Center for Homeland Defense and Security seeks workshop participants

CHDS Faculty Development Workshop – Call for Participants

In August 2011, CHDS will hold its second faculty development workshop. The primary objective of this effort is to address the recognized shortfall of faculty that are qualified to cover the variety of issues that should be in a homeland security educational program. While it is certainly understood that a one week collaborative seminar is not going to produce faculty that can teach semester long courses, it should provide them with the knowledge of what we view is important in a program, where to find critical resources, and where further opportunities for professional development exist.

The workshop held last year was a great success. It resulted in literally dozens of new courses offered at our partner institutions, supported course and program development, and established a pretty tight group of academics that have had continuous contact since the event. Here are a couple of specifics:

- The NPS workshop last summer came at a very critical moment for us at Penn State as we were literally launching our on-line Master’s Program during that period. ... Modifications to the introductory course syllabus as a result of the workshop, including input from NPS/CHDS faculty and numerous fellow faculty participants, resulted in several dozen modifications to the introductory course syllabus in areas ranging from substantive changes in its content to the use of additional pedagogical techniques in key lessons. In short, the workshop was used to calibrate (sanity check) the syllabus, drawing on contributions directly from NPS/CHDS faculty and staff, but also from the environment which the workshop created. Paul Thompson, Associate Coordinator, Penn State Homeland Security Programs

- As a result of the workshop, I was able to develop a course based on the center’s “Comparative Government in Homeland Security” course. In January 2011, I delivered the first HLS 1006-International Strategies in Homeland Security course; currently in its first semester offering. A new special topics course, HLS 1020-Military Assistance to Civil Authorities is currently being delivered as well. Ken Van Sparrentak, Oakland Community College

Here are the basic details on this year’s workshop:

Seminar Dates/Times: Monday, Aug 15 (begin at 8:00am) through Friday, Aug 19 (conclude at 12:00pm)

Attendees: 30 faculty members from institutions offering courses at all levels

Funding: All participant travel, lodging and per diem is funded by CHDS

Subjects to be Covered/Basic Schedule:

Introduction to Homeland Security Comparative Homeland Security Technology in Homeland Security Interdisciplinary Approaches to Homeland Security (Includes Civ-Mil relations) Current topics

Note that reading lists will be provided to attendees in advance and some homework will be assigned each evening. Additionally, we will solicit your teaching methods and tips for the topics for sharing among participants. A Moodle Learning Management System site will also be developed for the full spectrum of course activities.

Attendee Qualifications and Selection Process:

There are two primary qualifications for gaining a slot in this program: 1. We are seeking teaching faculty, not program directors or deans (unless they are teaching in their programs as well). Preference will be given to those scheduled to teach in the areas of homeland security covered in the program in the coming year.

2. Your institution must be regionally accredited.

Procedure: Attendees are required to submit a letter of recommendation/endorsement from their department chair or dean. The letter must include what courses the faculty member teaches or is slated to teach in forthcoming semesters. Faculty selected can be either permanent or adjunct, and can come from any department in an institution; future courses taught is the primary determining factor.

Selections will be made by a panel. Qualified attendees will be selected on a first come, first served basis. Each institution will be provided with one slot; should the 30 slots not be filled by July 1st, an institution may receive an additional slot.

Please send your letters via email to me at sbsupins@nps.edu. Please DO NOT reply to this Forum posting as your reply will go all Forum members. Once the class is full you will all be notified. Contact me if you have any questions.

I'm looking forward to this year's event!

Thanks and regards, Stan Supinski

______________________________ Stanley B. Supinski, PhD Director, Partnership Programs, Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security (719) 481-0266 (719) 482-5452 (cell)