FEMA’s Higher Education Program Bits and Pieces
National Emergency Training Center, Emmitsburg, MD
13 March 2015
Higher Education Program News:
v Webinars:
The Higher Education Program is continuing with the webinar series started in 2013. The webinars will be used to increase the flow of information and knowledge to the emergency management higher education community. Knowing what is important and essential to your programs is important. To that end, we request that you provide us topics that are of particular interest and necessary to your academic programs or your institution. An April webinar is currently in the planning stages. Ideas for webinar topics may be sent to Lillian Virgil at .
v Website Updates
(NEW) GIS Tools and Concepts
Report on the Value of Including GIS Tools and Concepts in Higher Education Emergency Management Curriculum and Programs, December 21, 2014
http://www.training.fema.gov/hiedu/gistoolsconcepts.aspx
GeoTech Center – http://www.geotechcenter.org/
Urban and Regional Information Systems Association – http://www.urisa.org/
EM Accreditation Information – New Report
Report of Findings from the 2015 Survey Part One: Emerging, Draft Curriculum Standards and Bachelor’s Program Content Standards
http://www.training.fema.gov/hiedu/emfoundation.aspx
v Hi Ed Symposium:
Mark your calendars for the 17th Annual Emergency Management Higher Education Symposium scheduled for June 1- 4, 2015 at the Emergency Management Institute, Emmitsburg, MD.
Application and pertinent information for the symposium is now posted to the Hi Ed website at http://www.training.fema.gov/hiedu/educonference15.aspx. When submitting the application complete, signed and returned to the NETC Admissions office at . The applicant’s signature is the only signature required on the application. Deadline for submitting applications is May 8, 2015. Applications received after this date will not be accepted. All non-U.S. citizens attending the symposium must have a security clearance conducted and completed before they are accepted. A security clearance takes 8-12 weeks to complete. Non-U.S. applicants must submit a complete and signed application by February 13, 2015. Applications received after this date will not be accepted.
Application Information - Course Code - E0392 Annual EM Hi Ed Symposium
Everyone attending or presenting at the Emergency Management Higher Education Symposium must submit an application and be notified of acceptance. Individuals without an accepted application will not be granted admittance to the NETC.
Symposium applicants will be notified by email of their acceptance to the higher education symposium. Make sure your email address is legible on the application. If you have not heard from the Admissions office 1 week after receipt of your application please contact Admissions at or the Higher Education Program Office for assistance.
v Moderators/Facilitators Needed for the Hi Ed Symposium
We are in need of moderators/facilitators for the symposium. Moderators/facilitators are very important to the operation of the symposium. They are responsible for keeping the breakout session to the allotted time, introduce speakers and maintain a cool and professional atmosphere for speakers and participants. If interested please contact Shannon Cool, or Barbara Johnson, . For more information about moderator/facilitator duties go to the Hi Ed website symposium section at http://www.training.fema.gov/hiedu/educonference15.aspx and click on the Symposium Moderators/Facilitators Information bullet.
v Student Volunteer Information
Students currently enrolled in a college/university emergency management program are needed as student volunteer interns for the 17th Annual Emergency Management Higher Education (Hi Ed) Symposium. Students will be assigned one or more breakout session for reporting assignments and will be expect to perform general conference duties. The reportswill be incorporated into the post-symposium proceedings posted to the FEMA Emergency Management Higher Education Program website.
Generally graduate students will be assignedprimarily to take detailed notes during the concurrent breakout sessions and to write summaries of those breakout sessions which will be posted to the post-symposium “proceedings”. Reports will be 3-4 pages per session and will highlight the most significant aspects of the session. Graduate students will be assigned at least one breakout session to report but may be assigned up to three reports during the conference.
Generally undergraduate students are assigned various aspects of the symposium i.e., passing microphones during plenary sessions, assisting with symposium registration, passing out symposium folders, taking hard copies of presentation materials to classrooms, posting breakout session classroom assignments and various other duties.
In addition one or more students will be assigned to assist the Hi Ed Program Manager and as well as the Hi Ed Program Assistant throughout the week.
Student volunteer interns are required to attend 100% of the symposium beginning with Monday workshops and ending on Thursday afternoon with the last breakout sessions. The typical volunteer obligations comprise about 20% of the symposium. When not acting in a volunteer capacity students are free to attend breakout sessions at their leisure.
We currently have 21 students are committed to volunteering at the symposium. Schools with students participating are Jackson State University, Arkansas State University Jonesboro, York University, Canada, University of Akron, Frederick Community College and the University of South Florida.
If interested contact Barbara Johnson, Hi Ed Program Assistant, at or (301) 447-1452.
College / University News and Information:
v 2015 Emergency Management in Higher Education Seminar
June 4-5, 2015
The George Washington University
Washington, DC
Hosted by The George Washington University Office of Emergency Management and the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area. This annual seminar brings together select emergency management colleagues from across the country to engage in practical dialogue, share best practices and develop actionable next steps to advance our collective efforts to create and maintain safe and prepared college and university communities. Questions should be directed to .
v Emergency Management and Homeland-Cyber Security Labor Demand and Employment Study
Dear Colleagues,
It is essential to understand where jobs and opportunities exist for students as they pass through a career pathway. Accurate and comprehensive labor statistics in the area of Emergency Management and Homeland Security are very hard to find as well as access. This is particularly true when looking at very specialized areas like intelligence, cyber and others. We need to know the occupational outlook for EM-HS-Cyber in the next few years, particularly as the number of state and federal retirements continue to increase. As the various components of a state-wide EM-HS career pathway come online, we need some hard data on the labor market and where future positions and opportunities are to be found. In this way, we can continue to adjust and modify EM-HS education and training programs to enhance the preparation of students/graduates for these varied fields and career positions.
Are you interested in helping out on a U.S./California EM-HS-Cyber Labor Need/Demand and Employment Study? We are looking forward to researching employment needs/demands from the public/private/and NGO sectors and would appreciate colleagues from all sectors contributing on this report (5 or 6 volunteers are needed.) If you are interested in working on the study, please let me know by March 18th (with a brief statement describing your expertise and how you can contribute to the Study) so we can move a strong team forward on this.
Thank you very much and looking forward to this project immensely and think it will be a marvelous contribution to the conversation of student success and career preparation in the areas of EM-HS.
Hope you have a great weekend!
Best regards, Keith
Keith Clement, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Criminology
California State University, Fresno
Chair, University Undergraduate Curriculum Committee
Chair, College of Social Sciences Election Committee
Planning Director, CSU Council for Emergency
Management and Homeland Security (CEMHS)
www.calstate.edu/cemhs
http://cemhs.blogspot.com/
v Make This the Year That Your Campus Gets Prepared
Go Beyond Disaster Awareness and Take Action
Every campus is vulnerable to severe weather and other emergencies. Are your students, faculty, and staff prepared to protect themselves, survive, and recover quickly if a disaster strikes while they are on campus? Everyone on campus should know what to do, where to go, and how to stay safe when a disaster strikes. But it takes practice.
That’s why your campus should take part in America’s PrepareAthon!SM—the biggest preparedness event in the United States. In 2014, over 27 million people took action to become better prepared. This year, America’s PrepareAthon! will be even bigger, and we want you to join us!
Here are 11 ways your school can participate this year:
· Learn about local hazards and conduct an on-campus drill to practice emergency response actions.
· Encourage faculty, students, and staff to sign up for local and campus alerts and warnings, download preparedness apps, and/or check to see if their phones are able to receive wireless emergency alerts.
· Develop and test campus-wide emergency communications and preparedness plans.
· Assemble or update emergency supplies and equipment and ensure that they are accessible in key locations, such as classroom buildings and dorms.
· Host a preparedness discussion, training, or class for faculty, staff, and students.
· Develop and employ a plan for safeguarding critical documents and information.
· Document campus property and obtain appropriate insurance for relevant hazards.
· Make property improvements on campus to reduce/mitigate potential injury and property damage.
· Develop a continuity of operations plan.
· Organize scenario-based tabletop exercises with different groups, offices, and departments on campus.
· Meet with local professional responders and leadership to discuss how to help each other and share resources during emergencies.
Visit us at www.ready.gov/prepare to register and learn more about how you can prepare your campus. We have tools, resources, and tips that can help you make your participation in America’s PrepareAthon! a success.
Sign up today, and be counted in the nation’s largest preparedness event. By registering, your school will also serve as an example to motivate others to participate and prepare.
Be sure to follow us @PrepareAthon on Twitter and tell us about your school’s participation with #PrepareAthon. Let’s show America how the higher education community is taking action help others become better prepared!
Emergency Management/Homeland Security News:
v 2015 MEMA Emergency Management and Homeland Security Symposium
May 26-29, 2015 Ocean City, MD
www.mdema.org/symposium
Students interested in public safety disciplines to include-- Emergency Management, Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Public Health, and Fire Sciences are encouraged to attend and participate in this year’s #MEMA2015. Registration fees have been cut in half for students; provide proof of recent enrollment to receive the discount. Fees include: classes, full breakfasts, lunches, and receptions.
Tuesday 26th — free, opening reception
27th Wednesday— $25, highlights include: Strategic Challenges in EM, Mexican Cartels: impact on public safety, Understanding Islam/Muslims, One Nurse’s Ebola journey, International EM: Sweden. Prizes such as Smart TV, iPad, and Roku given away during Vendor Show
28th Thursday-- $25, highlights include: Leadership during Crisis/Boston Marathon, Consequences of the Anti-Vaccination Movement, Private Sector Integration, FEMA Guidelines for EOC Mgmt, Civil Air Patrol, Climate Change impacts to EM, IMAT Team. Symposium Mixer and Bonfire on the Beach.
29th Friday -- $17.50, highlights include: Boulder Co Flood recovery, Post Traumatic Community Recovery—Columbine High School.
v Articles Worth Noting
Congressional Research Service –
Major Disaster Assistance from the Disaster Relief Fund: State Profiles http://fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/R43883.pdf
The New York Times –
College for a New Age
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/10/opinion/joe-nocera-college-for-a-new-age.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=c-column-top-span-region®ion=c-column-top-span-region&WT.nav=c-column-top-span-region
Where Terrorism Research Goes Wrong
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/08/opinion/sunday/where-terrorism-research-went-wrong.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&version=Moth-Visible&module=inside-nyt-region®ion=inside-nyt-region&WT.nav=inside-nyt-region&_r=0
v Disaster Information Outreach by Librarians
OCHA Offers Hashtag Standards for Emergencies
The United Nations Office for the Coordinator of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has posted its Think Brief “Hashtag Standards for Emergencies.” These short think pieces are non-papers that present relatively new ideas that require testing and validation. The objective of the Think Brief is to generate feedback, views and advice. Standardization of social media (and data) hashtags and the encouragement of enabling GPS during crisis were recognized as a policy piece that could have major impact on integrating big-crisis data into emergency response going forward. The public is using Twitter for real-time information exchange and for expressing emotional support during a variety of crises, such as wildfires, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, political protests, mass shootings and communicable-disease tracking. By encouraging proactive standardization of hashtags, emergency responders may be able to reduce a big-data challenge and better leverage crowdsourced information for operational planning and response. This think brief is the culmination of the research. For more information…
For your own subscription, sign up at http://disasterinfo.nlm.nih.gov/dimrc/dimrclistserv.html.
The DISASTR-OUTREACH-LIB archives are available at https://list.nih.gov/archives/disastr-outreach-lib.html.
v Disaster Medicine & Public Health Preparedness, Volume 8, Issue 6 – December 2014
On The Cover – Disaster Turns Into Blessings
Editorial – Fearbola
Letters to the Editor
o A Need for Tetanus Vaccination Before Restoration Activities in Fukushima, Japan
o Detecting Residual Fluorine 18 From a Medical PET-CT Procedure During Population Whole Body Counter Screening in Fukushima
Brief Reports
o Impact of Natural Disaster Combined with Nuclear Power Plant Accident on Local Medical Services: a Case Study of Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital after the Great East Japan Earthquake
o Experience from the Great East Japan Earthquake Response as the Basis for Revising the Japanese Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) Training Program
o Perception of the Utility and Acceptability of an Emergency Child Minding Service for Health Staff
o Assessing Electronic Death Registration and American Red Cross Systems for Mortality Surveillance During Hurricane Sandy
Original Research
o Effects of the July 1997 Floods in the Czech Republic on Cardiac Mortality
o Behavioral Consequences of Disasters: A Five-Stage Model of Population Behavior
o Methods of Instruction of the Incident Command System and Related Topics at US Veterinary Schools
o Building a National Model of Public Mental Health Preparedness and Community Resilience Validation of a Dual-Intervention, Systems-Based Approach
o Developing Strong Response Capacity: Training Volunteers in the Medical Reserve Corps