NFA Long Term Evaluation Report - Fiscal Year 2008

Results are based on:
262 student responses and 337 supervisor responses.

Four months after training, the extent to which students and supervisors agree that:
Course has improved student job performance:
Students = 96%
Supervisors = 85%.

Course has contributed to student's professional development:
Students = 97%
Supervisors = 92%.

Course has improved performance of the department:
Students = 74%
Supervisors = 81%.

Course helped department address problems in high-risk areas:
Students = 49%
Supervisors = 55%.

Course led to a reduction in fire-related risks within the community:
Students = 41%
Supervisors = 37%.

Would recommend this course to others in the department:
Students = 98%
Supervisors = 94%.

Student has also attended other fire service training in last 3 years:
86% answered yes
14% answered no.

Location of other fire service training:
At a facility in my state = 75.4%
At a regional facility, not in my state = 21.5%
Other = 15.4%.

Note: Percentages may total more than 100%, since respondents are asked to mark all that apply.

Assessment of NFA versus other curriculum materials:
NFA more useful = 51.6%
Other course more useful = 1.8%
Both equally useful = 46.7%.

Percent of students who:
Have applied training on job = 96.7%
Shared training information with colleagues = 99.6%.

Means of sharing training information:
Formally in a training class = 27.8%
Informally, in a group = 54.8%
Informally, one on one = 73.8%.

Note: Percentages may total more than 100%, since respondents are asked to mark all that apply.

Student's highest level of education:
High school or less = 3.0%
Some college = 27.7%
AA degree = 27.3%
Bachelors degree = 31.1%
Graduate degree = 10.6%.

Size of department:
50 members or less = 29.4%
51-200 members = 43.1%
201-1000 members = 20.2%
1001 members or more = 7.3%.

Student suggestions for improving NFA course, based on 197 comments:
Update/modify course materials = 13.7%
More hand-on/practical exercises/scenarios = 12.7%
No change needed = 12.2%
General praise of NFA/instructors =  7.6% 
Suggestion for class/final project = 5.1%
Pre-course materials needed/pre-course prep = 4.1%
Offer class more frequently or as field course = 4.1%
Shorten class/condense material = 3.6%
Redistribution of class time = 3.6%
Lengthen class = 3.1%

Student suggestions for future NFA courses, based on 219 comments:
Terrorism/WMD/Homeland Security = 11.4%
Grants/budget issues = 7.3%
Integrating/coordinating emergency services = 5.9%
Fire fighter safety/health = 5.9%
HR Issues/recruitment/retention = 5.0%
Diversity Issues = 4.1%
Haz mat issues/drug and chem. labs = 4.1%
Technology = 3.7%
NIMS = 3.7%
Prevention = 3.7%.


Supervisor suggestions for future NFA courses, based on 245 comments:
Terrorism/WMD/Homeland Security = 9.3%
Grants/budget issues = 7.4%
Integrating/coordinating emergency services = 6.9%
HR Issues/recruitment/retention = 5.6%
NIMS = 5.1%
Technology = 4.6%
Fire fighter safety/health = 4.2%
Haz mat issues/drug and chem. labs = 4.2%
Diversity issues = 3.7%
Volunteer versus career issues = 3.7%.

Note: Only the top 10 suggestion categories are reported, so percentages may not add to 100%