FEMA ?!

FEMA seems like 25 credits the hard way, what happened to CLEP and all the other stand bye's. Am I missing something?

Dave

KC7WGB

 

Good Morning, The degree of difficulty may be different but the cost if ACE approved is the best around. I am checking through FEMA and ACE for documented approval. The ability to print a college course and take the exam is an option we haven't found anywhere. I'm checking other government agencies for options like this. The material is timely with other schools just starting degree programs in the area of homeland security.Hille

 

Interesting to note. The tests appear to be open book. Occupationally the course content can be good stuff (depending on your profession)... however at $60 per credit this appears to be a cash crop for Frederick Community College (receiver of the cash and grantor of the credits).

Historical note: I took (the first) three of these courses back in the 80's and Michigan Technological University granted one quarter hour a piece back then... (I don't recall the price however)

BruceP in Colorado Springs

 

Hi David,

Spend some time here: [a=href"http://www.geocities.com/BA_in_4_Weeks/mainmenu.html"]BA In 4 Weeks[/a]

Lawrie's excellent site contains eveything you need to know about using proficiency exams to earn college credit.

73,


Tony W8HRO

 

I knew that HTML wasn't going to fly! Cut and paste instead:
http://www.geocities.com/BA_in_4_Weeks/mainmenu.html

Tony

 

Good Morning,The tests are open book so that is a factor. If you have been out of the education loop for years - it's a good baptism. Hille

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Could someone clarify what FEMA is? Are we talking about Federal Emergency Management Agency courses?

Phil

 

Phil. Yes. FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) offers these courses.

BruceP

 

Hello, I just got an e-mail from FEMA. The credits are not ACE approved. The only way is credit conversion at FCC. I have hopes that since TESC accepts them, Excelsior will follow. I believe they can be credit banked at TESC and transferred if all else fails. This will be cheaper. These complications are amazing. Maybe it's the full moon. Hille

 

My TESC registration doesn't expire until August, so until then I can have credit for these courses transcribed without additional charge. I think that after I'm done with my BA I will try out the FEMA courses while the credit is totally free (or prepaid, anyway) for me, just in case I ever have a use for them. I do wonder why FEMA doesn't tell people that TESC will also give credit for the courses.

 

Hello, Great idea to take the courses while they will be no additional charge. I originally read about the Fema offering in the TESC paper. I'm curious why they wouldn't have ACE approval. I've checked other government web sites but haven't found anything like this opportunity. If you proceed and take all the courses it will make an interesting addition to your transcript. Hille

 

No ACE approval, deal me out.

Dave

 

You're out, buh bye. It doesn't really matter when the courses are accepted and transcribed by an RA school, particularly if that is the school that is awarding your degree.

 

The real question is:

Have these courses been evaluated by ACE? If they have and zero credit is awarded is much different than not having been evaluated. Although the previous comment about FCC being RA and granting the credits does "overrule" the ACE issue... after all... RA credits are RA credits…

Of course these credits will become lower-division elective credit for most students... for me the 3 quarter hours from Michigan Technological University were "over-kill" because most of my transfer credits were grouped into electives giving me more elective credits than my degree program called for...

Retreating back to the initial posting of why would someone do the FEMA courses when there are CLEP, Dantes, GRE, etc. is interesting...

Taking open book exams are less stressful than proctored exams... someone who needs elective credits and has professional (fire fighter, police, military, etc.) or general interest (lives in an earthquake, tornado, hurricane danger zones, etc.) could benefit from the FEMA courses... otherwise I would recommend other traditional and non-traditional methods of earning credits that relate to your major.

BruceP in Colorado Springs

 

They would also fit well into TESC's BSHS program in Disaster Management; the "area of study" requirement is 24 hours in applied & theoretical courses, and they don't need to be upper-division.

For those folks, the cost can't be beat: 25 credits, for about $8.00 in postage (or absolutely free, if you take the exams on-line.)

 

Because there are no CLEPs, Dantes or GREs in emergency management subjects?

Because somebody wants to learn the material and to take advantage of the content of the courses? Even if other examinations were available, do all students already have the knowledge necessary to test out? In effect you are challenging a course, so you would to have had to have studied the material somewhere.

Because telling a prospective employer in the emergency management field that you have taken the FEMA courses sounds good? TESC and distance education may be unknown quantities, but the employer will have heard of FEMA.

 

OK, lets talk about FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and the educational programs where they are involved. FEMA operates the National Fire Academy and the Emergency Management Institute at Emmittsburg Maryland, located between Mt. St Mary's College and Gettysburg PA. During the late 70's or early 80's, they purchased a former college campus and established a national training and education academy. Each class taught on campus typically runs between 40 and 80 contact hours and has ACE evaluation for Lower Division, Upper Division, and in a few unusual situations, Graduate Credit approval. The ratio typically is 1 to 2 semester hours for 40 contact hours and 3-4 for the 80 hour programs. Grades are pass/fail.

NFA and FEMA approved programs are also taught by state staff for related agencies across the nation and have similar ACE approval. Nevertheless, to be sure the class is approved refer to either an ACE guide or the NFA info to assure the class is one that has been ACE reviewed/approved. State programs are taught by FEMA trained state staff or locals who were also trained/approved to teach by FEMA, EMI or NFA to deliver their programs typically through a community or technical college. These programs are generally 1-2 hours and mostly LD programs.

FEMA Home Study Programs are written by academic contractors, and if you wish to receive credit, you pay for the related tuition at the current community college that is the low/best bidder to administer the program. Today, I think it is the Community/Technical College, ( located in a community just south of EMI. Previously it was Lewis and Clark Community College. To be a contractor college to grant credit for those who have successfully completed the short courses in the Home Study Program, you must be Regionally Accredited.

The targeted audience for these educational offerings includes volunteer/career Firefighters, Medics, Emergency Management personnel and other Public Safety Officials/Officers.

The National Fire Academy worked through a consortium of colleges and universities 15 years ago to create the Open Learning Educational System. The purpose was to be sure career firefighters could obtain a higher education using a combination of distant learning and NFA programs. The University of Maryland and the University of Cincinnati were two of those early participants but I have no idea about the status of that system now.

Most programs taught at EMI include information about where to to use the credits if you so desire and they will also provide at no expense a transcript of your program completion. While they will not endorse a particular program it was there in 1988 that I first learned of TESC and the University of North Texas, the first two universities where you could obtain a Bachelors Degree with a focus in Emergency Disaster Management.

So how do I know? Over the last 20 years I have completed some 200 semester hours, all but 30 either from RA colleges/universities with 36 from FEMA/ACE approved programs. Portions of my education include both Associates and a Bachelors Degree from Thomas Edison State College, in Human Services with a concentration in Emergency Disaster Management. Most of my efforts occurred in the late 80's and early 90's so my info may be somewhat dated in some areas but still accurate for the most part.

Anyway, a little long but hope that explains the FEMA educational programs.

RK

 

FEMA Credit

I thought I should inform all of you about the EMI courses.

Academic Credit

It is possible to earn academic credit for completion of these courses. Here's how:

Starting in February 1999, Frederick Community College (FCC) assumed responsibility for the evaluation of our independent study courses. Those courses meeting academic standards become eligible for one semester hour of lower division academic credit (exception: IS-9 is two semester hours).

After successfully completing a course, students filing a College Credit Application and submitting the current fee of $60.00 per semester hour will receive a personal copy of their FCC transcript, and additional copies may be directed to other institutions free of charge. The completed application may be mailed or faxed; details are on the form.

Eligible Courses

IS-1: Emergency Program Manager

IS-2: Emergency Preparedness, USA

IS-3: Radiological Emergency Management

IS-5: Hazardous Materials: A Citizens Orientation

IS-7: A Citizen's Guide to Disaster Assistance

IS-8: Building for the Earthquakes of Tomorrow

*IS-9: Managing Floodplain Development through the National Flood Insurance Program (2 semester hours/$120)

IS-10: Animals in Disaster, Module A, Awareness & Preparedness

IS-11: Animals in Disaster, Module B, Community Planning

*IS-12: Property Acquisition for Local Communities

IS-120: An Orientation to Community Disaster Exercises

IS-195: Basic Incident Command System

IS-275: Role of the Emergency Operations Center in Community Preparedness, Response & Recovery Activities

IS-279: Retrofitting Flood-prone Residential Structures

IS-288: The Role of Volunteer Agencies in Emergency Management

IS-301: Radiological Emergency Response

IS-324: Community Hurricane Preparedness

IS-330: Refresher Course for Radiological Monitors

IS-346: Orientation to Hazardous Materials for Medical Personnel

IS-393: Introduction to Mitigation

IS-394: Mitigation for Homeowners

IS-513: The Professional in Emergency Management

IS-600: Special Considerations for FEMA Public Assistance Projects

IS-630: Introduction to the FEMA Public Assistance Process

Q-534 (SS-534): Emergency Response to Terrorism (presented by the National Fire Academy)

Web site link to the above data http://www.fema.gov/emi/cc.htm

 

Hello, I had a conversation with Excelsior about FEMA credits yesterday. They will not accept them without a conversion by FCC and even then - maybe not. This pushes us toward a 2nd bachelors degree at TESC instead of Excelsior for my husbands on-going second BA. Hille

 

Hello, I hope fellow TESC students can help me out. I got a e-mail from TESC requesting the ACE approval status of the FEMA courses. I am going crazy. I originally got the information from TESC about the courses and can't put my finger on it. It was mentioned in the "Invention" in the last year. Hope someone can send me the specifics so I can give information to the TESC advisor. Thanks. Hille