University News

WIU Emergency Management will Offer Classes to Emergency Responders and Educators in March

March 2, 2021

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MACOMB, IL - - The Western Illinois University Emergency Management (EM) program, in conjunction with the Emergency Operation Center Project (ILETSBEI) and the WIU GIS Center, will offer two classes virtually to emergency responders and educators in March.

The classes will provide Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) certification by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that is mandatory for practitioners and students to be allowed the use of drones and drone-related technology in any professional operations in the area of public safety from natural disasters, emergencies, to search and rescue. In addition, follow up hands-on classes will be offered in the future.

"Due to the growing and expansive numbers of emergencies and disasters occurring worldwide and the rising employment need for professional and qualified responders, WIU's Emergency Management program has undergone an entire review and overhaul of its curricula and program objectives in 2020," said Jill Myers, director of the WIU School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (LEJA).

The UAS certification classes are part of an ongoing commitment from the School of LEJA and the Emergency Management program to establish a fully operational Emergency Operations Center (EOC) that serves the western region of Illinois and WIU. This Center assists in providing emergency responses necessary to ensure continuity of operations during a state of emergency or disaster declaration by those authorities and provides educational and training opportunities to current and future emergency responders.

WIU LEJA now also offers a strong and unique new Emergency Management curriculum fully online, as well as face-to-face to accommodate emerging national and international certifications, recommendations, and accreditations.

The new EM program offers:


  • A strategic/operational track for those seeking employment in disaster management

  • A tactical track for those seeking employment in first response agencies

  • FEMA-endorsed accreditation requirements

  • SAR accreditation requirements

  • Army 525 and Air Force 10-2051 training expectations required for civilian contractors.

  • FBI, CIA and DEA competencies

  • Knowledge related to National Incident Management System and modern technology, including GIS, drones, next generation 911 technology, digital transformation and comprehensive data systems

  • Scientific understanding of natural disasters, earth systems, climate and weather

  • Ties to minors in homeland security, law enforcement, fire science, etc.

  • WIU's program is the only EM program in the nation that meets all of these standards.


For more information on Western's School of LEJA, visit wiu.edu/leja. For more information on WIU's Emergency Management program, visit wiu.edu/academics/em.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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