international rescue and relief program introduction www ucollege edu/ irr
2 overview experience a courageous calling jonathan hoewing experience options 3 2009 graduate now on the medical staff of a prince of Saudi Arabia experience adventure experience service Some people not only welcome adventure, they seek it out no matter where in the world it might be found. And some people feel the same way about service it s not enough to just talk about it when there s work to be done. And some, maybe even you, crave both adventure and service. If so, Union College s international rescue and relief (IRR) degree may be the perfect fit for you. The calling itself isn t courageous, but the one who answers that call is. Our majors are seeking a chance to go and serve wherever the need is, whether that means providing medical care in a remote jungle clinic, cleaning up after a natural disaster, jumping into white water for a rescue or sharing the word of God through missions around the world. No matter your calling, the international rescue and relief program will prepare you to answer His call. As I neared graduation, I wondered what God had in store for me. I planned to work as a paramedic until He opened a door to service. I didn t have to wait long. After an earthquake rocked Haiti in early 2010, I joined IRR students and alumni in Haiti to provide relief and aid to earthquake victims. I organized daily medical and mobile clinics, conducted group debriefings, attended United Nations meetings and rubbed elbows with military groups from around the world. Once home I looked for work opportunities that would incorporate most, if not all, of my education and field experience. I was offered a contract in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, working for the government as a paramedic with the Saudi Red Crescent Authority. After working in the field responding to various types of emergency cases, I began to settle into a routine, but once again God had other plans for me. The Red Crescent Authority is also responsible for the personal health care needs of a prince of Saudi Arabia and they were seeking qualified individuals. I was one of the lucky few chosen to live on the grounds of the palace as personal medical staff for the royal family. I wasn t chosen because of my years as a paramedic or my knowledge of emergency medicine. No, I was told that I was chosen because I was one of a few people in the entire country that had a specialty degree, a degree in international rescue and relief from Union College. So what good is a degree in international rescue and relief? How many people can say they work for the prince of Saudi Arabia! not everyone s calling is the same. that s why union college offers options. You ll earn a: B.S. International Rescue and Relief with emphases in: Pre-professional (pre-physician assistant, premedical, pre-dental or pre-physical therapy) Public safety (firefighter, law enforcement, park ranger or paramedic) or an IRR/nursing dual major or an A.S. Emergency Medical Services or an IRR minor in: Disaster management Survival and rescue Your IRR adviser can help create a degree plan to best suit your career goals.
4 experience opportunities 5 experience hands-on doing Adventure begins your freshman year at Union with general academic courses and emergency medical technician training. There are almost infinite employment opportunities around the world for any IRR graduate. Here is just a small sampling of the possibilities. Next, you ll head to Colorado for a five-week summer course to learn skills in wilderness survival and techniques for technical rope swift water rescue. As a sophomore, you will qualify to join Union College s Disaster Response Team and practice technical rescue skills throughout the year to be ready to respond to natural disasters worldwide. The next year, depending on your career choice or emphasis, you ll take courses to enhance your skill set. During your senior year, you ll spend three months in Central America learning and providing humanitarian relief, community development and medical aid. You ll also spend two weeks learning techniques in jungle, coastal and ocean survival on an island in the Caribbean. graduates get jobs Our graduates find jobs all over the country in all kinds of areas. Here are a just a few examples: United States Coast Guard, enlisted United States Army, combat medic American Medical Response, paramedic Burlington Fire Department, firefighter Lincoln Fire and Rescue, firefighter/paramedic St. Alphonsus Medical Center, nursing staff St. Mary s Hospital, cardiology nurse Loma Linda University, PA and medical school candidates Federal Bureau of Investigations, investigator United States Forest Service, park ranger Mothers Against Drunk Driving, state victims advocate Andrews University, campus ministries coordinator ADRA International, communications coordinator Washington State Penitentiary, human services and counseling Adventist Frontier Missions, international and medical missions Hope on Wings Foundation, missionary pilot State Farm Insurance, disaster assessment team career fields Business Development and world relief agencies Emergency management Emergency medical services Firefighting Journalism and public relations Law enforcement Logistical/program coordinator Missions service Nursing Outdoor guidance Community recreation management Paramedic services Park services Public health Refugee assistance Search and rescue
6 experience a program as unique as you josh enevoldsen experience world-class training 7 experience Union College It s just different here, and we mean that in a good way. Students notice the difference almost immediately, and even their families can see it without trying. We love it the difference, that is though we don t always know what to call it. What s more, we re not exactly sure what it is. But whatever it is, it s here and it s life-changing. We are a Seventh-day Adventist school and our faith is part of it. You don t have to be an Adventist to attend here, and we think you ll like our focus on you as a whole person your learning experience, your health and your relationships. So for lack of a better word (anything s better than it), we call it the Spirit. Come experience it. Experience the Spirit. You may not have heard of many programs like ours, but that s because there aren t any! At Union College, we offer a program that is as unique as you. The IRR program is recognized by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and is also exclusive among Seventh-day Adventist colleges and universities. And unlike similar secular relief programs, our program is a spiritual experience, and Jesus is the point. IRR graduate now a physician assistant practicing internal medicine and pediatrics in Fort Defiance, Ariz. After looking at more traditional approaches to physician assistant school, I decided to look for something a bit more unique and exciting. When a friend told me about Union College s international rescue and relief degree, I briefly looked at the pre-professional emphasis curriculum and immediately knew this was how I wanted to prepare for PA school. I still had to sit through organic chemistry, mammalian physiology and other prerequisites for PA school, but the unique classes within the IRR program gave me the drive to get through. I learned how to be an EMT, place IVs and advanced airways, perform technical rescues in harsh environments and survive in the wilderness with few provisions. But my most beneficial learning experiences occurred during my senior semester overseas in Central America, where we treated thousands of patients in remote medical clinics. I look back on my education at Union College with no regrets. IRR gave me the chance to be involved and to develop my knowledge of clinical medicine. The passion of the instructors and the friendships with classmates impacted my life immensely. IRR has changed my life and I know I will be a better health care provider because of the experiences I had as an international rescue and relief student. And don t think we put academics in the backseat. We can t, not when quality service requires quality preparation. An ever-changing world requires advanced techniques and constant adaptation. Our experienced faculty understand this, and they continue to gain industry experiences to better prepare you for your future. Union grads go out with the skills and knowledge to compete for jobs to change the world!
8 contact Contact us to learn more about the international rescue and relief program at Union College. irr program www.ucollege.edu/irr irr@ucollege.edu p 402.486.2980 f 402.486.2983 union college Admissions Office Union College 3800 South 48th Street Lincoln, NE 68506-4386 www.ucollege.edu enroll@ucollege.edu p 402.486.2504 f 402.486.2566