Project Objectives

 

 

Objective 1: Design and introduce new course offerings in risk analysis and decision making. Three new courses are envisioned to constitute the backbone of the RA&DM graduate minor. Each of the courses we propose will be designed, approved, and offered as experimental courses within the term of this project. In addition to the existing course, Risk Assessment for Food, Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, the proposed flagship courses are: Risk Analysis for Food and Feed Production; Risk Perception and Communication for Scientists; and Science Policy Formulation.

 

Objective 2: Identify, evaluate and revise the syllabi of lead course offerings to embed for RA&DM core concepts. This objective will address needs assessment for core offerings and embedding of RA&DM concepts within core courses. Many courses currently offered at ISU contribute key elements essential to the process of risk analysis. Multiple interactive seminars will be conducted in targeted departments and programs to introduce our program intent and elicit broader faculty involvement. This, in conjunction with administrative input, will allow us to expand our existing ad hoc network of interested faculty. This expanded group will develop core concepts for communicating RA&DM and identify appropriate existing courses that can serve as the core for advancing these concepts. The project team will work with lead instructors to revise courses to incorporate RA&DM core concepts.

 

Objective 3: Adapt risk analysis offerings for distance delivery and targeted client or audience needs. A graduate certificate will be of greatest value to continuing learners already in established careers for whom distance learning can satisfy career growth needs. Therefore, we view the distance delivery of RA&DM courses as necessary for a successful certification program. This effort seeks to adopt existing instructional materials into client-specific learning modules for delivery in off-campus degree programs, continuing education workshops, and certification programs. A formative evaluation of our potential client base in the food and agricultural enterprises will be conducted to gauge their needs, which will then inform course content.

 

Objective 4: Develop the administrative and governance infrastructure and governance for the envisioned multidisciplinary certification and minor programs. Proposals for either a certificate or a minor program require an infrastructure for administration and governance in order to gain approval by the Graduate College. We will work with an ad hoc group of interested core faculty and the ISU deans to formulate governance policies and to identify the programs’ administrative requirements.