Amy Sebring: Welcome to the Virtual Classroom! Today's special session is "Back to School!" Amy Sebring: For the benefit of our first-timers, when you see a blue web address, you can click on it and the referenced Web page should appear in a browser window. Amy Sebring: After the first one, the browser window may not automatically come to the top, so you may need to bring it forward by clicking on a button at the status bar at the bottom of your screen. Amy Sebring: We will start with a presentation, and then follow with a Q&A session for your questions and comments. Right before we begin the Q&A portion we will review the procedure. Amy Sebring: Please do NOT send direct messages to the speakers or moderator as it makes it difficult for us to follow the discussion. Amy Sebring: The background page for today's session is http://www.emforum.org/vclass/990929.htm Amy Sebring: During May, 1998, we had the pleasure to present Dr. Wayne Blanchard to provide an overview of FEMA's Higher Education Program. We thought it was time to check back with him for an update on the progress since then. Amy Sebring: So we are pleased to welcome back Dr. Wayne Blanchard, program manager with FEMA's Preparedness Division, Emergency Management Institute. Thanks for joining us today Wayne. Amy Sebring: Also joining us today is Jane Kushma. Jane has recently moved from the University of North Texas' flagship emergency management program to a new program at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Welcome Jane. Wayne Blanchard: Nice to be here -- are you ready for some updated information??? Jane Kushma: It's nice to be here... finally! Amy Sebring: We will begin with Dr. Blanchard. We are very interested in hearing about how things have been going for the last year and a half Wayne. Wayne Blanchard: One of EMI's Higher Education Project goals is to encourage and support the inclusion of emergency management-related education in colleges and universities across the United States. Wayne Blanchard: EMI believes that in the future more emergency managers in government, business and industry should come to the job with college degrees in emergency management. Wayne Blanchard: EMI would like to see an emergency management- related degree program in every State of the Union by the year 2001. Wayne Blanchard: When the project began in 1995, the University of North Texas, Thomas Edison State College and the Rochester Institute of Technology were the only schools offering degrees in emergency management. Wayne Blanchard: Last year this time there were 12 Certificate programs, 7 Associate Degree programs, 7 Bachelor Degree programs, 7 Master Degree programs, and 1 Doctoral Degree program in emergency management. Wayne Blanchard: Today there are currently 15 Certificate Programs, 10 Associate Degree programs, 8 Bachelor Degree programs, 11 Master Degree programs, and 4 Doctoral Degree programs across the United States.... Wayne Blanchard: ...for a grand total of 48. In addition there are 23 colleges and universities investigating/proposing the development of an emergency management program. Wayne Blanchard: Descriptions of these programs and contact information for each school is available on the FEMA web site at www.fema.gov/emi/edu/higher.htm , under the colleges and universities hyperlink. Wayne Blanchard: Since 1995, the EMI has been working with a variety of colleges and universities to develop a prototype bachelor degree curriculum consisting of classroom-based, upper division level courses. Wayne Blanchard: To date, there are 6 completed courses and 15 currently under development. Wayne Blanchard: The completed courses are available for download on the Internet at www.fema.gov/emi/edu/higher.htm Wayne Blanchard: Completed courses include: Sociology of Disaster, Social Dimensions of Disaster, Technology and Emergency Management, Research and Analysis Methods in Emergency Management.... Wayne Blanchard: ....The Political and Policy Basis of Emergency Management, and currently being formatted for the Internet is Business and Industry Crisis Management. Wayne Blanchard: EMI has attempted to create courses that are engaging and scholarly and that will be accepted on college campuses across the country. Wayne Blanchard: The Higher Education Project also developed a prototype curriculum for associate degrees in emergency management based on existing EMI training courses. Wayne Blanchard: These training courses are also available for download on FEMA's website at www.fema.gov/emi/edu/higher.htm Wayne Blanchard: EMI has also instituted a Higher Education Internship. Students enrolled at emergency management degree granting schools can intern at EMI under the sponsorship of their department. Wayne Blanchard: Roundtrip travel will be reimbursed, dorm-style housing will be provided, and a suitable assignment will be negotiated. No salary will be paid and interns are responsible for all expenses, including meals. Wayne Blanchard: The student's school must agree to provide credit hours (to be negotiated) for a successful internship (students will be evaluated on their performance). Wayne Blanchard: You might want to ask Dan Robeson about his experience as an EMI intern. Wayne Blanchard: A compilation of course syllabi and outlines of existing emergency management-related courses as well as a Compendium of emergency management-related college proposals is available to.... Wayne Blanchard: ...colleges and universities wishing to investigate the development of a emergency management program. Both are free of charge. Wayne Blanchard: The compilation of course syllabi and outlines currently consists of over 100 courses. The Compendium contains 16 various proposals ranging from diplomas and certificates to master degrees. Wayne Blanchard: Is that enough of an overview and update??? Amy Sebring: Thank you Wayne. Next, Jane will tell us a little bit about the new program in Tennessee. Jane please. Jane Kushma: The Emergency Systems Management concentration (12 hours) is housed in the Human Services Management program at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC). Students receive a BS in Human Services. Jane Kushma: Generic core competencies associated with this curriculum include planning, supervision, interpersonal skills, fiscal management, strategic management, and evaluation. Jane Kushma: The concentration focuses on the development of technical knowledge in emergency management. Jane Kushma: Currently, the 12-hour concentration consists of the following courses: Introduction to Emergency Systems Management, Hazard Mitigation, Disaster Recovery, and Hazardous Materials Regulation. Jane Kushma: In addition, the required internship (350 clock hours) may be completed in an emergency management setting. For further information, please see http://www.utc.edu/~humserv/index.htm Jane Kushma: Historically, the provision of disaster relief has been a mix of public and private aid. Emergency management curriculum to date, however, has primarily focused on the public sector. Jane Kushma: UTC seeks to expand this focus by emphasizing issues facing voluntary relief organizations and nonprofit agencies. We hope to meet a unique educational need for the disaster community through regular classroom participation, distance learning, and continuing education. Jane Kushma: Let me know where you can resume please. Jane Kushma: Currently, eleven students are pursuing the concentration and recruitment efforts are underway. Jane Kushma: The Emergency Systems Management Advisory Committee will be meeting next month to provide guidance and support for ongoing program development. Jane Kushma: The committee is comprised of emergency management leaders from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. We are honored to have EIIP's own Avagene Moore on our committee. Jane Kushma: UTC is actively exploring distance learning modalities to support classroom and continuing education activities. Amy Sebring: Thank you Jane. Before we start the Q&A, I am taking Wayne's suggestion and have asked Dan Robeson to tell us a little about his internship experience. Dan? Dan Robeson: The internship at EMI is a great experience for any student in emergency management. It helped me better understand the workings of FEMA, and gave me an opportunity to meet people in the field. I would recommend it to any EM student! Amy Sebring: Thanks Dan, we are glad you survived ... Amy Sebring: and are looking forward to working with you on the Student Association. Amy Sebring: I would also like to ask if there is anyone else here today that is involved with the Higher Ed program that would like to say a few words? Amy Sebring: We will now take questions for Wayne or Jane. Please enter a question mark (?) to indicate you wish to be recognized, go ahead and compose your comment or question, but wait for recognition before hitting the enter key or clicking on Send. Amy Sebring: Please indicate in your question to whom it is addressed. Ok, we are ready to start. David Crews: ? Amy Sebring: David please. Daryl Spiewak: ? Libbi RuckerReed: ? Leigh Anderson: ? David Crews: Are their any principals of strategic planning course in the works. Amy Sebring: Wayne that is for you I believe. Warren Vaughn: ? Wayne Blanchard: No, The Disaster Preparedness and Planning Course that was started did not work out satisfactorily... Wayne Blanchard: Will have to add a Disaster Planning Course back on the "To Do" list... David Crews: I have taken many of the FEMA planning courses and that is a lacking element. Wayne Blanchard: Would be interested in other new course development recommendations from others participating today. Amy Sebring: Jane, would you like to comment on David's question? Jane Kushma: I agree that it is a skill that's needed... Wayne Blanchard: ? Amy Sebring: Wayne, Amy Sebring: you have a further comment on strategic planning. Please continue. Wayne Blanchard: We do want to develop a course on Hazards, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment this year... Wayne Blanchard: This course will feed into strategic planning... Wayne Blanchard: In addition, the Hazards Mitigation course which is available addresses mitigation strategic planning. Amy Sebring: Darryl Speiwak next please. Daryl Spiewak: Dr. Blanchard, are there any Ph.D. programs by distance learning available yet? Any planned for the near future? I suggest courses be added on presentation skills, public speaking, and financial planning (budgeting), too. Wayne Blanchard: Contact George Washington University... Wayne Blanchard: It is on the college list...they have a new PhD. program and I think one can participate via distance learning. Amy Sebring: Libbi please. Libbi RuckerReed: Are the programs in various university settings accepting PRIOR certifications issued by FEMA for identical courses or do they have to be re-taken to satisfy degree requirements? I have heard different answers. Also, I see the Applied Practices Series courses are out there....but WHO is teaching them and where? Libbi RuckerReed: Sorry, not sure who should answer this... Wayne Blanchard: The courses developed for 4-year degree granting schools are all newly developed... Wayne Blanchard: Thus, they have never been taught before and are not EMI training courses... Jane Kushma: One can apply for credit for some of the FEMA courses... Wayne Blanchard: We are making EMI training courses available to Community colleges and other 2-year degree granting schools... Wayne Blanchard: It is up to the Registrar at such schools to decide to grant credit or not if taken elsewhere. Amy Sebring: Jane, Libbi is in Tennessee so she may be especially interested in your policy. Please continue. Jane Kushma: As Wayne stated, it is up to each individual university whether to accept the credits and how they will apply... Jane Kushma: in most instances, these hours will apply under Electives since they are taken pass/fail. Amy Sebring: I also believe the Arkansas and Thomas Edison programs also grant credit for prior courses or experience. Amy Sebring: Leigh next please. Jane Kushma: Yes... UTC does too Leigh Anderson: What paths exist for those with a BA/BS (outside of the public safety field) but want to do masters level work? Amy Sebring: Wayne please. Wayne Blanchard: Contact one or more of the schools in the graduate section of the college list on the Higher Education Website... Wayne Blanchard: A background in or degree in EM is not required. Amy Sebring: Warren please. Alex Mallett: ? Warren Vaughn: Ms. Kushma, Is there a time line on UTC's distance learning program or is this just a thing to look at down the road? Jane Kushma: We are just beginning... but should have a timeline within the next two months. Amy Sebring: ? Amy Sebring: Wayne, I am interested in the on-line business course you mentioned ... Amy Sebring: can you tell us a little more about what is planned for that? Wayne Blanchard: I am not following you -- are you talking about George Washington University's program? Warren Vaughn: it will be interesting to see if it does. Amy Sebring: I am sorry, you mentioned you were developing a curriculum for on-line delivery ... Amy Sebring: is that through GWU? Amy Sebring: Business and Industry Crisis Management Wayne Blanchard: Actually we do not develop curriculum for on-line delivery... Wayne Blanchard: We develop class-room based courses and then schools can deliver them on-line if they choose... Wayne Blanchard: We do have a distance-learning section on our "College List" for those interested in contacting schools that have distance learning programs. Amy Sebring: sorry, its being formatted to post for download? I guess I misunderstood. Other questions? Wayne Blanchard: We are about to come out with a course developed at GWU on Business and Industry Crisis Management... Jane Kushma: ? Wayne Blanchard: It should be on the HighEd Website in about 6 weeks to download... Warren Vaughn: ! Wayne Blanchard: The B Amy Sebring: Jane please. Jane Kushma: Back to Wayne's earlier question, do forum participants have any other skill areas or technical areas they wish to see emphasized in future courses? Amy Sebring: I suspect Warren may have a comment for you. Warren please. Warren Vaughn: In reference to the community college programs Colorado Community Colleges have a real good program going online. www.ccc.edu for em degrees. Libbi RuckerReed: ! Amy Sebring: thanks Warren. Comments about what skill or technical areas? Amy Sebring: Libbi please. Amy Sebring: ! Libbi RuckerReed: Given the type of jobs we do.....I would like to see a MAJOR focus on online delivery of courses Libbi RuckerReed: very difficult for those working in the field of EM to make traditional classroom settings. Amy Sebring: I agree with Daryl that all forms of communications skills are an important skill, technical area ... Jane Kushma: ? Amy Sebring: including public speaking, writing, and Internet! Amy Sebring: Jane please. Jane Kushma: Libby, do you seen the need for on-line for degree- seeking students or continuing ed? Libbi RuckerReed: Both! Amy Sebring: ? Amy Sebring: Wayne, do you think there will be a growing need for teachers as a result of the program? Libbi RuckerReed: A number of people working in EM now did not have the opportunity to take college courses earlier. Wayne Blanchard: Comment? Amy Sebring: Go ahead Wayne. Wayne Blanchard: There are about a dozen schools which do EM distance learning ... Wayne Blanchard: And, all it really takes is one school with a good selection of courses. Libbi RuckerReed: And since I would like to see EM people given the same credibility as EMS, law and fire personnel, I feel we need to encourage certification thru all methods....state certifications, IAEM and degree programs. Alex Mallett: ? Amy Sebring: Wayne, did you see my question about need for teachers? Wayne Blanchard: No -- must have been thinking about one of the earlier questions -- sorry Amy Amy Sebring: Do you think there will be a growing demand for teachers ... Amy Sebring: as a result of the Higher Ed program? Wayne Blanchard: There is most definitely a need for college instructors... Wayne Blanchard: At the HighEd EM Conference this summer representatives two schools were actively recruiting and one was trying hard to hire someone away form their school... Wayne Blanchard: I have received job offers from about 6 schools who were looking for teachers... Wayne Blanchard: Is most definitely a growth market. Amy Sebring: Possibly a future career for practicing EMs. Alex please. Alex Mallett: I am curious about international collaboration. Any plans to expand upon this (as I just noticed Coventry University)? Wayne Blanchard: No official plans -- any suggestions? Amy Sebring: Perhaps we can take that up further in our open discussion ... Amy Sebring: we are just about out of time ... Amy Sebring: Thank you very much for being with us today Wayne, Jane and our audience members. We will have a text transcript posted later today, and on-line and downloadable versions early next week. Amy Sebring: Good job by both of you. Jane Kushma: My pleasure! Amy Sebring: Also special thanks to Dennis Hickethier at EMI for technical assistance from that end! Wayne Blanchard: Likewise Amy Sebring: A couple of related announcements, the BBS is restored and there is now a link to the main board under Quick Picks on our homepage. Fora have been set up in four thematic areas, community outreach, general issues, technology, and professional. Amy Sebring: We especially encourage those of you interested in the Higher Ed program to use the Professional forum to post questions, news, help wanted, position wanted etc. See http://forums.emforum.org/eshare/server?action=120&board=8&expand=1 Wayne Blanchard: And to Juliann Frantz who helped me prepare for today! Amy Sebring: We also host a Higher Ed mailing list to which you may subscribe and post. Dr. Blanchard sends out regular status reports on this list. See http://www.speccomm.com:81/guest/RemoteListSummary/HigherEd Amy Sebring: Thanks Juliann! Amy Sebring: This is a moderated list, and to post to the list, simply address an email to highered@emforum.org. Amy Sebring: The commercial. We are only 36 pledges away from our goal of 100. If you have not made a pledge to join us for at least one session per month, please consider doing so and see http://www.emforum.org/eiip/pledge.htm for further info. Amy Sebring: Upcoming events: Yesterday afternoon we confirmed a new EIIP Partner to present the Tuesday Round Table. David Hastings of ABS Group Inc. (formerly JBF Associates, Inc.) will tell us about the company, and has some important new information pertaining to the RMP requirements that we have been following. Amy Sebring: Next Wed. we will have a session in the Forum room looking at the impact of disasters on the African-American community which should give us some new perspectives. Kay Goss, Assoc. Director of the FEMA Preparedness Division, and Dr. Oliver Jones, Florida A&M University will be featured. Amy Sebring: Thanks again to all. We will adjourn the session for now, but you are invited to remain for open discussion.