Student EMS
Initiative
Building the next generation of EMTs in Charlotte, NC.

Mission
The Campus EMS Initiative seeks to establish campus based medical emergency first response at UNC Charlotte within the Department of Emergency Management.
We are seeking approval from UNC Charlotte’s Chancellor, Vice Chancellors and board to launch a pilot in Fall 2025.
(The agency would be staffed by students with university and county oversight - similar to models at UNC Chapel Hill, Duke, Western, East Carolina, Appalachian State, etc)
What is campus EMS?
Campus EMS programs are medical first response agencies staffed by student professionals with university and county oversight.
In other words, it is a campus based agency that responds to 911 medical calls on campus. At over 600, 911 medical calls a year, this program could take a significant load off of local systems.
Student EMTs?
Is this credible?
They are nationally recognized programs and operate at over 250 colleges and universities across the nation, demonstrating a proven model for bolstering campus safety and enhancing student training in emergency care.
There are 6 active campus EMS programs in North Carolina (Duke, UNC Chapel Hill, Appalachian State, Western Carolina, East Carolina University and Wake Forest) , half of which have been in operation over 25 years becoming a cornerstone of their first responder community.
EMTs and paramedics who enroll at UNC Charlotte, after years of working in the field, often have nowhere to work as Mecklenburg County agencies do not offer part-time schedules. Campus based EMS allows them an opportunity to continue to serve their community and mentor newer practitioners on campus.
“As a pre-med alumnus, this would have given me and others a great opportunity to get clinical hours and practice leadership, which are valuable on a resume. Totaly on board”
John Groggel
Alumni + Current Student at Wake Forest School of Medicine
Progress so far:
Proposed operations and command structure
FAQs
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Campus EMS programs are nationally recognized and operate at over 250 colleges and universities, demonstrating a proven model for improving campus safety and enhancing student training in emergency care.
There are 6 active EMS programs in North Carolina. Western’s program is the oldest ad has been active since 1965. -
Funding for these programs can get pretty creative! Some are funded by already existing university funds, donors, community partners, fundraisers, in-kind donations, etc.
To date, the EMS Initiaive has already received over $15,000 in in-kind donations of supplies with several interested community partners to help support funding. -
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
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It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.