Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Wilderness First Responder (Hybrid)

ORPT 1542-30Y

Course: ORPT 1542-30Y
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PEHP
CRN: 33234

Course Description

Course Description

The Wilderness First Responder course is designed for outdoor professionals, those taking multi-day or extended trips, and people involved with high-risk activities (rock climbing, whitewater paddling, mountaineering, etc.). WFR courses provide the ideal training for people who travel in remote locations, in challenging weather, with limited equipment, unreliable communication, and little or no access to outside assistance. WFR certification is the industry standard for outdoor guides and instructors, and graduates are trained to care for patients for extended periods and to make independent decisions about evacuation and resources.

Required Texts

Required Text(s)
  • WMTC Wilderness Medicine Handbook (Provided as part of course fee)

Learning Outcomes

Student Learning Outcomes

Proficiency in providing wilderness medical care, understanding of complex decision making during patient evacuation and providing care in dynamic wilderness settings, understanding of risk management strategies in the outdoors, and development of confidence in personal leadership in these settings.

Course Requirements

Course Requirements

This is a pass/fail class. While students will not receive a letter grade, if online coursework or attendance of class is not completed, students will not receive a passing grade nor certification. It is also possible that a student could pass the class, but receive a lower certification such as a Wilderness First Aid (WFA) certification or a shorter duration of certification such as one or two years instead of three, if the student does not demonstrate proficiency to the WFR standards.

Course Outline

Schedule of Assignments and Activities
Assignments, labs, simulations, student required materials, online coursework, and the field days will be talked about in an information session on Wednesday, September 3 from 5:00-6:30 PM at the SUU Outdoors Garage (356 S. Main Street) and on Canvas. The first part of the semester students will be working independently on completing various online modules with respective due dates. These online modules must be completed on time and before the 5 consecutive field days at the SUU Mountain Center November 21-25, 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM.

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Late Work Policy

Late work will not be accepted; students must budget their time accordingly to complete the online tests on time along with additional assignments that will be assigned during the in-person 5-day session.

Attendance Policy

Attendance Policy
Class attendance is required for this course and is critical for student success. It is not possible for a student to pass this course if they do not attend all 5 days of the in-person session at the SUU Mountain Center November 21-25 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM. If a student is unable to attend the field days, they will not pass the course. Since we will not be meeting regularly throughout the semester and students will need to be working independently on the online coursework up until the field days in November, we will plan to have a brief info session to get the course started on Wednesday, September 3 from 5:00-6:30 PM at the SUU Outdoors Garage (356 S. Main Street). Course handbooks will be distributed during this time. Since this is not a regularly scheduled course time, reach out individually if you have a class conflict during this time.

Course Fees

Course Fees
WFR certification fees are included as part of the course fee paid upon registering for the class.

Custom

Course Information
  • Course: ORPT 1542 – Wilderness First Responder (Hybrid)
  • Info Session: Wednesday, September 3 from 5:00-6:30 PM at the SUU Outdoors Garage (356 S. Main Street)
  • Field dates: 11/21-25/25, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM – SUU Mountain Center
  • Term: Fall 2025
  • Instructor: Levi Pendleton, M.I.S.
  • Phone: (435) 865-8705
  • Office Address: SUU Outdoors Garage, 356 S Main Street
  • Office Hours: By appointment only
  • E-mail Address: levipendleton@suu.edu

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.