.
“CPSE believes in partnering with best in class organizations to develop innovative programs that support our community,” said CPSE President Allan Cain, CFO. “This Advanced Technical Writing Program is the first of its kind.”
Additional information about the development of the Advanced Technical Writing Program as well as links to register are available at cpse.org/projects/technicalwriting.