Capacity Building for 

Organizational Resilience:

Integrating Standards on Risk, Disruption and 

Business Continuity in the Curriculum

Lisa Greenwood, PhD Dawn Hess, EdD

Yewande Abraham, PhD Jennifer Schneider, ScD, CIH
Project Goals 

2
Accomplishments – Module Content

• Educational content +

• Tools and resources for faculty 

and students

• Real-life examples, active 

learning activities

Module Content

Description and Rationale

Intended Learning Outcomes

Educational Content

Sample Questions & Exercises

Supporting Resources

Assessment Tools
Standards Based Learning Modules
Accomplishments – Course Integration

Theme Relevance for Existing Courses

Themes in Risk, Disruption & Continuity Standards Leadership & Strategy Critical Infrastructure Operations & Business Impact Analysis Risk Assessment & Reduction Crisis Communications Training, Testing & Tabletops Supply Chain Crisis/Emergency Resources

Principles of Environmental Sustainability 

Health and Safety (IUG)

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

EHS Management (G) ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

EHS Management System Design (G) ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Professional Communication (UG) ✔ ✔ ✔

Accident Causation & Prevention* (UG) ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Principles of Construction Leadership & 

Management* (G)

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Introduction to Careers in High-Tech 

Ecosystems (G)

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Smart Systems Technologies (IUG) ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Cyberphysical Automation II (IUG) ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

*In progress (IUG) = Introductory undergraduate level (UG) = undergraduate level (G) = graduate level 
Communication and Dissemination

6

⮚Internal

• Shared with RIT programs in Colleges of Computing and Information 

Science, Engineering, Engineering Technology

⮚External

• Shared with other institutions – SUNY Brockport, Syracuse University

• Shared via RIT Collaboratory for Resiliency & Recovery website 

https://www.rit.edu/resiliencyandrecovery/ (in progress)

• Presentation at ASQ Quality 4.0 Conference in San Antonio (Oct 2022)

• Presentation at 2022 ICONSES Conference in Austin (Oct 2022)

• Publication of ICONSES Conference Paper (Dec 2022)

• Submitted to ICONSES affiliate journals (Under Consideration)

• Final Summary Paper -- to be submitted in February 2023
Evaluation 

7

⮚Assessment at multiple levels:

• Content review of module materials during development

• Evaluation of student learning after completing the 

module(s)

• External review of materials by external partners

• SUNY Brockport, Syracuse University

• Captured instructor feedback on modules and revised 

materials as appropriate
Outcomes: Impacts

⮚Students:

• Capacity-building for standards implementation

• Enhanced skillset in risk management & business continuity

⮚Faculty

• Expanded capacity to incorporate & teach about standards 

⮚Organizations/Employers

• Standards-literate entry-level professionals
Outcomes: Quantitative Impacts

⮚~ 120 students 

• 91% of students have achieved a B or better on assignments 

related to the course modules (so far)

⮚7 instructors

⮚6 programs 

⮚4 institutions of higher education

⮚Ongoing assessment 
Outcomes: Quantitative Impacts

10

Course Module No. of 

Students

Assessment Method % B or Better

Principles of 

ESHS

Risk

Disruption

44 Based on application of module concepts to 

prepare for a class field trip.

Assignment A: 100%

Assignment B: 94%

EHS 

Management

Risk 21 Based on application of module concepts on 2 

assignments and a comprehensive casebased term project. 

Unit A: 95%

Unit B: 86%

Term project: 100%

EHS System 

Design

Continuity 12 Based on discussion to enhance 

understanding of critical resources, controls, 

and emergency management

Qualitative assessment

Professional 

Communication

Risk 21 Based on class observation on an in-class 

simulation for disaster preparedness and 

response communication.

80% successfully 

completed the exercise

Intro to Careers 

in High Tech 

Ecosystems

Risk

Disruption

Resilience

10 Based on class discussions and an essay 

assignment following visits to high-tech 

businesses.

Essay assignment: 

80%

Cyberphysical 

Automation II

Risk

Disruption

Resilience

10 Based on an assigned paper on risk and 

resilience in the context of an individual 

automation project.

Paper: 80%
Outcomes: Qualitative Impacts –

Instructor Comments

“Students appeared to grasp concepts well and were able to 

successfully apply them to the project and answer the related exam 

questions. Group discussions helped students to prepare.”

“The use of an on-campus workshop format ... worked extremely well because 

students could collaborate on the work in real time, reinforce the concepts 

within their small groups, and have access to the instructor for guidance.” 

“Students ... seemed to enjoy knowing that they ‘get’ this concept 

because they continued to use it – and use it correctly - in 

subsequent assignments.”

“In the future, additional class time with focused class 

exercises could be used to reinforce key learning objectives.” 

“I really found the content to be a great fit”
Lessons Learned

• Roadblocks/Challenges 

• changes in investigator affiliations

• instructor and personnel changes

• different instructor needs

• timing of conferences and calls for proposals 

• time needed for further implementation and 

dissemination 

• Surprises/Successes

• well-received by instructors beyond core team

•interest in curriculum and tools in other 

programs

12
Additional Information/Future Plans

Developing interest: 

• Sharing information with Engineering Technology 

and Liberal Arts/Public Policy

• Gen-ed course on Design for Resilience in a 

Changing World

• Possible certification through RIT Certified

•Further integration within specific programs

13
Contact Information

Lisa Greenwood, Ph.D. She/Her/Hers

Assistant Professor

Civil Engineering Technology, Environmental 

Management and Safety

College of Engineering Technology

Rochester Institute of Technology

Engineering Technology Hall 82-3164

78 Lomb Memorial Dr.

Rochester NY 14623-5604

585-475-2026

llgcem@rit.edu

14
© RIT FLCC

Our Team

Yewande Abraham, Ph.D.

ysaite@rit.edu

Civil Engineering Technology 

Program 

Lisa Greenwood, Ph.D Jennifer Schneider Sc.D., CIH Dawn Hess, Ed.D.

.

Environmental Health & Safety Management Program

llgcem@rit.edu jlwcem@rit.edu dxhite@rit.edu

Sam Samanta, Ph.D.

Instrumentation & Control Technologies Program