WVU Parkersburg receives $30,000 emergency preparedness training grant

December 13, 2007

WVU Parkersburg receives $30,000 grant to provide emergency preparedness training.

CONTACT: Dr. Rhonda Richards, executive dean of academic affairs, 304-424-8242.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

West Virginia University at Parkersburg is the recipient of a $30,000 grant from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to provide emergency preparedness training.

The UPMC-Pennsylvania National Guard Community Preparedness Schoolhouse project is designed to improve the preparedness of communities for natural and man-made disasters through the education of the public and personnel within the private, public and military sectors. Deployment of curricula is being conducted through community colleges across the United States.

WVU Parkersburg will apply the Schoolhouse grant funds to develop and implement safety modules, noted Rhonda Richards, WVU Parkersburg executive dean of academic affairs.

"Given the college's emphasis on campus safety, this grant project will enhance the institution's - and the community's - training capabilities related to emergency preparedness," Dr. Richards said.

Three groups have been identified to be involved in WVU Parkersburg's training: college and high school students in the college's Emergency Response Certificate program as part of the certificate curriculum; faculty who need similar training to be prepared in times of crisis to respond in an informed, educated manner, and community members who may have need and/or interest in emergency preparedness.

The training will be delivered in a web-based format via self-directed and faculty-directed learning. Curriculum areas will include core information about community preparedness; bio-incident response; business continuity, and cyber-security.

Program coordinator of the project is Michelle Bissell, administrative secretary in the President's Office.