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Campus Community Emergency Response Team

Train-the-Trainer Program for Colleges and Universities

May 19-21, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Virginia Commonwealth University
VCU Commons, 907 Floyd Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23284
(Parking available at 801 W. Main Street (at the corner of Main and Laurel streets)

Downlaod the flyer (PDF)

What's New?

 

The Governor's Campus Preparedness Conference is fast approaching!

Don't forget to register for the third annual Governor's Campus Preparedness Conference scheduled for August 3 at the Virginia Commonwealth University Student Commons.

Our exciting conference agenda includes these workshops that will provide beneficial information on all hazard preparedness in higher education:

• SPECIAL BRIEFING for Higher Education on the H1N1 FLU
• Social Media: A How-To for Universities
• Campus Threat Assessment Teams: Practical Insight to Operationalize Teams in Higher Education
• Gangs on College Campuses
• Engaging Faculty in Preparedness Initiatives
• Crisis Intervention Teams on Campus
• All Hazards Approach to Campus Safety and Security
• College and University Communications
• All Hazard Consortium: Involving Youth in Preparedness
  

To register online, please visit DCJS. There is no registration fee!

Exhibitors and Sponsors: Many of our exhibitors have said that they enjoy having quite a bit of time where conference attendees can discuss how their technologies and services could assist with improving campus safety/preparedness. We plan to maintain this level of open dialog to ensure that all conference attendees are aware of what technologies and services are available.

If you are interested in participating as an exhibitor, please complete the Exhibitor Agreement Form and submit it with your payment as soon as possible. Exhibitors will not be confirmed until all necessary documentation is received.

• 2009 Conference Sponsor Form (Microsoft Word | Adobe PDF)
• 2009 Exhibitor Agreement Form (Microsoft Word | Adobe PDF)

Conference materials from last year have been posted on the Conference page.

CAMPUS Safety Act Passage

The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 748, the CAMPUS Safety Act of 2009, a bill to create a National Center for Campus Public Safety. The legislation was introduced by Representatives Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA) and Louie Gohmert (R-TX).

The CAMPUS Safety Act of 2009 will create a National Center for Campus Public Safety, which will be administered through the U.S. Department of Justice's Community Oriented Policing Services program. The Center will train campus public safety agency personnel, encourage research to strengthen college safety and security, and serve as a clearinghouse for the dissemination of relevant campus public safety information.

"After the tragedies at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University, I commend the House for passing this important bill that will help keep our college campuses safe," stated Rep. Scott. "The National Center for Campus Public Safety is designed to enable our colleges and universities to easily obtain the best information available on how to keep their campuses safe and how to respond in the event of a campus emergency. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to act swiftly on this important legislation."

Rep. Scott is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security on the Committee on the Judiciary and also sits on the Committee on Education and Labor.

Higher Ed Action Guide Released

The U.S. Department of Education has just published new guidance for emergency management of higher education institutions. For more information, download the Guide (PDF, 2.6 MB).

VEMC opens conference registration

Registration is now available for the 2009 Virginia Emergency Management Conference, "It Happened....What Next?" to be held March 31 - April 3. The keynote speaker will be Bill Read, director of the National Hurricane Center, who will provide an overview of the 2008 hurricane season from a meteorologist's perspective. This will be the first year that the conference has added a Higher Education Track specifically to address the unique needs of colleges and universities. We encourage each institution to send their emergency manager/planner to participate in order to learn about best practices and share their knowledge with others. Register online for the conference on the VEMA web site.

Training Opportunities: Virginia Center for School Safety

The Virginia Center for School Safety at the Department of Criminal Justice Services is constantly evaluating and reviewing current training being offered as well as exploring new program material and issues that may need to be addressed.

Visit their site for the latest training opportunities.

Commonwealth Homeland Security Foundation

Today, as the Commonwealth seeks to take every precaution to be ready in case of natural or man-made disasters, there is a growing recognition that our collective safety is not only the responsibility of government but also of each citizen and corporation. The challenge has been to develop a framework that will permit this desired public-private cooperation. That challenge has now been met with the creation of the Commonwealth Homeland Security Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making Virginia more secure. One of the first of its kind in the nation, the Foundation will work closely with George Mason University and other academic institutions in Virginia to conduct research and training in emergency preparedness. For more information on the Commonwealth Homeland Security Foundation, visit www.hsfva.org.

VCU Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Degree

From dealing with the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita to the hunt for Osama Bin Laden, homeland security and emergency preparedness programs are one of the fastest-growing fields in the nation. Developed in response to the real need for trained professionals in these areas, the program is designed to give students the theoretical and practical knowledge and skills necessary for developing plans and preparations for natural disasters, critical system failures and terrorist attacks. For more information on this program, please visit the VCU website:

• Undergrad BA
• Graduate MA

Homeland security degree offered in Martinsville

Virginia Commonwealth University and the New College Institute in Martinsville, Va. have partnered to offer a bachelor's degree in homeland security to students in southern Virginia. The curriculum covers theoretical and practical preparation for natural disasters, critical system failures and terrorist attacks. The 20-class, two-year program is for students who have completed either an associate degree or their first two years of general studies. In 2005, VCU was the first research university in the country to offer a bachelor's degree in homeland security and emergency preparedness. Faculty in VCU's L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs partnered with the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and VDEM to develop the program.

For more information, contact Jeff Fox in NCI's Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Program at (276) 403-5622 or jcfox2@vcu.edu.