International Association of Emergency Management Region 12 Survey Report:

1. International Association of Emergency Management Region 12 Survey Report: “Present Status and Future Trends” By IAEM Region 12 President Micheal Kemp Micheal.Kemp@ndsu.edu

2. Who Responded: Students actively enrolled in Emergency Management or closely related degrees. N = 180 5% = Graduate (Doctorate) 46% = Graduate (Masters) 37% = Undergraduate 12% = Associate & Certificate

3. Who are emergency management students: First generation college students entering academia after spending some time in the work force. GENDER Male =65% Female =35% Marriage Status Yes =55% No =45% AGE 34≥ =56% 31-33 =8% 26-30 =15% 25≤ =21% Have Dependent Children

4. What students think about their program: 68% Have a positive view of their program. • “I really enjoy having opportunities to apply what I am learning.” • “We need more faculty and they need to be qualified to teach emergency management.” • “I enjoy the program however, it could be so much better if the Professors had more support from administration.” • “Classroom standards need to be raised so that it produces higher quality students.”

5. What students think about their Professors: 76% Have a positive view of their Professors. • “I enjoy the Professors who have the education to teach and real world work experience. ” • “There is a huge difference between teachers that are true Professors and those that are former emergency services personnel. While the former emergency services personnel brings a wealth of practical knowledge, they are often not qualified to teach.” • “We need more Professors who have actually worked in the practical field.”

6. What are students saying about: Courses 62% Have a positive view of course content and selection. • “I believe the content is excellent, but I would like more autonomy in deciding which classes to take.” • “I wish there was more flexibility to take additional classes.” • “Very restrictive, in terms of what courses can be taken.” • “Little wiggle room for advanced students to pursue areas of concentration.”

7. What are students saying about: Textbooks 70% Have a positive view of the textbooks utilized in their program. • “The textbooks we have are good, but very few courses actually have them.” • “Textbooks seem outdated.” • “Our teachers are limited to which textbook they use because often it is the only one in the field.”

8. What are students saying about: Practical Experience • “The academic program/school is ill-prepared to make placements.” • “We wish we had more hands on, practical activities and learning experiences.” • “We need more practical learning opportunities.” Have Held An Internship

9. Students research, publication and conference activity: • Have received research funding. Yes =12% No=88% • Have published one or more research papers. Yes =17% No =83% • Have attended a professional conference. Yes =78% No =22% NOTE: 19% of those attending a conference presented! Participated in or Conducted Research (Graduate Students)

10. Issues keeping students from participating: Research • Lack of funding opportunities. • Lack of support from academic faculty. • It is not stressed as part of their curriculum. • They have not had the opportunity.

11. Issues keeping students from participating: Publications • Libraries are insufficient for emergency management related research. • There is limited opportunity due to few emergency management related journals. • They have not been solicited to participate.

12. Issues keeping students from participating: Conferences • University related conflicts (test, assignments, projects). • Private life will not allow it (spouses, children, employment). • Limited funding. • They are invited strictly to observe, not participate. • They do not have the level of confidence to present in an open forum.

13. What would you change in your program: • Hire Professors that have "real life" emergency management experience. • Add additional Professors (the Professors in the program are stretched too thin). • Provide more opportunities to practically apply knowledge. • Have fewer required courses and more course flexibility. • Better prepare students for the academic process in the front-end of the program. e.g. research methods, library access, APA expectations etc.

14. What would you change in your program: • A greater degree of support from administration. • A united faculty that understood the program and what makes a good disaster manager. • Incorporate more areas of emergency management (Public sector, non-profit, private, etc). • Instill a higher level of difficulty in EM specific subject material. • A greater demand for academic excellence.

15. What would you keep the same: • Instructors with extensive field experience. • Peer learning process. • Instructors utilizing their practical experiences to reinforce course/lecture materials. • Knowledgeable and interesting guest lecturers. • The amount of responsibility given to students.

16. If you had the chance to address emergency management faculty concerning emergency management higher education, What would you tell them: • “We want to learn, get us the support we need!” • “Create more masters and doctorate level programs!” • “Hire additional qualified faculty!” • “We need accreditation and standardization!”

17. Micheal Kemp Micheal.Kemp@ndsu.edu International Association Emergency Managers Region 12 President http://www.iaem.com/ North Dakota State University Emergency Management Program Fargo, North Dakota http://emgt.ndsu.nodak.edu/EMP/EMP.htm