Oppurtunity

Academic Updates

This featured column highlights the latest information from TISP's academic partners, an important part of the TISP team. The TISP Educational Outreach Committee was established to promote academic research and to encourage the development of education and training programs related to critical infrastructure resilience; to recruit other colleges and universities to join TISP; and to work with secondary schools to promote interest in America's infrastructure and its resilience. Dr. Todd Stewart, The Ohio State University, currently chairs the committee.


National Academic Consortium for Homeland Security
A primary academic organization within TISP is the National Academic Consortium for Homeland Security. The Ohio State University established NACHS in March 2003 to encourage research, education, and training related to all aspects of homeland security; to facilitate collaboration among academic institutions; and to serve as an "academic strategic partner" to those government agencies and non-government organizations (i.e., TISP and its members) concerned with homeland security. One of the principal focus areas within NACHS is critical infrastructure protection (CIP). Currently, NACHS includes 362 universities and colleges, collectively representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Germany, Greece, Japan, and Singapore.

Department of Homeland Security Announces New Academic Centers of Excellence
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently announced the selection of 11 universities to serve as important partners for conducting multi-disciplinary research and creating innovative learning environments for critical homeland security missions. These universities will partner to lead one of five new Centers of Excellence and receive a multi-year grant of up to $2 million per year, over a period of four to six years. The five new Centers of Excellence, located across the country, will study: border security and immigration; explosives detection, mitigation, and response; maritime, island and port security; natural disasters, coastal infrastructure and emergency management; and transportation security. The Centers of Excellence program is managed by the Science and Technology Directorate's Office of University Programs. The program takes advantage of the unsurpassed research capabilities and intellectual capital of U.S. colleges and universities to fill knowledge and technology gaps for the department. By Congressional authorization, each Center will be responsible for conducting multidisciplinary research and developing education initiatives in areas important for homeland security. Click here for more information about University Programs and current Centers of Excellence


Educational Opportunity: Modern Protective Structures

The Center for Infrastructure Protection and Physical Security (CIPPS), located at the University of Florida, will be presenting a short course titled: Modern Protective Structures. The course will be taught by Professor Ted Krauthammer, in Arlington, VA, July 14-18, 2008. This five-day course includes comprehensive information and hands-on activities for protecting critical infrastructure systems, as well as various types of buildings and facilities. Course participants will receive Professor Krauthammer's book, various other design manuals and publications, and extensive background information. Click here for additional information.



Legislation Requires Virginia Colleges and Universities to Develop Emergency Plans
Virginia Governor Tim Kaine has signed House Bill 1449, which requires boards of visitors or other governing bodies at public colleges and universities to develop and adopt written crisis and emergency management plans. The bill also requires each school's emergency plans to be reviewed and revised every four years. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management must assist institutions as needed in the development of their plans. Furthermore, the bill requires each board of visitors to establish a threat assessment team to develop a campus-wide threat assessment policy, and to establish a first warning notification and emergency broadcast system for students, staff and faculty by January 1, 2009.


WHAT's NEW
The TISP Educational Outreach Committee wants to help "spread the word" about new academic research, education and training programs, conferences, and publications related to the protection of critical infrastructure and security of the built environment. We invite you to share your news with us, so we can let others know about your activities. Please forward input to Dr. Todd Stewart at The Ohio State University.