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County and Hagerstown Community College formalize paramedic training partnership; program to remain open enrollment
Summary
The Board approved a renewed partnership MOU with Hagerstown Community College for the county’s paramedic program; the arrangement converts the course to open enrollment, shares tuition revenue (70% county / 30% HCC) and supports ongoing cohorts that feed local EMS staffing.
The Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday to approve a partnership agreement with Hagerstown Community College that formalizes the county’s paramedic training program as a collaboratively administered, open‑enrollment program.
David Hayes, director of emergency services, said the program has produced multiple graduating cohorts that now serve in county EMS and that the open‑enrollment structure will expand access and help recruit and retain paramedics locally. Hayes provided cohort output figures: the first cohort (class that began September 2022) graduated 11 with nine working in the county; subsequent classes also placed the majority of graduates in local EMS roles.
Under the agreed terms, tuition proceeds will be split roughly 70% to the county and 30% to HCC, reflecting the county’s investment in clinical training and the college’s role in admissions, enrollment and clinical coordination. Hayes said the college supplies program administration, clinical-site coordination and accreditation support while the county provides instructors and on‑the‑job training opportunities.
Commissioners praised the program as a local workforce pipeline. Commissioner Jeff Klein called the recent graduation ceremony "special" and praised the program’s role in supplying trained paramedics to local agencies.
The board approved the partnership MOU by voice vote, 5‑0. County and college officials said the arrangement will allow the next cohort to begin this fall and expand scholarship and grant use to enroll non‑county students alongside county‑funded trainees.
