CSL 200 - UA Emergency Management

Course: CSL 200 with instructor Dr. Jay Friesen (Winter 2024)

Students:

• Hannah Unsworth (she/her), Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (4th year)

• Hailey Stubbington (she/her/they), Bachelor of Arts in Criminology program (2nd year)

Who was your community partner, and can you describe the project objectives?

We worked with the U of A Emergency Management Effectiveness of Classroom Emergency Emails. We connected with faculty and staff who received emails at the beginning of the semester regarding security, safety, and protocols for campus emergencies. We did this via curated questionnaires that we sent out to staff to gauge the efficacy of emails at the beginning of the semester. We asked for feedback on improvements to the methodology for receiving this information and hope to use this data to improve successful communication between emergency departments and various faculty staff.

What was the biggest takeaway from your CSL placement?

A big takeaway from this would be learning practical skills for data collection through curating questionnaires, as well as using that data to draw concrete conclusions for issues pertinent to all departments and all people on campus. Being able to work hands-on with instructors with staff and engaging with staff for meaningful feedback was a great asset in making this project work. By creating the groundwork for these surveys and collaborating with various staff members, we now have data to enhance emergency management protocols that can be in effect today and will help in the future.

How can you apply any newly gained knowledge/skills to your future endeavors (courses/employment/volunteering)?

Hailey: Due to how I now have first-hand experience conducting surveys and promoting safety with the general public, I can use this knowledge as I continue to complete my criminology degree. Being able to connect with people on how to keep an environment safe and incorporating the feedback I receive, I can use this data and any new information to not only formulate a new tool to continue promoting safety on campus after I finish this placement but also using the experience as a stepping stone in creating projects similar to this both in my future criminology courses and in my career after graduation. 

Hannah: Personally, these data acquisition skills will be invaluable long term. A huge aspect of psychology is data gathering and interpretation to set up long-term procedures catered to micro or macro scales. I plan on pursuing graduate studies, and learning how to communicate and integrate new information will carry on with me for a long time as a valuable asset. I also think that being well-equipped with knowledge about macro-scaled safety within my campus is important so I can accurately support the safety and security of my peers and myself.