University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs Disaster & Emergency Management Policy PUAD 5650 Spring Semester - 2014 Let's look at this thing from a standpoint of status. What do we got on the spacecraft that's good? - Gene Kranz, Flight Controller for Apollo 13 Aden Hogan, Jr. City Manager - Evans Colorado Instructor 1
Instructor: Aden Hogan, Jr., MPA, ICMA-CM, CRM City Manager, Evans Colorado Contact Information: Cell Phone 303.437.0438 (cell) Email (w) ahogan@evanscolorado.gov Email (h) aehogan@comcast.net Class Dates: Day: Wednesday (January 22 May 14) Times: 6:30 p.m. 9:15 p.m. Venue/Classroom: Plaza Building, Room #114, Auraria Campus Textbook: Emergency Management: Principles and Practice for Local Government, 2 nd Edition Waugh, Jr. William L.; Tierney, Kathleen; ISBN 978-0-87326-719-9; ICMA Press; 2007 (Read Chapters 1 and 2 for the first class) Class Objective: The course objective is to study the practical problems and issues when dealing with emergency incidents in the local government arena. Successful responses to emergency incidents require a combination of many disciplines (including public administration, law enforcement, fire services, emergency medical services, public works and others). How well these disciplines communicate, coordinate and cooperate is the key to a successful incident response. We will identify the critical elements common to all these disciplines and see how they combine to help deliver good emergency response. We will also look at the techniques and methodologies involved. We will examine a variety of actual emergency incidents to see what sorts of lessons can be learned from how the various responses unfolded; including leadership, public policy, management and preparedness. Topics to be covered will include emergency response planning, emergency response, risk management, disaster response, crisis management, and public administration s role in the emergency management process. Learning will be accomplished through lecture/presentation, classroom discussion and a limited research/presentation project. The briefing papers, in-class activities, and project will test your learning. Grading: Final grade for the course will be determined using the following criteria: 20% Attendance, class participation in discussion and case studies 30% Briefing Papers, Group Simulations and class assignments 50% Team Research Project/Presentation, Individual Executive Summary It wasn t raining when Noah built the ark. Howard Ruff (1931- ) Disaster & Emergency Management Policy 2
As this is a graduate level class, a high level of performance is the standard in class presentations and assignments. You can gauge your final performance by your interim grades. A C grade means your work is not at a graduate level. A B grade indicates satisfactory to Good graduate level work. An A grade is reserved for exceptional and exemplary performance and product. Class Attendance & Participation: When an emergency incident occurs, it s pretty important that you to show up. You have to be there to make a difference. This is also true for this class. Attendance and promptness demonstrates the level of respect you have for the instructor, your classmates, and yourself as a student. Your attendance and involvement in the class makes up 20% of your grade. I understand the time demands on all of us, but missing classes make it difficult for you to keep up with the course and can affect your grade significantly (as much as a full grade reduction). If it becomes absolutely necessary for you to miss a class, you must notify me in advance, or as soon as practically possible, that you will be absent. You can contact me by phone or email. We can discuss what sort of make-up assignment that would be relevant. Life will be easier if you simply don t miss a class. Instructor s Philosophy: We are here to learn thus we will look at best practices and examine case studies for real life examples. We will also draw on your experiences and perceptions in the discussions, conduct some in-class exercises to focus on our topic, and use outside speakers when possible. We will watch for learning opportunities and take advantage of them when they reveal themselves. Class Notes and Handouts: Taking notes can be critical to your success in this class. It is also an excellent way of reinforcing learning. I will post the syllabus, lecture PowerPoint s, and other important materials on Canvas. This should allow you to take notes on the key learning points, rather than trying to capture everything in the lecture. Reading: Start reading text as quickly as you get it. A Reading Assignment is included in the Class Schedule that will be distributed in class and on Canvas. Additional reading may be distributed in class. Closing Notes: This class will be what you make it. I hope to provide a dynamic and eclectic learning environment that focuses on connecting the theory of disaster and emergency management, with the policy and practical leadership it takes to deliver it during a crisis. Come prepared to engage in the learning and sharing process and we will create and experience that bring value to us all. Thanks! Disaster & Emergency Management Policy 3
CLASS ASSIGNMENTS Briefing Papers, Group Simulations and Class Assignments: These assignments are designed to simulate the types of reports, written communications and staff presentations you will use during an emergency or disaster. The instructor will determine the topic or scenario. The instructor may choose to have students present any assignment as part of a class discussion of the topic. The briefness and conciseness of Briefing Papers and these other communications is critical. Engagement in class discussions, case studies and activities are important learning opportunities. Your level of engagement and involvement will factor into your final grade. The purpose of this activity is to help you gain an understanding of how to conduct topic specific analysis and reduce your findings into a short executive overview and to prepare an IAP for and incident. Writing skills are often the weakest of all the communication techniques. The Briefing Paper and other class assignments represent 30% of your final grade. Team Research Project & Class Presentation: For this assignment, you will need to work in groups of at least two and not more than four people. You and your team will select an incident (disaster, emergency, crisis or extraordinary event) and, as a team, develop a research paper documenting your research and analysis. You will; Look at the underlying processes and structures that are contributing to the issue, situation or incident; Relate your analysis to the various areas contained in this course; and Identify any critical elements (from the syllabus) that were driving or impacting your incident. The teams will present the results of their research and analysis in class. Presentations will be approximately 45 minutes, including some time for Q&A. You are free to use a variety of presentation techniques. This assignment represents 50% of your final grade. I never saw a wreck nor was I ever in any predicament that threatened to end in disaster of any sort. Captain E. J. Smith, (1850-1912), RMS Titanic Disaster & Emergency Management Policy 4
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO - GENERAL COURSE POLICIES Plagiarism/Academic Dishonesty The content of papers and exams is assumed to be the work of the person whose name appears as author. Plagiarism occurs when content that is the work of another person (published author, classmate, et. al.) is not clearly attributed to that person. Plagiarism also occurs when students purchase papers from the Internet or some other source, and use those papers for anything other than background research. Plagiarism can occur when students use concepts and ideas (not just quotes) from another source without properly attributing them. Plagiarism also occurs when work done for one course is submitted to satisfy a requirement of another course unless the instructors of the respective courses have been informed and approved multiple submissions. If a finding of plagiarism has been made, and no extenuating circumstances are present, the student shall be assigned a grade of F in the course. In particularly flagrant cases the Department may recommend suspension or expulsion from the Department. The Committee may also recommend to the Department and the CLAS Ethics Committee that the student be suspended from the University for a period of one calendar year. If extenuating circumstances are present, the Committee may choose to assign lesser penalties. Students with Disabilities The University encourages the full participation of students with disabilities. Students with disabilities are urged to contact the University Office of Student Disability Services, 303/556-3450, and to meet individually with the instructor to discuss special accommodations that may be needed for successful participation in this course. Incomplete Grades (IW & IF) Incomplete grades (IW or IF) are not granted for low academic performance. To be eligible for an Incomplete grade, students must (1) successfully complete 75 percent of the course, (2) have special circumstances (verification may be required) that preclude the student from attending class and completing graded assignments, and (3) make arrangements to complete missing assignments with the original instructor. A CLAS Course Completion agreement is strongly suggested. The following policies and codes of CU-Denver will be followed: CU-Denver Academic Honor Code. CU-Denver Student and Faculty Conduct Code. No partial credit will be given on any assignments. No late or missed assignments will be accepted. Gen. George A. Custer U.S. 7 th Cavalry Custer s Last Stand Little Big Horn, MT June 1876 Custer Monument Little Bighorn NBM, MT There are not enough Indians in the world to defeat the 7 th Cavalry. - Gen. George A. Custer (1839-1876) Disaster & Emergency Management Policy 5