E-Learning Training and Solutions for Campus and Homeland Security

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to discover barriers, uncover solutions, and create best practices for improving campus security. The study found many opportunities for online training and instructional design strategies that could improve awareness for universities and colleges conducting security preparedness activities for faculty, staff, and students in the Unites States and abroad. The theory that guided this study was vested interest theory, which predicts how attitudes will influence behavior in a commitment to preparedness fundamentals. The setting for this study was two institutions of higher education (IHE) along the East Coast of the United States. Data collection techniques included site documentation review, observation, and interviews of campus administrators, faculty, emergency managers, and senior campus police officials. The three data sources were triangulated and summarized for each of the five research questions. Four themes emerged from the findings: hindrances, recommendations, best practices, and vested interests. The major hindrances to security preparedness were lack of resource funding for dedicated preparedness staff and activities; apathy regarding campus security preparedness by administrators, staff faculty and students; multiple federal security preparedness guides; and the lack of requirements for robust security planning, preparedness exercises, and training. Major recommendations identified from this study include increased funding for security preparedness blended training, planning, and instructional exercises; IHE senior leadership must model the way; having one federal guideline for security preparedness, and the transfer of IHE campus security preparedness oversight to FEMA. Online training that focuses on simulations and practical solutions for all stakeholders that model campus security preparedness techniques and the development of institutional technology products that transfer knowledge to concrete concepts and strategies could extend training into many unique and innovative types of training environments and improve the overall safety of all stakeholders.