PUAD 5440: Law of All-Hazards Management
School of Public Affairs
University of Colorado Denver
Spring 2018
Instructor: Lauren Fontana
Office Number: Lawrence Street Center, 1231
Office Phone: (303) 315-0197
Email:
Office Hours: By Appointment
Class Meeting Days: In-Person every other Thursday
Class Meeting Times: 5:00 – 7:45 p.m.
Class Location: North Classroom 3209
COURSE OVERVIEW
Welcome
Welcome to The Law of All-Hazards Management. This course is a hybrid in-person and online course. We will meet every other Thursday evening. On weeks that we are not meeting, you will be expected to participate in the online class discussion, using prompts that will be posted in Canvas.
Course Description
This course conveys knowledge of the statutes, regulations and court decisions governing the management of hazards by governmental agencies. It covers local, state and federal agencies as they mitigate, prepare for, respond to and recover from naturally, accidentally and intentionally caused disasters.
Course Goals
The purpose of this course is to provide students with a knowledge base of the legal environment within which all-hazards managers – whether local, state, or federal; and whether civilian or military – practice their profession. As a core seminar in the Emergency Management and Homeland Security concentration, it is organized on the all-hazards (naturally, accidentally, and intentionally caused disasters), all phases (prevention, preparation, response, and recovery) framework of analysis.
MPA Objective/Target Competency / Relevant Course ActivitiesUnderstand and be able to apply different perspectives and assumptions to generate policy and management decision alternatives / Students will assess emergency management plans from different jurisdictions and integrate strategies from various plans into their final team project.
Be able to communicate effectively in writing to a variety of audiences. / Students will engage in online course discussions with their classmates every other week. Students will also create a written product with their teams as part of their final project.
MCJ Objective/Target Competency / Relevant Course Activities
Substantive knowledge / Students will gain substantive knowledge of, among other things, the causes of various emergencies, the laws governing emergency management response, and the impact different emergencies have on different populations.
Critical thinking / Students will engage in critical thinking to assess emergency management plans from different jurisdictions and integrate strategies from various plans into their final team project.
Effective communication / Students will engage in either face-to-face or online course discussions with their classmates each week. Students will also create a written product and a presentation with their teams as their final project.
Required Text and Materials
Daniel A. Farber, Jim Chen, Robert R.M. Verchick, & Lisa Grow Sun, Disaster Law and Policy, Second Edition (2010), ISBN 978-0-73558-834-9
Course Schedule[1]
Date / Topic / Reading / Assignment1/18 (FF) / Introduction / Farber, Ch. 1 / None
1/25 (OL) / Causes of Disasters / Farber, Ch. 2 / Online course discussion
2/1 (FF) / Federal Authority to Respond / Farber, Ch. 3 / None
2/8 (OL) / Emergency Response / Farber, Ch. 4 / Online course discussion
2/15 (FF) / Social Vulnerability / Farber, Ch. 5 / None
2/22 (OL) / Evaluating & Responding to Risk / Farber, Ch. 6 / Online course discussion
3/1 (FF) / Compensation & Risk Spreading / Farber, Ch. 7 / None
3/8 (OL) / Recovering from Disaster / Farber, Ch. 8 / Online course discussion
3/15 (FF) / Risks on College Campuses / Griffin article / None
3/22 / SPRING BREAK – NO CLASS
3/29 (OL) / Colorado’s Response Plan / Colorado Emergency Management Program Guide / Online course discussion
4/5 (FF) / Colorado’s Response Plan / Colorado Emergency Management Program Guide / None
4/12 (OL) / Intentional Acts – Bioterrorism / Kellman article / Online course discussion
4/19 (FF) / Intentional Acts – Free Speech / Charlottesville articles / None
4/26 (OL) / Wrap-up / None / Online course discussion
5/3 (FF) / Final Presentations / None / None
EVALUATION
Assignments
Online Course Discussion
This course will meet online every other week. During our online weeks, you will be required to engage in an online discussion with your classmates, responding to a prompt that I will provide by 8 a.m. on the Monday of each online week. Your participation in week’s conversation will be graded on a 30-point scale, with 10 points awarded for each of the following: (1) relevance to the topic at hand; (2) clear and concise communication of your point(s); and (3) originality/creativity in your point(s). There are seven online course discussions, and, as discussed below, I will automatically drop your lowest score. There are therefore 180 possible points to be earned via the online course discussions.
Final Project
You will conclude the semester with a final team project, which will contain both a written component and an oral presentation. The specifics of the project will be provided later in the semester. You will conduct your presentation with your team during the last week of class. Every person on your team will receive the same grade on the written component and the presentation. There will be a total of 320 points possible to be earned via the final project. A grading rubric for the final project will be distributed later in the semester.
Total Grade
There are 500 total points available in this course. Your total grade will be determined using the sum of the points you have earned from your brief assignments and your final paper.
Basis for Final Grade
Your grade will be determined by the following scale:
Points / Grade470-500 / A
450-469 / A-
435-449 / B+
420-434 / B
400-419 / B-
385-399 / C+
370-384 / C
350-369 / C-
335-349 / D+
320-334 / D
300-319 / D-
0-299 / F
Grade Dissemination
Online Course Discussions
You will receive a grade for each online course discussion by 5:00 p.m. on the Monday after you have submitted the assignment. Grades will be provided to you via Canvas.
Final Project
You will receive a grade for your final project by the grading deadline, May 17, 2018. Grades will be provided to you via Canvas.
COURSE PROCEDURES
Course Policies: Grades
Attendance Policy
This class will meet face-to-face every other week. I expect students to attend every face-to-face class period, and to participate in every online course discussion during the weeks that we do not meet face-to-face. For purposes of our online weeks, a student will be considered to have “attended” that week’s class by submitting their response(s) in the online course discussion by 7:45 p.m. on the Thursday of that week. I will not take attendance, and there is no “attendance” component to your grade. I have found, however, that class discussions are a valuable part of learning, and that participating in those discussions tends to lead to better performance. If you do miss a class, please seek notes from one of your classmates. See below for information regarding classes missed due to religious observances.
Late Work Policy
I will automatically drop your lowest online course discussion grade. For each online course discussion response, you will lose two points for each 24 hours you are late, up to six points (72 hours). Online course discussion responses will not be accepted beyond 72 hours past the due date, and any responses not turned in will receive a score of 0.
Extra Credit Policy
No extra credit is available in this course.
Incomplete Grades Policy
Pursuant to University policy, incomplete grades are given only in situations where unexpected emergencies prevent a student from completing the course. Student have up to one year (three semesters) to complete course requirements. Incomplete work must be finished within the time allowed, or the “I” will automatically be recorded as an “F” on the student’s transcript.
Course Policies: Technology
Please use your ucdenver.edu email address to communicate with me via email outside of the Canvas platform.
Canvas
I will post reading assignments that do not come from the textbook in Canvas. Reading assignments can be expected to be posted there at least one week before the class covering the assignment. All of our online course discussion will also occur in Canvas. Feel free to send me messages via Canvas if you prefer that over email. We will discuss how the course is set up in Canvas during the first few classes.
Laptops & Mobile Devices
You are permitted to use laptops or other mobile devices for note-taking and other course-related work in the classroom. Please respect your classmates and me by refraining from personal use of those devices during class.
Course Policies: Student Expectations
Civility
I expect every student to treat every other student with respect, and I expect the culture of the class to be such that everyone feels comfortable sharing their own thoughts/opinions/experiences with the rest of the class. Anyone behaving in a way that disrupts the class will be asked to leave.
Late Arrivals
I expect you to arrive to class on time and prepared to participate in the class discussion. I understand, however, that life happens, and that you may on occasion be running late. I would prefer that you arrive late rather than not attending class at all. If you do arrive after the class has begun, please take a seat as quietly as possible and join the discussion.
Religious Observances
If you need to miss class due to a religious observance, and you would like to obtain the slides from the class you missed, please let me know. As indicated above, you will not be penalized for missing the class. In respect for religious exercise, I will provide slides to students who are unable to attend a class because of a religious observance.
CAMPUS RESOURCES
Student and Community Counseling Center (Tivoli 454)
The mission of the Student and Community Counseling Center (SCCC) is toprovide systemic, strength-based, culturally competent mental health services focused on relationship,support, growth and solutions. For more information, contact the SCCC at (303) 315-7270 or visit their website:
Campus Assessment, Response & Evaluation
The Campus Assessment, Response &Evaluation (CARE) Team was created to address the health and safety needs of students as well as the campus community. The purpose of the team is to assess whether individuals pose a risk to themselves or others and to intervene whennecessary, and more generally, to identify and provide assistance to those in need. The team takes a preventative approach to risk assessment by offering resources, referrals, and support to both the concerning individual and those impacted by their behavior. For more information, contact the CARE Team at (303) 315-7306 or , or visit their website:
Disability Resources & Services (Student Commons 2116)
The Office of Disability Resources and Services (DRS) is dedicated to the full participation of students with disabilities in the academic environment. They will provide assistance to qualified students with disabilities and coordinate reasonable accommodations in order to provide students equal access to the institution’s programs, activities, and services. For more information, contact DRS at (303) 315-3501 or , or visit their website:
Center for Identity & Inclusion (Student Commons 2007)
The University of Colorado Denver Center forIdentity & Inclusion (CII) consists of American Indian Student Services (AISS), Asian American Student Services (AASS), Black Student Services (BSS) and Latinx Student Services (LSS). CII provides vital links to the culturally rich and diverse community surrounding CU Denver. CIIprovides services: a) to support underrepresented students and b) to promote a diverse and inclusive campus for all students, faculty, and staff. For more information, contact CII at (303) 315-1880 or , or visit their website:
Office of Equity
The Office of Equity (OE) was created to integrate all complaints of protected characteristic harassment and/or discrimination or sexual misconduct. To fulfill our mission, OE provides: oversight of and support for the University’s efforts to comply with all applicable federal and state civil rights laws and University policies prohibiting discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, and retaliation; consultation, training, and resources to the University community regarding and preventing discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, and retaliation; a mechanism for responding to complaints of discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, and retaliation; and coordination of the provision of remedial and interim protective measures as necessary. For more information, contact OE at (303) 315-2567 or , or visit their website:
UNIVERSITY POLICIES
Disability Access
The University of Colorado Denver is committed to providing reasonable accommodations and access to programs and services to people with disabilities. Students with disabilities who seek academic accommodations must register with Disability Resources and Services (“DRS”) in Student Commons, Suite 2116. DRS can be reached at (303) 315-3510 or . See the DRS website for more information:
DRS requires students to provide current and adequate documentation of their disabilities. Once a student has registered with DRS, DRS will review the documentation and assess the student’s request for academic accommodations in light of the documentation. DRS will then provide the student with a letter indicating which academic accommodations have been approved.
I will be happy to provide approved accommodations.
Academic Honesty
Students are expected to know, understand, and comply with the ethical standards of the University, including rules against plagiarism, cheating, fabrication and falsification, multiple submissions, misuse of academic materials, and complicity in academic dishonesty. For additional information, please see the University’s Academic Honor Code and Discipline Policies:
Nondiscrimination & Sexual Misconduct
The University of Colorado Denver is committed to maintaining a positive learning, working, and living environment. University policy prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, creed, religion, veteran status, political affiliation, and political philosophy, as well as any related retaliation.
University policy also prohibits sexual misconduct, including sexual assault, sexual exploitation, intimate partner abuse, gender/sex-based stalking, and sexual harassment, as well as any related retaliation.
If you have experienced or witnessed discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct, please contact the Office of Equity at (303) 315-2567 or . See the Office of Equity website for more information: I am considered a “Responsible Employee” under the OE policies, and I am therefore required to report to OE any potential policy violations that you disclose to me.
IMPORTANT DATES
Academic Calendar
The University of Colorado Denver academic calendar for the Spring 2018 semester is here:
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[1] This schedule is tentative and may be changed to meet the needs of the class.