Sylves, Body of Knowledge Project 1 Body of Knowledge Project Prof. Rick Sylves If practitioners and academics working in the realm of emergency management want emergency management to become both a profession and a field that is a component of one or more existing academic disciplines, it stands to reason that they would help grow the “field” by producing and recommending to others important works of scholarship in their field.

Sylves, Body of Knowledge Project2 Body of Knowledge Project Body of Knowledge Project In academic terms, emergency management is subject to change in at least four ways: 1.Those who actually do emergency management work make personal contributions to a body of scholarship about the field. 2.Those who do research and teaching in academic settings make personal or collective contributions to a body of scholarship about the field of emergency management.

Sylves, Body of Knowledge Project3 Ways emergency management is subject to change, continued 3. Events transform the field in that certain mega-disasters, or relatively new, unique forms of disaster, transpire and so encourage practitioners and academics to reshape the field. 4. Changes in public policy and law bring about a re-definition or transformation of emergency management.

Sylves, Body of Knowledge Project4 Purposes Served by Recommended Reading Lists Purposes Served by Recommended Reading Lists Many, but not all, graduate programs use “recommended reading lists.” These lists are prepared by the graduate faculty themselves and are usually aimed at entering students. A reading list serves several purposes: Many, but not all, graduate programs use “recommended reading lists.” These lists are prepared by the graduate faculty themselves and are usually aimed at entering students. A reading list serves several purposes: It provides both entering and matriculating students with a sense of the reading challenge they will be expected to face if they are to gain a mastery of the major literature of the field. It provides both entering and matriculating students with a sense of the reading challenge they will be expected to face if they are to gain a mastery of the major literature of the field.

Sylves, Body of Knowledge Project5 Purposes Served by Reading Lists Continued It represents a faculty consensus about what constitutes, at least minimally, major academic works in the field, or that best represent the knowledge base of the field itself. It represents a faculty consensus about what constitutes, at least minimally, major academic works in the field, or that best represent the knowledge base of the field itself. It points students toward some of what they need to know in order to begin preparing for Masters’ or Doctoral preliminary or comprehensive field exams. It points students toward some of what they need to know in order to begin preparing for Masters’ or Doctoral preliminary or comprehensive field exams.

Sylves, Body of Knowledge Project6 Purposes Served by Reading Lists Continued It helps characterize the nature of the graduate program for prospective students. It helps characterize the nature of the graduate program for prospective students. Reading lists also serve to characterize the core focus and array of specializations of undergraduate emergency management programs at the associate and baccalaureate levels. Reading lists also serve to characterize the core focus and array of specializations of undergraduate emergency management programs at the associate and baccalaureate levels.

Sylves, Body of Knowledge Project7 Top 50 Lists in Emergency Management For faculties who elect to develop and use “recommended reading” lists, the norm is to develop a general consensus about the major works in the field, and to prepare a list of the “Top Books” in the field. For faculties who elect to develop and use “recommended reading” lists, the norm is to develop a general consensus about the major works in the field, and to prepare a list of the “Top Books” in the field. This Top Books list often ranges to 50 entries and usually encompasses a wide array of work that is in print or available from library repositories. This Top Books list often ranges to 50 entries and usually encompasses a wide array of work that is in print or available from library repositories. FEMA’s Emergency Management Higher Education Project has commissioned several experts to emulate what graduate faculties do, that is, develop a “Top 50” list. FEMA’s Emergency Management Higher Education Project has commissioned several experts to emulate what graduate faculties do, that is, develop a “Top 50” list.

Sylves, Body of Knowledge Project8 Top 50 Lists in Emergency Management continued The Project called for commissioned experts to consult key practitioners and academics who work the field of emergency management. Many of these authorities already are emergency managers of some type, or are scholars with that field, or are people who work with major organizations that are fundamentally concerned about educating and credentialing emergency managers The Project called for commissioned experts to consult key practitioners and academics who work the field of emergency management. Many of these authorities already are emergency managers of some type, or are scholars with that field, or are people who work with major organizations that are fundamentally concerned about educating and credentialing emergency managers Some collected this information from mailed surveys, first-person interviews, on-line surveys, or by consultation of suggested reading lists already being used in various programs. Some used a Delphi method; the Delphi Method calls for consultation of authorities in the field in order to elicit their advice and suggestions. Some collected this information from mailed surveys, first-person interviews, on-line surveys, or by consultation of suggested reading lists already being used in various programs. Some used a Delphi method; the Delphi Method calls for consultation of authorities in the field in order to elicit their advice and suggestions.

Sylves, Body of Knowledge Project9 Top 50 Lists in Emergency Management continued Researchers for Body of Knowledge were asked to prepare on the basis of their findings, a listing of books, articles, reports, studies, manuals, “correspondence” courses, plans, standards, laws, regulations and other printed publications and documents. The lists were intended to help both emergency managers and students achieve a mastery of the key literature of the field. The works on the lists were also expected to help prepare them for academic course work in the field. Researchers for Body of Knowledge were asked to prepare on the basis of their findings, a listing of books, articles, reports, studies, manuals, “correspondence” courses, plans, standards, laws, regulations and other printed publications and documents. The lists were intended to help both emergency managers and students achieve a mastery of the key literature of the field. The works on the lists were also expected to help prepare them for academic course work in the field.

Sylves, Body of Knowledge Project10 Top 50 Lists in Emergency Management continued The project commissioned five key groups representing different practitioner and educational communities. The individuals or groups were asked to conduct surveys and gather information from key academic and practitioner stakeholders. The studies they produced attempted to identify what these experts considered the core components of an emergency management body of knowledge. The project commissioned five key groups representing different practitioner and educational communities. The individuals or groups were asked to conduct surveys and gather information from key academic and practitioner stakeholders. The studies they produced attempted to identify what these experts considered the core components of an emergency management body of knowledge.

Sylves, Body of Knowledge Project11 Top 50 Lists in Emergency Management continued These groups were: Emergency Management Practitioners (through the IAEM). Emergency Management Practitioners (through the IAEM). Administrators of “Emergency Management” programs at Associate Degree granting institutions of higher education. Administrators of “Emergency Management” programs at Associate Degree granting institutions of higher education. Administrators of “Emergency Management” programs at the Bachelor Level. Administrators of “Emergency Management” programs at the Bachelor Level. Administrators of “Emergency Management” programs at the Graduate Level. Administrators of “Emergency Management” programs at the Graduate Level. Hazard/Disaster Research Centers and Researchers Hazard/Disaster Research Centers and Researchers

Sylves, Body of Knowledge Project12 Body of Knowledge Researchers – Plenary Panel and Breakout Session AD Survey – Don Beckering, State of Minnesota AD Survey – Don Beckering, State of Minnesota BA Survey – Walter Greene, University of Richmond BA Survey – Walter Greene, University of Richmond MA Survey – Jennifer Wilson, North Dakota State University MA Survey – Jennifer Wilson, North Dakota State University IAEM Survey- Daryl Spiewak, International Association of Emergency Managers IAEM Survey- Daryl Spiewak, International Association of Emergency Managers Researchers- Claire Rubin, George Washington University Researchers- Claire Rubin, George Washington University Integration- Richard Sylves, University of Delaware Integration- Richard Sylves, University of Delaware