EMAP is now accepting applications for the Pilot Assessment Program for Higher Education

Pilot Assessment Program for Higher Education

The application period is now closed. Thank you for your interest in the Higher Education Pilot Assessment Program. We are in the process of reviewing the applications and should have a decision on the pilot sites soon.

The Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP) is a standard-based voluntary assessment and accreditation process for state/territorial, regional, tribal, and local government emergency management programs. EMAP combines self-assessment against an American National Standard Institute (ANSI) process; documentation of compliance; independent evaluation by trained professional emergency management assessors; and, for accreditation, committee and independent commission review, to provide:

• An evaluation of a jurisdiction’s emergency preparedness and response system against established national standards;
• A structure for identifying areas in need of improvement and benchmarking progress;
• A methodology for organizing strategic planning, corrective actions and accountability in prioritizing resources;
• A catalyst for improved interoperability and continuity; and
• Strengthened state/tribal, regional, territorial, and local preparedness.

 

Need for Pilot Assessment for Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs)

Achieving disaster resilience on an IHE campus is an exceedingly complex challenge. It requires communication, coordination, collaboration, and focused effort from the entire IHE, including the executive leadership, faculty/researchers, staff, students and external partners including city, county and state governments; private sector; and non-profit organizations.

An accreditation program based upon an American National Standard, Emergency Management Standard by EMAP will assist IHEs in preparing to respond to crises and disasters, but also assist in identifying opportunities to mitigate risk and prevent loss; and in establishing continuity of operations and recovery strategies for all types of events crisis or disaster –regardless of size and complexity.

• Utilizing standards and engaging in an assessment provides the campuses with a number of benefits including:
• Reduction of vulnerability, sensitivity, and exposure to future crisis and disaster events for all hazards large and small (e.g. systems and enterprise approach);
• Protection of life including students, faculty, and staff;
• Protection of property, the environment, essential services, and critical facilities;
• Protection of the teaching, research enterprise, and intellectual property;
• Quicker resumption of IHE functions, including education, research, and business systems;
• Diminished post-disaster economic hardship for the campus and community (e.g. reduction of short-term and long-term recovery and reconstruction costs);
• Assures insurance/reinsurance companies or the public that the institution is taking proactive risk aversion/prevention activities seriously;
• Aligns with other risk management programs like Enterprise Risk Management;
• Increases cooperation and communication within the community through the planning process, training, and exercising; and
• Provides validity and credibility to campus emergency management programs and puts them in line with their local and state partners.

The pilot assessments would include a cross section of campuses of all sizes and configurations and provide hands on training and guidance for campus ‘assessment leads’ and teams. The final assessment report would give emergency managers at the pilot schools and others the opportunity to assess the benefits of becoming “accredited” against the effort that would be required.

Applications are due by March 1, 2011.

859/244-8222.