Editor’s note
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From the interim director

In the following pages you will find the annual report for FY22. I hope that you find this report informational. I believe it will provide a picture of the breadth of the program. We also hope that this report will demonstrate MU FRTI’s contributions to the land grant mission of the university and the related impact that mission creates.

As the 2022 fiscal year began, we were still experiencing a few jurisdictional and university restrictions due to Covid, as we moved into the fall of 2021. MU FRTI continued to provide quality instruction to the fire service. As the year progressed, we moved back to primarily face-to-face instruction as quickly as possible. With the help of our funding partners, we increased some areas within our budget and were able to offer additional training opportunities throughout the state.

Our annual report for FY22 demonstrates the continued importance of the MU Fire and Rescue Training Institute. We increased our number of courses offered, number of enrollments and number of instructional hours. We had students from all 114 counties in Missouri as well as representatives from 27 states.

You may start seeing the Department of First Responder Education as part of personnel titles or descriptions. Our hope is to be able to provide cross training, joint training and some internal cost sharing with other first responder training organizations at MU. We hope to announce training opportunities in FY23 that reinforce this concept.

We were recently awarded a $75,000 internal grant from the Office of the President, University of Missouri to strengthen student success. The focus of the grant is to support investments in infrastructure and equipment that lead to enhanced student outcomes. To achieve these goals, FRTI purchased a virtual reality simulation system designed for training future fire officers. This system will replace our current computer-based simulation training with a more robust and engaging system to meet current and future training needs for fire officers. The system is being developed in partnership with Pleiadian Systems, Inc. and FRTI staff and instructors. Keep an eye out for additional information as we move closer to the program launch.

I would also like to thank our partners who continue to recognize MU FRTI as a primary provider of first responder training. Those partners that provide funding do so knowing they are contributing to the health and safety of Missourians.

I’d also like to thank our students. Your continued dedication and desire to serve your fellow citizens are inspiring. Your efforts are always appreciated. We deeply appreciate your trust in our organization to provide relevant and quality training.

I’d finally like to say thank for your patience over the last two years. Although challenging, I have enjoyed serving as the interim director for the MU Fire and Rescue Training Institute. Announcements and formal introductions are in the works but beginning November 1, 2022, FRTI will have a new leader.

Please feel free to contact the Institute if you have questions.

John Worden
Interim Director

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