Amy Sebring:Welcome to the EIIP Virtual Classroom! ... Amy Sebring:and Happy New Year to All... Amy Sebring:it is good to be back. Amy Sebring:One quick note about any URLs that may be used in the session; they are live links and you can click on them and view the referenced site in your browser window. Amy Sebring:Our topic today is the Emergency Services Management degree programs at the University of Richmond, and the Crisis Operations Manager certification. Amy Sebring:Our special guest is Walter Green, Assistant Professor, MPA, CEM and Program Director. Amy Sebring:Walter's background includes 28 years of experience in emergency medical services, search and rescue, military disaster preparedness, and the management of large scale operations. Amy Sebring:He also serves as Director of Emergency Operations for the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services and ESF-8 manager for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Amy Sebring:After Walter's presentation, we will have Q&A, and we ask you to hold your questions and comments until that time. Amy Sebring:Walter, thank you very much for taking time to be with us today. Walter Green:Thanks Amy - it is a pleasure to be here today, and I look forward especially to the questions at the end. Walter Green:The University of Richmond is a mid-size school located in Richmond, Virginia, with a focus on liberal education - for the 5th straight year ranked as the best regional university in the South. Walter Green:The evening school is known as the School of Continuing Studies. The School presents degree programs in paralegal, human resource management, information systems, liberal arts, and ... Walter Green:emergency services management. Our programs include an undergraduate 30 semester hour Certificate, an Associate's degree, a Bachelor's degree and a Post Baccalaureate Certificate. Walter Green:The School's web site is at http://www.richmond.edu/~contstud/index.html Walter Green:Emergency services management is an interdisciplinary program involving fire, emergency medical services, law enforcement, emergency management, business continuity, voluntary agencies - anyone with an emergency role. Walter Green:We don't try to teach how to be the best at a skill, but rather how to manage your emergency service in the context of your entire community in the 21st century - in short, managing the integrated emergency management system. Walter Green:The program developed out of a public-private partnership between the University and the Virginia Office of EMS to meet needs for higher education in management for leaders of rescue agencies. Walter Green:We deliberately went with the integrated emergency management approach because all public safety agencies have similar types of problems and because we all have to learn to work together to be effective. Walter Green:And we do offer a minor that lets students in our business oriented programs to develop skills they may need either as volunteer leaders in emergency agencies or in jobs that require business continuity knowledge. Walter Green:Our typical student is a early to mid-career individual, already working for an emergency service with excellent skills in their discipline and who is looking for qualification for promotion. Walter Green:However, we would certainly welcome younger, more traditional students. Based on the wide variety of course offerings it is actually possible to earn a Bachelor's degree at night as quickly as in the day time. Walter Green:Classes are primarily evening and weekend classes. This year we have started internet delivery in a 15 sessions on line, two Saturday sessions on campus format. And we are working on exploring other formats. Walter Green:You can visit a page for one of our courses at http://members.tripod.com/~Richmond_ESM/esm300syl1.html Walter Green:We have also worked to develop enhancements to our degree program, including an electronic journal, a certification program, and are working on an honorary society for academic excellence. Walter Green:The Electronic Journal of Emergency Management is a peer reviewed academic journal. We welcome student, faculty, and practitioner papers. The Journal can be viewed at http://members.tripod.com/~Richmond_ESM/index.html Walter Green:We are offering a professional certification for people who manage the response phase of emergencies, the Certified Crisis Operations Manager. Current information on CCOM is at http://members.tripod.com/~Richmond_ESM/ccom.html Walter Green:The CCOM credential is based on a full day examination including your knowledge, decision making skills, ability to prioritize work, and ability to operate in the team environment in an EOC. Walter Green:One of our goals has been to encourage high academic standards and lifelong professional learning. To this end we are working on the formation of a local honorary society, Rho Epsilon Mu. Walter Green:We would welcome interest from other colleges and universities in forming chapters of this society. Walter Green:Our major initiative for the comng year is exploration of how to offer a Master of Science Degree in Crisis Management. We would welcome help in trying to define the market for specialized degrees in emergency management and how we could best meet the need. Walter Green:We do plan to have this degree up and running in the Fall of 1999. Walter Green:If anyone wants specific information on any of our programs, please e-mail me at n0psb@aol.com Walter Green:That's Emergency Services Management at the University of Richmond. I will turn it back to Amy now for questions and answers. Amy Sebring:Thank you Walter. If you have a question or comment, please indicate by inputting a question mark (?) to the chat screen. Then compose your question but hold it until you are recognized. We are ready for your questions now. Amy Sebring:While we are waiting, I would like to ask about what per cent of your students are from public vs. private sectors? Jose Musse:? BurtWallrich:? Walter Green:The majority are public sector ... Avagene Moore:? babsims:? Walter Green:however, we do have some out of the nuclear power industry and business continuity. Amy Sebring:Jose please. Jose Musse:Courses in spanish? Walter Green:Not yet ... I am having enough trouble finding PhD faculty in English ... Kellye Junchaya:? Amy Sebring:Burt please. BurtWallrich:Does your program include information about the role of local nonprofit orgs (not national disaster orgs like ARC) in disaster relief and recovery?... Walter Green:but we are very interested in developing the capability to teach globally, including in Latin America. BurtWallrich:... In recent major events the local CBOs have provided essential services. That is being recognized and incorporated into local govt disaster plans in several areas. Walter Green:Yes - we do have volunteers from a variety of agencies ... Walter Green:however, for many agencies funding college for their students is expensive. Amy Sebring:Avagene please. Avagene Moore:I missed the first part of your presentation, Walter. Forgive me if you have already answered my question. You mentioned offering some of your classes via the Internet. Have you researched your market audience to find out just how many students you can expect via the Net? BurtWallrich:? Walter Green:Good question - now our model is fairly restrictive in that we require two on-campus sessions ... Pilar Toral:Im interested in what are your plans for Latin America. I teach at the Univ. of Puerto Rico and Im proposing a Bd in Emergency Mananagement Walter Green:we think that is important at the Undergraduate level ... for Masters level instruction we may go to a more distance model ... Walter Green:we are getting our target of 12 to 15 students per class. Russell Coile:? Amy Sebring:babsims please ( we will come back to Pilar) babsims:Do you have participation from professionals in large urban areas? Walter Green:Yes - our primary traditional market is a metro center in a standard metropolitan statistical area. Amy Sebring:Kellye please. Kellye Junchaya:Do you have any introductory classes for people just starting out and without any experience? Paul Harris:? Walter Green:Yes - because we teach managing rather than hands on skills, we start with introductory work in a variety of areas. Our minor students are largely people in business or computers with no emergency background. Amy Sebring:Burt please. Kellye Junchaya:Are you looking for materials to use in these programs? BurtWallrich:I was thinking more about whether you are educating your govt-based students about the potential for incorporating local CBOs into their disaster plans.... Kellye Junchaya:sorry BurtWallrich:People who come from a trad. disaster managment background sometimes have a blind spot in terms of long-range human services in recovery. Walter Green:For Kellye - certainly - lets e-mail off line. Barbara:? Walter Green:For Burt - yes, we teach an integrated approach - you can't be integrated without including not only the big volunteers, but also the small volunteers, and the voluntary agencies that don't even look like regular voluntary agencies. Amy Sebring:I had promised Pilar we would get back to him regarding Latin America ... Amy Sebring:do you have any plans in the near future Walter or will this be developed over time. Walter Green:Pilar - our interest in Latin america has been developed through a Partnership with Santa Catarina province in Brasil ... Walter Green:and conversations with Jose ... Walter Green:we are always interested in exploring partnerships with other universities ... Walter Green:and perhaps there is a way we can work together to mutual advantage. Amy Sebring:Russell please. Russell Coile:Does your program receive any support from Dr.Wayne Blanchard's project at EMI? Walter Green:First Russell - I know I owe you something from IAEM and haven't forgotten ... Jose Musse:? Russell Coile:Wayne is sponsoring textbooks. Walter Green:and yes, we are working with the higher education project closely - however, our focus is a little different ... Walter Green:in that we are more response phase oriented as an Applied Studies degree. Amy Sebring:Paul Harris please. Paul Harris:Walter: I value your advice re: my career development. I am from Canada (Calgary, Alberta) and I have being involved in emergency planning & training for approx 6 years now - primarily in the oil & gas industry. I do not have a degree - and I have had "hands on" response training as well as planning & exercise design training here in Canada & the states. I would like to 1) increase my knowledge 2) obtain valid certification. Base on your programs what wou Walter Green:Both education and certification are vital ... Amy Sebring:(we will wait for the rest of your question Paul...) Amy Sebring:(there is a line length limitation!) Walter Green:we are finding that the entry credential now for public safety jobs in any metro area is a Bachelor's Paul Harris:Just asking for you advice suggestions re: my career development Walter Green:and a lot depends on where you plan to work ... Walter Green:in today's environment I would say get portable credentials that are widely accepted ... Walter Green:and that can transfer from state to state and internationally ... perhaps drop me a note and we can talk further. Amy Sebring:Barbara please. Barbara:I'm involved with a new degree program that will be offered soon and would like to contact you regarding possible partnerships for the Bachelors and eventually a Masters Degree is planned. Paul Harris:My hopes are to continue in emergency planning / training and crisis managment planning / training for industry - Thanks I will. Walter Green:Barbara - please do, we will gladly share our experience. Amy Sebring:Jose please. Jose Musse:I believe we need is South America teleconference, seminars short what help better system emergency management Walter Green:Good idea - one of the real problems in education is matching the student's available time with the time it takes to teach things. And yes, thank you for the material and we are continuing to work on some ideas. Amy Sebring:Walter, can you share some of your experience with the online courses. What have you learned from that experience? Walter Green:On-line teaching is exciting ... Walter Green:my experience is that the students love the flexibility ... Barbara:? Walter Green:we use a listserver for distribution of student work and it dramatically increases the amount of participation ... Walter Green:I find it stimulating because I can give better quality answers to questions ... Walter Green:but it takes a lot of time - 15 hours a week for a 3 semester hour class for the instructor ... student work load is normal. Gil Gibbs:? Amy Sebring:Barbara please. Barbara:Do you find that given the personality types of the emergency providers that they are more responsive to the on-line classes then a regular classroom. They are very immediate gratification oriented. Walter Green:It varies student to student - some really do prefer the classroom environment. But everybody likes being able to do their work and submit it on a quiet mid-shift from the station. Amy Sebring:Gilbert please. Barbara:In designing our on-line courses I'm trying to be creative so that I can keep the students from being overwhelmed by the amount of reading involved. Amy Sebring:? Gil Gibbs:For the physically impared, and those with long distances to commute, an on-line class would be a godsend, also if the local schools are deficient in these areas. Walter Green:Barabara - at UofR we really require a lot of reading from everyone - two textbooks and supplementals is normal. Barbara:That is my requirement also. Thank you Walter Green:For Gil - yes, absolutely, and that is part of why our University got involved with state government. The state Office of EMS wants statewide delivery and Internet is the best way we have found. Amy Sebring:I am sensing a need here for continuing networking between universities with emergency management programs. Could EIIP help facilitate this in some way? Barbara:? Walter Green:Certainly - even if it was only in the form of a regular academic users groups so we could exchange ideas. Barbara:Amy I'm all for that. I'm definately going to be contacting Mr. Green. Amy Sebring:Perhaps we can follow up with Wayne Blanchard also on that idea. Amy Sebring:I am sorry but we are just about out of time for today ... Amy Sebring:we will be adjourning to the Virtual Forum room for further open discussion, and you are invited to join us. But first, a word about upcoming events. Walter Green:Amy - quick debrief? Amy Sebring:Yes, hope you can stick around for just a few more minutes Walter? Walter Green:Absolutely! Amy Sebring:Thank you so much for an excellent program to start off our New Year ... Amy Sebring:we have an exciting panel next week ... Amy Sebring:Avagene, would you care to do the honors please? Avagene Moore:Thanks, Amy. .... Avagene Moore:Next Tuesday, 1 PM EST, Round Table discussion available to Partners. ... Avagene Moore:As a reminder, on Tuesday, January 26, the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) will conduct their first monthly Round Table discussion with Phyllis Mann, IAEM President-Elect, as Moderator. ... Avagene Moore:Each monthly Round Table by IAEM will be on a different topic and everyone is invited to participate. ... Avagene Moore:Other Partners are urged to conduct Round Table discussions also. Great opportunity to highlight an issue or some emergency management project you are involved. Also builds your communications skills. ... Avagene Moore:Next Wednesday, January 13, we have a panel composed of NFPA 1600 Committee members who will talk about the comment period for the proposed NFPA 1600 Standard, how to get the document, how to submit your comments. .... Avagene Moore:Very important session with panelists Lloyd Bokman (OH EMA), Robert Fletcher (FEMA), and Pat Moore (Strohl Systems). ... Avagene Moore:Everyone involved in any aspect of the emergency management field should be interested in this panel discussion. ... Avagene Moore:Wednesday, January 13, 12:00 Noon EST. Back to you, Amy. Amy Sebring:NFPA 1600 = Proposed Standard for Disaster Management Amy Sebring:We will also have a Mutual Aid Session tomorrow evening ... Amy Sebring:8:00 PM EST for an evening chat. Amy Sebring:And now we will close down the Classroom for today ... Amy Sebring:but invite you to join us back in the Virtual Forum room ... Amy Sebring:for some follow on open discussion. Amy Sebring:Thanks to Walter and to our audience today with excellent participation.