Emergency Management AdministrationAssociate of Arts Degreefor the State of Nevada

Presented by Dr. Ronald J. Casey

Criminal Justice ProfessorDepartment of Public Safety & Human Services

– Community College of Southern Nevada

Director – Southern Desert Regional Police Academy

June 9, 2005

Need for a State-Wide Program

• Nevada has many rural areas; there is approximately 500 miles between Reno and the Las Vegas Valley.

• A need was demonstrated for an on-line program in Emergency Management Administration to accommodate all the professionals in the field. (This program will meet the needs of both Northern and Southern Nevada.)

Other Community Colleges Within the

State• The University and Community College

System of Nevada (UCCSN) has established a common course numbering system.

• Approval by the Board of Regents allows other community colleges in Northern Nevada to implement the Associate of Arts Degree in Emergency Management Administration.

Collaboration with University of Nevada, Las

Vegas• The University and Community College

System of Nevada (UCCSN) is composed of two universities, one state college, and four community colleges. – Three of the community colleges are

located in Northern Nevada.• A concern of the community college

faculty is the acceptance of all community college credits by the two universities.

Program Design With the Public Administration Department of UNLV

• Dr. Lee Bernick, dean of Public Administration, understood the acceptance of community college coursework by the university.

• In addition to the special program requirements, Dean Bernick collaborated on the acceptance of general education requirements.

• The total AA degree would be accepted by his department, and students enter the PA Program as juniors.

Program Design

• A program was needed that would meet the standards of the Emergency Management community.

• Students would be able to continue with their degrees instate or within other colleges and universities.

• Courses were implemented utilizing the curricula of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for community colleges.

Department of Public& Human Services at CCSN• Associates of Arts Degree (64 Credits) in Emergency Management

Administration

– General Education Requirements (32 Credits) plus

– Special Program Requirements (32 Credits)• Principles of Emergency Management• Emergency Planning• Emergency Operations• Basic Public Information Officer• Disaster Response and Recovery• Disaster Mitigation• Emergency Simulations & Exercises• Incident Command System National Curriculum (4 credits)• Web-based Simulation Exercise (4 credits)• Terrorism Response Planning

• All courses involved transfer directly to University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) with no loss of credit.

• Dr. Jim O’Brien – Director of Clark Country Emergency Management• Dr. Ronald J. Casey – Director SDRPA

Proactive Preparation andPlanning for PotentialTerrorism Disasters

• Terrorism Potentials in Nevada– Lake Powell/Lake Mead & Hoover Dam– Nevada Test Site– Famous Las Vegas Strip– McCarran International Airport– Nellis Air Force Base– Potential target at Yucca Mountain– Lake Tahoe– Fallon Naval Air Station– Reno/Carson City– Wind Driven Biological attacks

Proactive Preparation andPlanning for PotentialNatural Disasters

• Natural Disaster Potentials in Nevada– Earthquakes– Extreme Heat– Chemical Emergency– Range & Forest Fires– Avalanche & Snow Melt Flooding– Flash flooding– Avian Flu, West Nile & other visitor spread

communicable diseases

Proactive Preparation andPlanning for PotentialHuman Related Disasters

• Human Related Disasters in Nevada– Biological Contaminate Release (intentional

or accidental)– Dirty (nuclear contaminated) Bombs– Diseases (smallpox, anthrax, botulism, avian

flu, West Nile virus)– Active Terror (hostages, mass shootings,

snipers, hijackings)– Explosives (conventional)

Curricula Commences

• Fall 2005 Initial classes begin at CCSN• First transfers to UNLV in Fall 2007• First bachelor degree graduates May

2008 from UNLV

Why?

• Forming a basis of shared communication and information.

• Producing a group of leaders (government and business) in Emergency Management Preparedness with the same foundation of planning, communications and execution spread across the southwestern United States.

• Consistency in philosophy, attitude and planning.

• Creating a consistently safer world.