12:01:54 PM Avagene Moore:On behalf of the EIIP, welcome to the Virtual Classroom! Our topic today is FEMA's Higher Education Project with our guest speaker, Dr. Wayne Blanchard. ... 12:02:05 PM Avagene Moore:For those of you who have not been with us for a couple of weeks, please ... 12:02:16 PM Avagene Moore:PAY ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT INFORMATION. ... 12:02:31 PM Avagene Moore:We are having an UNMODERATED session today. That means, whatever you type in the message area can be seen by EVERYBODY, so we ask for your cooperation. ... 12:02:53 PM Avagene Moore:Please hold all questions and comments until we get to the Q&A portion of the program. ... 12:03:15 PM Avagene Moore:Your questions and comments will go directly to the chat window, NOT through the moderator. So you can see the problem we could have with several questions being submitted at once. ... 12:03:27 PM Avagene Moore:We ask that you indicate that you have a question by typing just a question mark (?). ... 12:03:42 PM Avagene Moore:Then you can prepare your question, but PLEASE HOLD your question until you are recognized. With your cooperation, we can have an orderly session. ... 12:04:28 PM Avagene Moore:One other warning .... 12:04:40 PM Avagene Moore:if you are logged in using Full Java Option, do not touch the load page! Minimizing or changing pages will close your chat window. ... 12:04:57 PM Avagene Moore:Since being a guest speaker and the moderator for the session requires our concentration on the dialogue, please do not send Direct Messages to either Dr. Blanchard or me during the formal part of today's session. ... 12:05:15 PM Avagene Moore:And now --- we are pleased to introduce our guest today, Dr. Wayne Blanchard, Higher Education Project Manager, FEMA, Preparedness Directorate. ... 12:05:31 PM Avagene Moore:Wayne, we appreciate you being with us today. We have chosen an interview approach for our session and will start with our first question now. ... 12:05:45 PM Avagene Moore:Wayne, why is FEMA encouraging emergency management-related courses in the country?s colleges and universities? 12:06:15 PM Wayne Blanchard:There are several reasons... 12:06:39 PM Wayne Blanchard:Reason #1: It was decided about 4 years ago, when John McKay became the Superintendent of the Emergency Management Institute... 12:07:02 PM Wayne Blanchard:that EMI could no longer try to provide training and education (not enough staff or money), but both were needed... 12:07:45 PM Wayne Blanchard:I was brought on-board from headquarters to work with colleges and universities on emer. management higher education... 12:08:27 PM Wayne Blanchard:Reason #2: A desire of the Superintendent and of Kay Goss, the Associate Director of the Preparedness, Training and Exercises... 12:08:58 PM Wayne Blanchard:is to try to contribute to the continued professionalism of the emerging emergency management profession... 12:09:21 PM Wayne Blanchard:Supporting the development of BA/BS degrees in emergency management, it is felt, will contribute to that. 12:09:58 PM Wayne Blanchard:Finally, the US is in a period of increased disasters -- particularly large disasters... 12:10:27 PM Wayne Blanchard:And, we are becoming a more vulnerable society with increasing hazards... 12:11:08 PM Wayne Blanchard:We need to evolve into a more sophisticated, more professional, more skilled emergency management community. 12:11:15 PM Avagene Moore:How is this tied to the future of job requirements in government and business/industry? 12:12:38 PM Wayne Blanchard: It generally isn't. But there is already some evidence that local and State governments are hearing about the CEM Program... 12:12:56 PM Wayne Blanchard:(Certified Emergency Manager) managed by the International Assn. of Emergency Managers (formerly NCCEM)... 12:13:22 PM Wayne Blanchard:That program has, until just recently, required a BA degree... 12:13:34 PM Wayne Blanchard:Job announcements are beginning to note that they are looking for CEMs... 12:13:55 PM Wayne Blanchard:I think that will spread, as those who do the hiring realize they can hire someone with a BA degree in emergency or crisis mgmt. 12:13:59 PM Avagene Moore:Wayne, please give us a little background on how the Higher Education Project has evolved. 12:14:27 PM Wayne Blanchard:We started by conducting a survey of existing programs -- were only 3 academic programs at the time... 12:14:41 PM Wayne Blanchard:Academics said that if we wanted them to investigate an EM BA degree we should tell them what an EM curriculum would look like... 12:14:59 PM Wayne Blanchard:So we designed a prototype emer.mgmt. curriculum of courses with expanded outlines describing the content area... 12:15:14 PM Wayne Blanchard:Then were told that at most schools, not enough expertise or resources resided to develop these courses... 12:15:28 PM Wayne Blanchard:so our next step was to contract for the development of theses courses at various colleges... 12:15:41 PM Wayne Blanchard:That is essentially where we are today. Two courses are available now and 16 are in the development stage. 12:15:45 PM Avagene Moore:I understand the first of FEMA? Higher Education Project college-level emergency management-related courses are now available; can you give us a description of those? 12:16:16 PM Wayne Blanchard:The Sociology of Disaster course is a 278 page IG for sociology professors teaching upper division undergraduates... 12:16:34 PM Wayne Blanchard:The theoretical and methodological emphasis are consistent with courses typically offered within Sociology Depts... 12:16:57 PM Wayne Blanchard:Topics include: major theoretical approaches to disaster research, disaster response theory, and the sociological impact of disaster... 12:17:07 PM Wayne Blanchard:The Social Dimensions of Disaster course is a 619 page IG on the social aspects of disaster and their relevance to emer.mgmt... 12:17:28 PM Wayne Blanchard:The course can be taught by a non- Sociologist and is aimed at students majoring or minoring in emergency management... 12:19:28 PM Wayne Blanchard:Topics include: disaster mythology patterns, public response to disaster warnings, victim and non- victim responses to disaster... 12:20:14 PM Wayne Blanchard:The third course (undergoing formatting for internet transfer) is The Political and Policy Basis of Emergency Management... 12:20:41 PM Wayne Blanchard:It can be taught by a non-Political Scientist and is aimed at a general emergency management major or minor... 12:20:55 PM Wayne Blanchard:This approximately 400 page IG considers the polical and policy environment in which emergency management is practiced... 12:21:09 PM Wayne Blanchard:The course discusses the American political system, Federal, State, local government organization and policy in emergency management... 12:21:25 PM Wayne Blanchard:Intergovernmental issues, the private sector players in emergency and crisis management. 12:21:28 PM Avagene Moore:How many classroom-based courses will be suggested for an emergency management curriculum at the upper division college level? 12:21:33 PM Claire Rubin:? 12:21:56 PM Wayne Blanchard:Well, we have 3 courses done, 16 in development and 2-4 others we might develop -- more than enough for a curriculum... 12:22:01 PM Avagene Moore:(Please hold your question until the end, Claire. Thanks.) 12:22:08 PM Wayne Blanchard:I think that a stable of 15 courses is more than enough for most degree programs -- most majors only require 30 hours (10 courses). 12:22:29 PM Avagene Moore:Is it possible to review the courses? Where and how? 12:22:48 PM Wayne Blanchard: Course outlines can be reviewed at the FEMA.Gov website -- go to Preparedness,Training,Exercies; then to training; then to HighEd. 12:22:59 PM Avagene Moore: What is the status of the Higher Education Project at the moment? 12:23:24 PM Wayne Blanchard: Focusing on course development. The 16 under development are in various stages... 12:23:43 PM Wayne Blanchard:Hope to see a new course go up on the Internet at the rate of one every 3-5 months over the next four years. 12:23:54 PM Avagene Moore:Is there a college or university in each state actively involved with the Project? 12:26:33 PM Avagene Moore:http://www.emforum.org/vclass/usamap.htm 12:27:16 PM Avagene Moore:Ladies and gentlemen, Wayne has been disconnected -- will be right with us. Please look at the map. 12:28:29 PM Gilberto Guevara:Avegene, is there an easy way to get back to the chat area after we go to the map?. I had to re-log during my last trip there. 12:28:56 PM Avagene Moore:As you will see, a majority of States do have a program of some sort .... 12:29:47 PM Avagene Moore:ranging from non-academic diplomas and certificates to Masters. 12:31:05 PM Avagene Moore:Wayne was going to another computer .... 12:31:15 PM Avagene Moore:sorry for the delay .... 12:31:42 PM W Blanchard:I appear to have regained my connection. So what was the question? 12:31:46 PM Avagene Moore:we are right at the end of our interview with only one more question.... 12:31:53 PM cindy rice:? 12:32:18 PM Avagene Moore:Good. Cindy and folks, let me ask Wayne our last question please... 12:32:36 PM Avagene Moore:Wayne I explained the map and the situation with the states... 12:32:46 PM Avagene Moore:Are there opportunities for internships through the Higher Education Project? 12:33:17 PM Avagene Moore:Wayne, this is question #9. 12:33:49 PM W Blanchard:We havfe what we call an Associates Program... 12:34:20 PM W Blanchard:It allows for the possibility of a student working on campus for a number of weeks... 12:34:56 PM W Blanchard:We will provide reimbursement for roundtrip transportation here and put student up in a dorm room... 12:35:16 PM W Blanchard:The student must pay for meals and all other expenses... 12:35:27 PM W Blanchard:We will not pay per diem or a salary... 12:35:58 PM W Blanchard:The school must provide appropriate semester hour credit for the "internship" here on campus... 12:36:36 PM W Blanchard:The student will be given assignments agreed upon by the student's academic advisor, the student and the Higher Education Project manager. 12:36:40 PM Avagene Moore:Thank you, Wayne. We will now open the floor to questions from our audience. Claire first and then Cindy. 12:36:48 PM Claire Rubin:Who developed the political/policy course and when will it be ready? 12:37:18 PM W Blanchard:Dr, Richard Sylves at the University of Delaware... 12:37:56 PM W Blanchard:Is in processing for Internet upload now, expect about a month???. 12:38:16 PM Avagene Moore:(As a reminder, please type and send a question mark (?), compose and hold your question until you are recognized.) 12:38:25 PM Avagene Moore:Cindy. 12:38:40 PM Lloyd Bokman:? 12:39:06 PM cindy rice:Gilberto, when I go to a url, I come back here by refreshing. Wayne: I'm confused these courses are in addition to EMI/FEMA Course? 12:39:59 PM W Blanchard:EMI courses are training courses aimed at those already in the emergency management community... 12:40:19 PM W Blanchard:The Higher Education Project courses are not training... 12:40:46 PM W Blanchard:and are not aimed primarily at those who have a job in emergency managment... 12:40:46 PM Len Clark:Isabel, For some reason I keep getting dumped out of the classroom. This is not worth the effort. Thanks again for your help. I doubt I'll be back to try this again. 12:41:19 PM W Blanchard:The courses are upper division (junior/senior)educational college courses aimed at the next generation of ermergency managers... 12:41:25 PM Gilberto Guevara:? 12:42:11 PM W Blanchard:We hope that as students graduate they will seek and find their first job as one in emergency management -- a first career choice... 12:42:51 PM W Blanchard:as apposed to the position we are in today, wherein a sizeable percentage of the community is in a second or third career... 12:43:06 PM W Blanchard:Have I answered your question clearly enough? 12:43:12 PM Avagene Moore:Your question, Lloyd. 12:43:14 PM Lloyd Bokman:Are any of the courses under development designed for business/industry emergency managers? 12:44:20 PM W Blanchard:Yes. George Washington University in DC has a contract with us to develop a "Business and Industry Crisis Management" course. 12:44:39 PM Avagene Moore:Gilberto, your question for Dr. Blanchard, please. 12:44:43 PM Gilberto Guevara:Are the SM also available for each course when posted in the Internet? 12:45:03 PM Amy Sebring:? 12:45:20 PM W Blanchard:There is no student manual... 12:45:50 PM W Blanchard:The Instructor Guides provide the instructor with suggested homework reading assignments for the students... 12:46:22 PM W Blanchard:and books and copied articles for the student to purchase just like for any other college course... 12:46:47 PM cindy rice:? 12:46:58 PM W Blanchard:There is no reason the student should ever know that FEMA was involved or that the Instructor has an Instructor Guide from us. 12:47:02 PM Avagene Moore:Amy, your question, please. 12:47:06 PM Amy Sebring:Can you tell us a few of the other courses under development or planned? 12:48:08 PM W Blanchard:Well, there are 16 and they are all listed in the background documents listed for the "chat"... 12:48:37 PM W Blanchard:Avagene, should I list those courses here or give my phone number to call for a listing? 12:49:22 PM Avagene Moore:List a few of them, Wayne, in case people haven't looked at the info. 12:49:51 PM Ricardo A Alvarez:What is the best way to obtain copies of the courses already completed? What is the cost? 12:50:07 PM W Blanchard:Aim and Scope of Emergency Management by David Hoover at the Univ. of Akron... 12:50:17 PM Avagene Moore:Just a moment, Ricardo. We will get back to your question. 12:50:30 PM W Blanchard:Principles and Practice of Disaster Preparedness and Planning by Dr. Nancy Grant at the Univ. of Akron... 12:51:07 PM W Blanchard:Living in a Hazardous Eniironment by Dr. Jay Baker at the Univ. of Florida... 12:51:38 PM W Blanchard:Principles and Practice of Disaster Response and Operations by Dr. David Neal at the Univ. of N. Texas... 12:52:18 PM W Blanchard:Emergency Management Research Methods and Analysis by Dr. Kincade in Florida (forgetting the Univ. at the moment!... 12:52:25 PM Amy Sebring:(see also http://www.emforum.org/vclass/hiedstat.htm ) 12:52:57 PM W Blanchard:Principles and Practice of Hazard Mitigation by Dr. David Brower at the Univ. of North Carolina... 12:52:58 PM Avagene Moore:(Wayne, that gives everyone a good idea of the courses, thanks.) 12:53:08 PM cindy rice:? 12:53:14 PM Avagene Moore:Cindy, you had a question. 12:53:27 PM W Blanchard:Technology and Emergency Management by Dr. John Pine at LSU... 12:53:32 PM W Blanchard:Is that enough? 12:53:47 PM Avagene Moore:Yes, thanks. Cindy has a question for you. 12:53:54 PM cindy rice:Confused again, is this on campus, distance learning, combination or both? 12:54:41 PM W Blanchard:The courses are designed aas classroom based courses... 12:54:51 PM W Blanchard:and then put up on the Internet for any academic to pull down... 12:55:09 PM W Blanchard:What they do with the material is then their business... 12:55:29 PM W Blanchard:to teach to any audience they wish and in any way they wish... 12:55:47 PM cindy rice:? 12:55:49 PM W Blanchard:we hope that each user will start making modifications and make each course their own... 12:56:27 PM W Blanchard:Those who wish to do distance learning will need to "translate" what we provide into their own distance learning course. 12:56:31 PM Avagene Moore:Our hour in the Virtual Classroom is up; if you had a question we didn't get to, we will be around for a few minutes in the Virtual Forum .... 12:57:17 PM Avagene Moore:Wayne we appreciate your time and the information shared with us today.... 12:57:34 PM Avagene Moore: I am sure everyone in our audience is pleased about the Higher Education Project and what it means to the future of emergency management. Thank you. ... 12:57:51 PM Avagene Moore:We will move to the Virtual Forum for a few minutes and allow anyone who wishes to express their gratitude to Wayne for his presentation and to comment a bit more on the topic. 12:58:07 PM Avagene Moore:Thank you, audience. Has been very good. 12:58:24 PM Avagene Moore:Join us in the Virtual Forum now.