This Spring semester the Universities at Shady Grove (USG) and an expert team of instructors are taking a new approach to a complex field that many wish was unnecessary, but only seems to be growing more essential.
The course, Crisis Management, developed by USG’s Committee for Collaboration, Interprofessional and Interdisciplinary Education Strategies (CIPES), is a new elective open to all undergraduate students at USG who are interested in crisis management and its interrelated disciplines. Team-taught by three professors in the fields of public administration, political science, and homeland security, the class of 30 students from three institutions is the first at USG to take on a comprehensive exploration of this evolving topic offering new challenges – and new opportunities.
“We are teaching students about how to manage the unimaginable,” said Dr. Sunil Dasgupta of the course’s curriculum. “No matter how much you plan for a crisis, there will always be something we did not think of. We want to students to learn the importance of being flexible and being resilient.”
The course aims to inform students about the challenges of crisis management in the context of modern government and public-private partnerships, and to develop an appreciation for the multidisciplinary nature of crisis management through discussion, analysis and simulation.
“I never knew there were so many underlying issues in crisis management, this class has really helped me see the whole picture,” said Anusha Jayasinghe, a junior UMBC Political Science major. “I’ve learned way more in class discussions than I ever could by reading a book.”
A Complete Perspective
The course’s three instructors contribute an impressive breadth of knowledge with decades of expertise and first-hand experience. Dr. John Callahan, a professor of health systems management and public administration with the University of Baltimore, brings more than 25 years of experience in management for the federal government, most recently including six years as assistant secretary of management and budget for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Sunil Dasgupta, a professor of political science and a fellow of the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., offers an analytical perspective, guiding discussions about turf battles, collaboration and communication, as well as political succession in times of crisis. Dr. Earl Stoddard, a program manager for the University of Maryland Law School’s Center for Health and Homeland Security, offers a current, on-the-ground view of modern crisis management.
“I like the fact that we have three different perspectives, all three together complement each other and provide more than enough resources and information for the students,” said Rebecca Lee, a senior University of Baltimore Health Systems Management major who intends to continue her career in hospital healthcare and administration.
Along with the practical knowledge, the course provides students with a historical context of how past crises were handled and the lessons learned. Ranging from natural disasters to terrorism and healthcare crises, classes have focused on 9/11, the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, the 1918 influenza pandemic and more.
“It’s amazing how much history I have learned from this along with crisis management,” said Lee.
Building Collaborative Skills
Students will be evaluated on their ability to analyze real-world crises and their understanding of a basic crisis management plan as part of a group simulation assignment. The project requires students to work together in reaction to a hypothetical disaster while assessing roles of individuals and agencies involved, such as first responders and law enforcement, government agencies, and media personnel.
For many students in the course who are graduating with bachelor’s degrees in the coming years, the curriculum has opened their eyes to a variety of high-demand career paths.
“The idea is to have students appreciate the many disciplines involved in disaster recovery and emergency and crisis management,” said Dr. John Callahan. “These students have bright futures and many are still determining where they want to be.”
Regardless of the paths they pursue, students enrolled in this course will be prepared with collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills that can help them personally and professionally – in any situation.