Course Syllabus

 FES 4244: Legal, Political, and Regulatory in EMS

Course Description

Contact Information: Dr. Chris Reynolds, CEM, EFO

Email: chris.reynolds@ufl.edu

This course provides the foundations of the legal system and how if effects the EMS manager. It is one of the six core courses for the FESHE model curriculum in EMS management.

The course and textbook provide an overview of those regulatory issues and how an EMS leader; manager, and supervisor can work within those guidelines; and how they can influence developing rules and regulations affecting EMS services today. EMS leaders, managers, and supervisors must maneuver daily in a labyrinth of rules and regulations at the state and federal levels. Some of these regulations have been in place since the beginning of EMS, and over the years hundreds of new rules and regulations have affected EMS delivery.

Credit Hours: 3

Textbook Required:

Prerequisite Knowledge and Skills: None

HOW THIS COURSE RELATES TO THE STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES IN THE FIRE EMERGENCY SERVICES PROGRAM

As many aspects of Fire and Emergency Services are intertwined with the law, the student shall demonstrate knowledge and legal application of the issues facing Emergency Medical Service managers and programs today. The student shall also demonstrate strong verbal and written communication skills for leadership in fire and emergency services.

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

I am looking for students to demonstrate a working knowledge of the subject. The assigned textbook will assist you in this working knowledge. You need to be creative when you complete your assignments but maintain a professional appearance of your work. Your work needs to be complete and in such a manner that someone can pick up your document and understand what you are trying to convey. And most of all, your work needs to be supported with research and cited in properly in APA format.

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS

The course is designed for individual and group interactivity. It is important to post and respond to discussion questions in the course within the time frame allotted. This provides a learning environment by networking with other students in the course. The assignments are individual base to give you the opportunity to do a variety of activities, in many cases, similar to what you will be doing in role as a leader in the emergency services profession.

Course Policies

ATTENDANCE POLICY: The course is designed in module format. You should check the site at least once a week. You are required to complete the assignments including discussion questions within the time period designated on the module. There will be meetings set up throughout the course. Requirements for class attendance and make-up exams, assignments, and other work in this course are consistent with university policies that can be found in the online catalog at: https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/regulations/info/attendance.aspx. (Links to an external site.)

QUIZ/EXAM POLICY: There is a final project for this course. There are no exams or quizzes.

MAKE-UP POLICY: You must contact me if you are going to be late on any assignment to receive credit.

ASSIGNMENT POLICY: All assignments have a due date. Please be sure to check the date and time it is due in each module.  Initial discussion posts are due by 11:59 PM on Fridays.  Responses to discussion posts, and Written assignments are due by 11:59 PM on Sundays.

Canvas Information & Technology

Class meetings may require a web camera and mic/audio. If you are not able to use a web camera you will need to at least provide audio/mic, you can call in on a phone also. Otherwise, discussions and assignments will be web based and submissions will occur electronically. If technology help is required, please contact the UF Help Desk at:

• Learning-support@ufl.edu
• (352) 392-HELP - select option 2
• https://lss.at.ufl.edu/help.shtml (Links to an external site.)

Any requests for make-ups due to technical issues MUST be accompanied by the ticket number received from LSS when the problem was reported to them. The ticket number will document the time and date of the problem. You MUST e-mail your instructor within 24 hours of the technical difficulty if you wish to request a make-up.

Other resources are available at http://www.distance.ufl.edu/getting-help  (Links to an external site.)for:

• Counseling and Wellness resources
• Disability resources
• Resources for handling student concerns and complaints
• Library Help Desk support

Should you have any complaints with your experience in this course please visit http://www.distance.ufl.edu/student-complaints (Links to an external site.) to submit a complaint.

UF's online/internet privacy statement: http://privacy.ufl.edu/privacy-policies-and-procedures/onlineinternet-privacy-statement/ (Links to an external site.)​

UF Honor Code

UF students are bound by The Honor Pledge which states, “We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of honor and integrity by abiding by the Honor Code.  On all work submitted for credit by students at the University of Florida, the following pledge is either required or implied: “On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid in doing this assignment.”

The Honor Code (http://www.dso.ufl.edu/sccr/process/student-conduct-honor-code/ (Links to an external site.)) specifies a number of behaviors that are in violation of this code and the possible sanctions.  Furthermore, you are obliged to report any condition that facilitates academic misconduct to appropriate personnel. If you have any questions or concerns, please consult with the instructor of in this class.

UF Policies

University Policy on Accommodating Students with Disabilities: Students requesting accommodation for disabilities must first register with the Dean of Students Office. Here is the link (Links to an external site.). 

The Dean of Students Office will provide documentation to the student who must then provide this documentation to the instructor when requesting accommodation. You must submit this documentation prior to submitting assignments or taking the quizzes or exams. Accommodations are not retroactive, therefore, students should contact the office as soon as possible in the term for which they are seeking accommodations.

University Policy on Academic Conduct:

UF students are bound by The Honor Pledge which states, “We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of honesty and integrity by abiding by the Honor Code. On all work submitted for credit by students at the University of Florida, the following pledge is either required or implied: "On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid in doing this assignment." 

Netiquette: Communication Courtesy:  All members of the class are expected to follow rules of common courtesy in all email messages, threaded discussions and chats. 

Course Grades

The grade is based on a point system. You divide the total number of earned points into the total amount of points available to determine your grade.

Grading Scale

See https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/regulations/info/grades.aspx regarding current UF grading policies.

Evaluation Process