Title of Effective Practice: - California Postsecondary Education ...

Direct Connection to Policy Area 1 of The Illinois Commitment
Post-Baccalaureate Emergency Management and Continuity Planning Certificate
University of Illinois - Chicago
What issue or need is addressed by the effective practice?
The unique and defining feature of the UIC online graduate certificate in emergency management and business
continuity planning for public health emergencies, natural disasters, and terrorist events is the program’s timely
response to a need with an interdisciplinary based educational approach.
Description of the effective practice:
The recently approved certificate is based on five online courses and requires a total of 15 semester hours:
Foundations of Emergency Management and Business Continuity Planning, Environmental Risk Assessment
and Management, Disaster Response and Recovery Operations, Strategic Emergency Management and
Continuity Planning and an Integrative Project Course. These courses will be presented in a collaborative effort
between academics and practitioners, including public health and business school faculty members, Argonne
National Laboratory staff working on emergency management federal programs, The City of Chicago
Department of Public Health and executives from the private sector. These professionals will teach sections of
the online courses and participate in the formulation and discussion of case studies, conveying their field
experience to the students and providing them with novel problem solving techniques. Initial costs will be
covered by internal reallocation, but the program will become self-supporting through tuition.
How does this practice achieve sustainability?
Student enrollment for the initial offering of the certificate program in the Fall of 2006 is higher than expected,
and the need for such a program has been highlighted at both state and federal levels, including the Governor of
Illinois.
What are the results/measurable outcomes?
Students will be able to analyze risk and vulnerabilities due to natural or manmade disasters using widely
accepted hazard and risk assessment methodologies; apply emerging Federal guidelines such as the National
Incident Management System, Integrated Command Systems, and Target Capabilities to the development of
emergency management plans; formulate strategic plans related to developing the necessary remedies in a
municipal or corporate setting to respond to disasters and implement recovery programs; develop operational
plans to respond to public health emergencies, natural disasters and terrorist events. As the basis for an
interdisciplinary approach, the program is using already accepted guidelines from the specific fields
incorporated into the certificate coursework.
Contact Information
Name: Margaret Grosch
Email: mmgrosch@uic.edu
Phone: (312) 413-3461
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