# Presentation: 540615

## FEMA

**FEMA**
**Higher Ed Conference**
**June 7, 2007**

## Foundation of Higher Education - Agenda

- Foundation of Higher Education

**	****1. State of the Foundation Report.**
*	** **Kay Goss, CEM**®*
**Accreditation****.**
*	** **Daryl Spiewak, CEM**®**	*
**Honor Society****.**
*	** **Dorothy Miller*
*	** **Michael Kemp*
**Next Steps**.
*	** **Valerie Lucus. CEM**®*

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- Foundation of Higher Education - Agenda

## History

-    Every year, we conclude that the emergency management programs in higher education have flourished to the point that over time our challenge is to insure that those programs that you have worked so hard to develop and deliver will be recognized and rewarded – and so that potential emergency management students will know which programs offer them the academic 	background they need and seek.

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## History - Getting Off the Dime

- Several of us said, “Why don’t we start doing something in that direction?”
- George Bernard Shaw: “Some people see things as they are and ask why. Others see things as they should be and ask why not.”
- Formed the Foundation of Higher Education Accreditation for Emergency Management/ Homeland Security.

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## 501c(3) Foundation

**Section 1. Purpose.****  **
- To facilitate and support the efforts of students, researchers, academicians, administrators and practitioners to develop standards that will strengthen the disaster/emergency management and homeland security profession.**   **
**Section 2.  Vision.**
- FoHE is dedicated to excellence in teaching; research and public outreach in disciplines contributing to the disaster phases and the security of the homeland; and to becoming the premier organization  	promoting collaborative opportunities between the public, private 	and academic communities.

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## History – The Last Year

-     Our last year has been one of regrouping due to Craig Marks’ untimely death.
-    **Tribute:** Craig kept our records, handled our administration, served as our facilitator, even accelerant, when we needed it, always maintained daily momentum, and was a great friend/partner to all gathered here.

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## FoHE Board So Far; We Need More 

- Kay, Daryl, Valerie, and Dorothy are officers
- Dr. R. Allen Smith
- Dr. Mary Ann Rollans
- Dr. Craig Zachlod
- Dr. Derin Ural
- Dr. David McEntire
- Michael Kemp, student representative

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## Accreditation

- With Daryl Spiewak in the lead, we developed an initial set of standards that incorporated NFPA 1600, NIMS, NRP, and other emergency management basics.
- Arkansas Tech University volunteered to be the first institution to let us see how these standards would play out in a realistic setting.
- They became the first to be accredited through the 	process and contributed greatly to further 	refinement.

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## Honor Society

- With Dorothy Miller in the lead we developed an Honor Society (Epsilon Pi Phi) and now have several institutions in the process of establishing chapters, such as California University of Pennsylvania, Arkansas Tech University, City University of New York John Jay College, North Dakota State University, among others.

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## Communications and Website

- With Valerie Lucus in the lead, we have the beginnings of a website and a communications strategy.
- http://www.foundationofhighereducation.com
- Last November, Valerie briefed the IAEM Training and Education Committee at the annual conference. Cortez Lawrence offered advice on grant funding, which are pursuing in 	partnership with Arkansas Tech University 	and ESRI.

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## Staffing

- All of us are donating our time, of course.
- We have discussed the possibility of hiring Beth Armstrong’s company to staff the foundation and that will happen when funds are available.
- She has graciously offered to assist in the interim.
- Ideally, if the world should end and Wayne retires, we would be able to install him as the Chancellor for the Foundation and be in a position for all of us in this room to insure that our annual conference and our joint efforts 	could continue, regardless of what external factors 	arise.

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## The Future is Up to You

- We need you.
- For help with building a better foundation.
- For peer assessors.
- For training assessors.
- For institutions that would like to undergo accreditation.
- For board membership.

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## The Future is Up to You

- We have sign up sheets for board members and for institutions that are ready to have an accreditation team come to their campus.
- Here is the best part of the presentation
- 		Daryl, Valerie, and Dorothy!

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## Accreditation Program

- Foundation of Higher Education

- Accredits emergency management programs and NOT institutions.
- Applies to programs worldwide.
- Evaluates alternate delivery methods.
- Bases educational standards on emergency management practices defined by NFPA 1600.

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## Twenty-Three Standards

- Foundation of Higher Education

- 1-4 General educational program.
- 5-19 Emergency management program.
- 20-23 Resources impacting educational quality.

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## General Education Standards

- Foundation of Higher Education

- Curriculum Structure.
- Professional Values.
- Professional Business Practices.
- Written and Oral Communications.

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## Emergency ManagementStandards

- Foundation of Higher Education

- Emergency ManagementStandards

- Laws and Authorities
- Hazards
- Prevention
- Mitigation
- Resource Management
- Mutual Aid
- Planning
- Direction, Control and Coordination

- Communication and Warning
- Operations
- Logistics and Facilities
- Training
- Exercises
- Crisis Communication and Public Information
- Finance and Administration

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## Resource Standards

- Foundation of Higher Education

- Faculty.
- Facilities.
- Administration.
- Assessment.

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## Accreditation Process

- Foundation of Higher Education

**Simplified Process.**
- Request site visit.
- 2-3 day site visit by peer evaluators.
- Review by Standards Council.
- Receive accreditation report.

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## Accreditation Process

- Foundation of Higher Education

**Regular Process.**
- Application and enrollment fee.
- Self-study.
- Request site visit.
- Prepare for site visit team.
- Site visit by peer evaluators.
- Review by Standards Council.
- Receive accreditation report.

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## Accreditation Process Results

- Foundation of Higher Education

**Compliance.**
- Fully accredited for five years.
**Partial compliance.**
- Minor weaknesses needing improvement.
**Non-compliance.**
- Critical weaknesses.
- Feedback will aid in the program’s development towards meeting the standards.

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## Epsilon Pi Phi

- Foundation of Higher Education

**Purpose.**
-    Specialized academic honor society for Emergency Management, Disaster Research and Science, Homeland Security and Business Continuity Planning.

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## Epsilon Pi Phi

- Foundation of Higher Education

**Mission.**
-    Strive for the reward, advancement and recognition of EM/HS as a discipline and profession...to encourage high standard of excellence.

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## Epsilon Pi Phi

- Foundation of Higher Education

**Membership.**
- Maintain 3.5 on 4.0 in major.
- Must be enrolled in or graduated from a program at an accredited university.

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## Epsilon Pi Phi

- Foundation of Higher Education

- Accredited institution
- Membership requirements
- Faculty Advisor to chapter

- Annual activity
- Board of Directors elected
- Annual Fee: $100

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**National Chapter.**
- No local chapter and/or alumni members.
**Requirements.**

## Epsilon Pi Phi

- Foundation of Higher Education

**First Chapter!!**

**California University of Pennsylvania**

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## Epsilon Pi Phi

- Foundation of Higher Education

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**2007 GOALS:**
- Four new chapters.
- Integrate with IAEMSA Chapters – Roadmap for Success.
- Future partnerships/opportunities.
- Offer continuity in the accreditation/certification GAP.
- FoHE  Emergency management programs.
- Honors Society  Entry level.
- CEM  Practitioners.
- EMAP  Municipalities.

## Next Steps ... 

- Foundation of Higher Education

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- Next Steps ...

- Communication
- Web site.
- Interactive.
- Accept funds online.
- Funding.
- Administrative work.
- Grants-R-Us.
- Certification as accrediting organization.

## FEMA

**FEMA**
**Higher Ed Conference**
**June 7, 2007**