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College of the Desert announces first paramedic cohort starting March 5; program reportedly fully funded for first class
Summary
Lori Green, adjunct faculty and paramedic program director at College of the Desert, told the council the college will start its first paramedic class on March 5, 2025, after receiving interim accreditations and county approval; applications remain open through February.
Lori Green, adjunct faculty member and paramedic program director at College of the Desert, told the Rancho Mirage City Council during non-agenda public comment that the college will begin its first paramedic program cohort on March 5, 2025.
Green said the college restarted the program development in 2024 after beginning the process in 2019 and pausing during the pandemic. The program requires two accreditations; she said the college has received interim approvals from the national accreditor (CAHEP) and county-level approval in December 2024, allowing the March start date.
Green said applications are open through the end of February and the program can accept up to 30 students; 18 applicants had applied at the time of her remarks. She said the curriculum runs about 13 to 15 months and that the first cohort is fully funded, meaning there will be no cost to enrolled students for this initial group.
Green described the county accreditation steps and said community partners and advisory committees informed the decision to restart the effort because of a regional shortage of paramedics. She invited questions from council and provided pamphlets with program details.
Council members thanked Green for bringing the information to the council; there were no council actions recorded.
