The spring-quarter schedule of “Get Ready – Take Action, All-Hazards Training” is set.

The big news is that faculty and staff will be able to take the training online in addition to choosing from three afternoon face-to-face sessions.

“I’m very excited about the online training,” said Safety & Security Director Robin Blacksmith. “I’m working with our eLearning department to create a class in Canvas that will then be available for all employees to take when it is convenient for them.”

The work to build the class has started and Blacksmith said the goal is to have it available by mid-spring quarter. “A number of people who have already taken the class have asked if they can take it again as a refresher,” she said. “The answer is ‘yes,’ and the online option may help address that request.”

Some people prefer to be in a traditional face-to-face learning environment and there are three such classes set for this spring. In previous quarters, most of the 90-minute classes were scheduled between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. For spring, Blacksmith consulted with faculty union President Amy Kinsel to set the three sessions. “We wanted to perhaps reach a group of employees who haven’t been able to get to the other classes,” Blacksmith said.

The dates, times and locations are:

• May 7, 3-4:30 p.m., Room 9208
• May 20, 3-4:30 p.m., Room 2925
• May 26, 3-4:30 p.m., Room 9208

Blacksmith also noted that there are two session remaining this month:

• March 11, 2-3:30 p.m., Room 2925
• March 17, Noon-1:30 p.m., Room 9208

For employees who want to come to a face-to-face class, Blacksmith asks that they use the form below to sign up. Once the online class is available, employees will be able to access it at any time with no signup required. As reminder, associate faculty members who are attending either the face-to-face or the online training and submit a completed time-sheet to the VPASA’s office will be paid for that time at the contractual rate for non-instructional work, $39 per hour. Associate faculty payment applies only to those who are taking the training for the first time.

The goal is to have all employees who work on campus to participate, including staff and full- and part-time faculty. The college began in June, 2014, to offer Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) –based training to all employees.

President Cheryl Roberts has expressed that all employees who work on campus should complete what is now labeled, “Get Ready – Take Action, All Hazards Training.”

This training is intended to help make the campus a safer environment for employees, students and everyone who comes to the college. Employees who do not work on campus may also choose to participate in the trainings, either in class or online.