Campus Feature
Long Distance Learner
Michael Douglas Completes
Public Safety Degree While
Working 13 Months in Iraq
Michael Douglas gave the
term “long distance learning”
a whole new meaning at
Siena Heights University.
The 25-year-old firefighter
recently spent a 13-month
tour in Iraq as a civilian contractor for the U.S. Army.
During that time, he was
able to complete his bachelor’s degree
in Public Safety Studies, finishing his
final class in August.
“The online classes were great,” said
Douglas, who started at Siena Heights
in August 2009. “The professors were
understanding and willing to work with
you. Their Internet (in Iraq) wasn’t always
the best, but (Siena Heights) was always
flexible and willing to help.”
Douglas, a full-time firefighter for six
years, worked for the Army beginning
in April 2009. He was employed as a firefighter/EMT at an Army base in southern
Iraq near the Kuwait border.
“The Army no longer has its own fire
department,” he said. “They want people
with (firefighting) experience.”
Although he worked grueling 12-hours
shifts, there wasn’t much to do outside
of work, so he decided to try to complete
his degree online.
“I was basically
stuck in an office
for 12 hours,” the
Detroit native said.
“But I had a computer with internet
access, so I was
able to get a lot of schoolwork done.”
Despite being isolated, Douglas said the
online classes were very engaging.
“I personally liked the online classes because it seems like there was more interaction with the students and teachers,”
he said. “Everyone gets to have their say,
as opposed to the traditional classroom,
where sometimes it’s dominated by one
or two personalities. At least this way
you are able to hear everyone’s opinion
in the class. I think it made it a more interesting experience.”
He said faculty and students were interested in his Iraq experiences as well.
“I got a lot of ‘thank you for what you
do,’” Douglas said. “That was really helpful
and made being over there a lot easier.
Most people were very appreciative, and
some were curious about what it was like
over there. I was happy to describe some
of my experiences and share a few pictures here and there.”
And what was it like in Iraq? Hot, and
mostly uneventful. He said he was surprised when he got over to Iraq how operations were organized.
“Half the forces are
civilian contractors.
It’s really just a bunch
of large corporations,” said Douglas,
who witnessed what
he believed was
government waste
and abuse. “There
are things that could
have been done far
more efficiently.”
Return