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From COWLEY COLLEGE

Beginning this fall, Cowley College will offer an online associate of general studies degree program in leadership with an EMS emphasis.

Each online class will be taught over eight weeks instead of the normal semester.

The degree program in leadership is designed to provide a conceptual framework for individuals to facilitate the implementation of successful leadership practices in EMS organizations.

Topics such as leadership styles, organizational leadership and financial management provide a better understanding of the necessary components that form a successful EMS organization, and how individuals at all levels of the organization can be responsible for positive organizational change.

About a year ago, Slade Griffiths, Cowley's director of EMS education and chair of the Allied Health Department, was contacted by members of the Kansas Board of EMS, who asked if Cowley would consider developing an EMS leadership program.

Griffiths discussed the idea with the Cowley EMS Advisory Committee and decided to start the development process. Chris Cannon, one of two Lead MICT Instructors in the Allied Health department, was a natural for developing this degree because of his masters in leadership from Southwestern College.

Griffiths and Cannon talked about the concept for several months and then met with others at the college, in particular, Bev Grunder, Sue Saia, Susan Norton and Sheree Utash, who provided guidance and suggested courses.

At some point, they realized the degree would actually benefit students in other fields and made a decision to design the course with eight core leadership classes (24 credit hours) and three EMS specific classes (nine credit hours).

This design allows others at the college to offer the eight-core leadership classes and three other discipline-specific classes to meet other industry and community needs.

"We believed that flexibility was truly needed," Griffiths said.

Cannon developed most of the course procedures and the degree requirements.