FORS FOREVER

2010-10-15T11:16:00.000-07:00

“FORS”

http://forsforever.blogspot.com

FORENSIC SCIENCE BLOG

AN ACADEMIC PROGRAM OF SCIENCE & ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY

In the history of Texas community colleges, Forensic Science finally became an option of serious academic study in 2004 due to the efforts of three faculty members at Weatherford College. Don Jacobs, (psychology, and chair of behavioral science), Erin Mackenzie (biology) and Lum Farr (criminal justice) came together to create courses that would become the FORS rubric; the interdisciplinary emphasis program of forensic science was born. As unique needs labs at first, final approval by the Texas Co-Board was granted on August 8, 2008 (08-08-008). Due to the support of Dean Richard Bowers, the collaboration of personalities willing to think “outside of the box”, the sophomore-level lab courses spread over Texas like a wildfire. Today, nearing 2011, 20+ campuses offer FORS 40 & FORS 50. While AS and AA degrees remain the most popular transferrable programs, various certification programs have been added to the mix.

The FORS rubric became permanently emblazoned in course curricula as
• FORS 2440: Introduction to Forensic Science
• FORS 2450: Introduction to Forensic Psychology
& now a “unique needs” course—the first step in statewide approval for academic transfer courses…
FORS 2460: Forensic Chemistry (Criminalistics).

On the WC campus, my office is located in BUSI 209; my direct line 817-598-6431. Please email djacobs@wc.edu if you are considering launching FORS LABS and the forensic science emphasis program.
PROGRAM NOTES

FORS at Weatherford College (WC)

We teach introductory psychology as a brief introduction to forensic psychology. The text The Real Story of Psychology (2008), Hayden-McNeil Publishers, has an entire chapter devoted to forensic science readings. This course is taken in the first semester of the freshman year as students also take their first labs: BIOL for majors, A & P, or CHEM can be selected. The second semester of the freshman year can include FORS LABS: either FORS 40, FORS 50, or soon FORS 60. Criminal investigation (CRIJ 2301) is a natural precursor to FORS 40 and Criminal psychology (PSYC 2302) is a perfect segue to FORS 50. The first semester of the sophomore year will conclude the BIO & CHEM LABS. The final semester is about options: FORS 40, or 50, or 60 can be selected depending on the student’s interest upon transfer to the university. All told, 16 hours of science labs have been taken along with 6-12 hours of interdisciplinary cohorts—psychology, criminal justice, anthropology.

FORS University Articulation Partners

University of North Texas
Peggy Tobolowsky, J.D.
Professor and Associate Chair
Peggy.tobolowsky@unt.edu

University of Texas at Brownsville
Michael Lytle, Forensic Scientist
Program Director for UTB
Michael.Lytle@utb.edu

University of Texas at Arlington
(The FORS articulation, while still active, remains within
the Interdisciplinary Studies Department
going through transition with a new chair.)

St. Edward’s University (Austin)
Dr. David Horton, Chair, Forensic Science
davidh@stedwards.edu

University of Central Oklahoma
(Edmond, Oklahoma)
Dr. Dwight Adams, Director of Forensic Science Institute
Former director of the FBI Lab in Quantico
dadams8@uco.edu

FORS Senior Advisory Board

Dr. Arthur J. Eisenberg, Ph.D.
Professor, Director of DNA Identity Lab
University of North Texas Health Science Center

Dr. Alan H. Hall, M.D.
Toxicology Consulting
Author of patented cyanide poisoning antidote

Ed Hueske, M.S.
Criminalistics, University of North Texas

Michael Lytle
University of Texas Brownsville, Forensic Scientist Program Chair

Dr. Richard Saferstein, Ph.D.
Former Chief Forensic Scientist, New Jersey State Police Lab
Author: Criminalistics 8th Ed.

To visit the WC campus send an email to Don Jacobs, Chair, Behavioral Science, Weatherford College, Weatherford, Texas 76086, USA djacobs@wc.edu or phone 817-598-6431
http://forsforever.blogspot.com

CRIMINAL MINDS (DUE SPRING, 2011)

2010-10-15T10:55:00.000-07:00

CRIMINAL MINDS

21ST Century Forensic Investigative Science

How New Tools and Improved Products
Capture Criminal Minds

By: Don Jacobs

What Forensic Investigative Science Knows About
VIOLENT CRIMINAL MINDS

Forensic Investigative Science’s
New & Improved Products
Championing Interdisciplinary Pedigree

By: Don Jacobs
Author of forensic science labs of the FORS rubric

_______________________
Dedication & Acknowledgments
To Colleagues in Forensic Investigative Science:
“With your remarkable contributions as interdisciplinary-trained forensic investigative scientists, forensic science has become without question the most important of all applied sciences of the 21st century.”

Professor Don Jacobs
Weatherford College
Spring, 2011

“To all my students: I can never repay you guys for sharing with me
the significance of your life in peer tribes, and through the years, to
appreciate the workings of your brilliant sapient brains. You have taught
me the real challenge for all parents to accomplish: LISTEN more, LEARN
more, & TRUST more. That’s quite an assignment. Love. Respect.
Forever.” DJ

“Discovery consists of seeing what everyone has
seen and thinking what nobody else has thought.”
—Albert Szent-Gyorgi, Nobel Prize Winning Chemist
(In Good, I.J. (Eds.) The Scientist Speculates, page 15).

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgement & Dedication

PART I
21st Century Forensic Investigative Science

Introduction: Scientists Who Seek to Capture Criminal Minds

Chapter One: Becoming a Forensic Investigative Scientist
Chapter Two: New Tools from Neuroscience
Chapter Three: Criminal Minds Capture
Autobiography: Rachel’s Life—“Determination: Life in Desperation”

PART II

Brainmarks: A Paradigm for Adaptive Neuropsychopathy

Introduction: Headquarters for Calculating Minds & Deceptive Practices
Chapter Four: Deceptive Practices

Chapter Five: Calculating Minds
Chapter Six: Res Ipsa Loquitur
Chapter Seven: Trapdoor Spiders
Autobiography: Sabrina’s Life—“Invincible”

PART III
Order Becoming Disorder

Introduction: Being Whatever He Needs to Be

Chapter Eight: Predatory “Toxic” Parenting
Chapter Nine: “DANE” Brainmarks
Chapter Ten: Order Becoming Disorder
Autobiography: Lauren’s Life—“Tortured by Tears”

PART IV
Truly, Honestly, Deceptively

Chapter Eleven: Graduate Seminar
Chapter Twelve: On Cloud 9

Autobiography: Cassidy’s Life: “Life is Bigger than One Person”

Bibliography

Introduction: Scientists Who Seek to Capture Criminal Minds

From crime labs to crime scenes and to solving the pretzel of criminal minds, a new descriptive title has emerged recently to describe interdisciplinary training required for today’s forensic science careers. Forensic scientists are forensic investigative scientists. Each word has relevance in the evolution of 21st Century version of forensic science. Forensic—because evidence must be processed and analyzed to a certainty in forensic labs and presented in a systematic way to sway juries in criminal cases; Investigative—because of the careful examination of evidence required and in the age of diminished capacity additional psychological insights into the perpetrator’s state of mind during the commission of the crime, are required and Scientist—because a high standard of training, knowledge, expertise, and the ability to communication across disciplines is necessary for reliable criminal minds capture and to prove criminal cases beyond reasonable doubts.

Today, training in the classroom and in the field have become pedagogical priorities. In this regard, references appended at the end of chapters as Resources and in Bibliography have guided my perspectives over years of pedagogical development—how best to present the wondrous workings of sapient brains to college students pursuing degrees in the behavioral sciences and now, forensic investigative sciences. (I will persist in using “sapient brains” throughout the book to define the ability of our species— Homo sapiens— to act eventually with purposive, self-reflective judgments and as a benchmark of the “reasonable man standard” in legal jurisprudence.)

Is there a quantifiable process to explain how violent criminal minds emerge from sapient brains—the same brains with the potential to nurture offspring and to be law-abiding citizens? For compelling answers that square with cognitive neuroscience and evolutionary psychology, we must turn to the study of spectrum psychopathy. Today, as students prepare for forensic science careers optimal preparation suggests interdisciplinary training in the classroom. What has transpired in this perspective represents the new tools and improved products described in three chapters of Part I: Forensic Investigative Science.

In Part II: Brainmarks: A Paradigm for Adaptive Neuropsychopathy, four chapters—Chapter 3-Chapter 7—defines and describes my paradigmatic shift into a lifelong adaptive version—a beneficial and restorative version of psychopathy—referred to as neuropsychopathy. Peer-reviewers have been kind; they are not surprised at my conclusions based upon what we ALL see every day from sapient brains.
From synergistic research alone, it is easy to document the contributions of brilliant colleagues such as Robert Hare and Martin Kantor—they and numerous others are responsible for the evolution of spectrum psychopathy. Likewise, from student autobiographical essays that finally hit me “like a ton of bricks” in early 2010, the essays themselves suggested elements of this paradigmatic shift as well. Four lightly edited bios are placed at the end of the final chapters in each of the four parts of the book. You will soon meet and discover facts about the lives of Rachel, Sabrina, Lauren, and Cassidy—all survivors of highly disruptive childhoods and adolescences who are now pursing college degrees.
Honesty, the time has come for Brainmarks. For now, if it’s perceived to be no more than a good idea that follows logically from what we already know about psychopathy that’s fine too. To quote Hungarian Nobel Prize winning chemist, Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, “Discovery consists of seeing what everyone has seen and thinking what nobody else has thought” (Good, page 15). I believe my conclusions have already been reflected upon countless times; they simply have not been systematically presented and defended.

However, the existence and essence of an adaptive version of ultra-mild psychopathy (or my term, neuropsychopathy) as a natural brain condition will not be shocking, especially to scientists. To deny the ability of our sapient brains to survive and thrive would be to ignore the awesome adaptability inherent in the neuroanatomy and neurochemistry of our 2.5 lbs of cortical tissue. Sapient brains powered by awesome neurochemistry provide the launch pad to human behavior and social interactions as members of societies all over the world. The same chemistry is responsible for sapient brains’ ability to fend-off crushing despair by nature’s protective brain condition, and in contrast, across the continuum, by identifying the irreversible and violent psychopathic personality disorder.

In Part II: Brainmarks: A Paradigm for Adaptive Neuropsychopathy four chapters (Chapter 4-Chapter 7) defines and describes my cutting-edge paradigm of spectrum psychopathy sure to kindle lively debate. To me, Brainmarks is simply the next step in the understanding of this brain condition. Certainly, Robert Hare or Martin Kantor will not be, in the least, surprised by my conclusions.

In Part III: Order Becoming Disorder, three chapters (Chapter 8-Chapter 10) address the once widely embraced perspective of how criminality could be “parented-in” to offspring from “toxic” parenting and other damaging influences from peer and social milieus. This position is challenged by the Brainmarks paradigm. Also, existing conditions of what now should be “parented-out” by informed parents will be presented. The neurochemical basis of psychopathy is explored for both the adaptive version and the violent version, well-documented as psychopathic personality disorder. The final chapter in Part III’s trilogy begins by addressing a message famous poem, Richard Cory and soon thereafter, reveals aspects of the shocking murder and suicide of a mayor and her soon-to-be college-bound daughter in Coppell, Texas. At the end of the chapter we meet Lauren, who is “tortured by tears.”

In Part IV: Truly, Honestly, Deceptively, Chapter 11: Graduate Seminar presents two compelling essays, Gender Differences Among Psychopathic Serial Murderers and The Sexually Motivated Male Serial Killer: An Interdisciplinary Monster, from my former top student, Ms. Ashleigh Portales, now a crime scene investigator in Wise County, Decatur, Texas. Chapter 12: On Cloud 9 concludes with a prescient look into 23rd Century forensic neuropsychology and the concept of “internal cortical prisons” created by brain chip technology. Is there a happy ending at the end of the rainbow in the cessation of criminal minds, or will a new set of nightmares require new tools and improved products?

NOW APPROVED: FORS 2460: FORENSIC CHEMISTRY

2010-04-12T05:57:00.000-07:00

Colleagues: As of last week, the Texas Co-Board formally approved our new Forensic Science Lab, FORS 2460: Forensic Chemistry (Criminalistics). This means that Weatherford College can now offer it as a Unique Needs course this Fall. After I gather statistics on enrollment & number of campuses that subsequently apply for Unique Needs status themselves, I will petition the committee for FORS 2460 to be approved for official inclusion in the ACGM manual of transfer course in 2013.

Every campus in Texas can now apply as I did for Unique Needs Status and get rolling with yet another investigative tool in forensic science higher education.

As always, let me know if I can assist you in any way.

Here's the official notice from Brenda Berry of the Co-Board:

Don, we received the application for FORS 2460. The application has been reviewed and approved. The course has been placed on your academic unique need course inventory with an effective date of 01/01/2010, and will expire 12/31/2013. Please use the following approval number when reporting the course for formula funding.

FORS 2460 – 4301067124

I am available should you have any questions, and it has been a pleasure serving you.

Thank you very much.

-Brenda

Brenda Berry
Educational Data Center
Planning and Accountability
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
P.O. Box 12788
Austin, TX 78711-2788
Office (512) 427-6316
Fax: (512) 427-6447
E-Mail: Brenda.Berry@thecb.state.tx.us
Website: www.thecb.state.tx.us

FORS UPDATE FEB 2010

2010-02-20T08:38:00.000-08:00

TODAY IS SUNDAY, FEB 21, 2010.

Colleagues, it's been over three months since my last post. Over this timeframe, a few pivotal goals from as far back as 2004 are becoming attainable:

First, more and more campuses are within a semester or so of launching their first ever FORS labs leading to Forensic Science emphasis AS or AA degrees. For example, Gary Gildon & colleagues at Texarkana College are on the verge of this milestone for next Fall or Spring semeter.

Who else? Please let me know the status of your program so I can update your good news on this blog.

Also, please plan to attend our annual Summer Retreat sometime in late July or early August as FORS Science continue to evolve as one of our higher ed's most popular emphasis degree heading into university studies. Dates will be forthcoming on this blog.

Second, Tarleton State University (TSU) in Stephenville is now offering a forensic psychology emphasis to their newly revised BS degree in psychology. Recently, I was assigned SIX PSY: 490 Special Topics courses (18 credit hours) for which I may offer a variety of topics related to forensic psychology. Here is a sampling for your students to consider as they prepare to decide "the next step":

PSY 490: FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY TODAY (ONLINE, being offered now)

PSY 490: PROFILING CRIMINAL MINDS (ONLINE,offered Summer I)

PSY 490: JEKYLL & HYDE OF SEXUAL PREDATORS (Fall, ONLINE)

Third, Talks are underway for TSU to offer 18 graduate hours for ALL professors who teach in the FORS rubric. This would produce a FORS certification that will soon be required for SACs approval. I will present an update of this possible Master's certification at TCCTA breakout session this March in Houston.

Last, but not Least, I have created an online version of FORS 2450: Intro to Forensic Psychology. This may be the best way to introduce students to this fascinating course. I will share this course with any colleague who wants to launch it. Also, students on your campus may sign up for the course by becoming a part-time student at WC.

Let's talk at your convenience. My office phone is 817-598-6431 or email: djacobs@wc.edu

Please continue to watch this blog for new developments...thanks & FORS FOREVER!
Don Jacobs, architect of the FORS rubric djacobs@wc.edu

VISIT OFTEN TO READ FORS UPDATES

2009-11-02T06:22:00.000-08:00

TODAY IS FRIDAY, NOVERMBER 6TH, 2009.

WELCOME TO THE CONFERENCE!

MEET AS MANY COLLEAGUES AS POSSIBLE. EXCHANGE EMAIL ADDRESSES & CHECK FORS FOREVER BLOG BI-WEEKLY (also "FORS4EVER" & "4N6" REGISTERED BY DON JACOBS)

BLOG ADDRESS: http://forsforever.blogspot.com

YOUR SOURCE FOR FORS FOREVER CONFERENCES BOTH FALL & SPRING SEMESTERS.

SPRING SCHEDULE WILL POST IN LATE DECEMBER.

FOR MORE INFO EMAIL: djacobs@wc.edu

COMING SOON: LISTING FOR INTERNSHIPS IN D-FW

FORENSIC SCIENCE IS READY WHEN YOU ARE

2009-01-30T06:17:00.000-08:00

The Lower-Division Academic Course Guide Manual (ACGM) is the official list of approved courses for general academic transfer that may be offered by public community and technical colleges in Texas for state funding.

TEXAS HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AND RESEARCH DIVISION
AUSTIN, TEXAS

REVISED FALL 2008

NEW COURSES

FORS (Forensic Science)
FORS 2440 Introduction to Forensic Science (lecture + lab)
Survey of the procedures of crime scene investigation in gathering evidence and applicable scientific technologies that follow established protocols by first responders; a preview of how criminalists in forensic laboratories will process the gathered evidence presented.

Approval Number...................................... 43.0106.51 24
CIP Area………………………………………………………………….Forensic Science & Related Sciences
maximum SCH per student...........................................4
maximum SCH per course........................................... 4
maximum contact hours per course.......................................................... 96

FORS 2450 Introduction to Forensic Psychology (lecture + lab) Survey of current perspectives and technologies in the analysis of criminal mind suggested by crime scene evidence; introduction applications of forensic psychology including the history and current practice of criminal profiling in the apprehension of serial killers as sexual predators. (Psychology 2301 is required as a pre-requisite for this course.)
Approval Number...................................... 43.0106.52 24
CIP Area…………………………………………………………………Forensic Science & Related Sciences
maximum SCH per student.......................................... 4
maximum SCH per course........................................... 4
maximum contact hours per course.......................................................... 96

Unanimously approved August 8, 2008 (8-8-08) in Austin, Texas.
Don Jacobs (Weatherford College) & Michael Lytle (UT Brownsville) present.
Now, ALL community colleges & universities in Texas receive funding for offering FORS 2440 & FORS 2450 or in transfer.

Email Don Jacobs djacobs@wc.edu for questions/comments

2009 THE BEGINNING OF LEGITIMACY

2009-01-05T07:47:00.000-08:00

2009 IS GOING TO BE THE MOST MEMORABLE YEAR YET FOR LAUNCHING FORENSIC SCIENCE AS FORS FOREVER ACROSS TEXAS. WE ARE ONLY 6 WEEKS AWAY FROM TCCTA CONVERENCE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. PLEASE PLAN ON ATTENDING. WE HAVE SO MUCH UP-TO-DATE INFO TO SHARE. HERE'S A FIRST LOOK AT OUR AGENDA

1. UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON (UTA) NEW ARTICULATION UPDATE

2. STATUS OF ALL ARTICULATION PARTNERS

3. LAB SEQUENCES FOR FORS 2450: INTRO TO FORENSIC PSYCH
(WITH ADOPTION OF: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF DECEPTION:
SEXUAL PREDATORS & FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY (2008)

4. FORS 2440 UPDATE & TEXTBOOK SUGGESTIONS

5. PRESENTATION BY FORENSIC SCIENTIST MICHAEL LYDLE OF UT BROWNSVILLE

6. EXTENDED Q & A BY DON JACOBS, ARCHITECT OF THE FORS RUBRIC

ALL FOR NOW..SEND QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS TO djacobs@wc.edu

Watch my FORS FOREVER BLOG FOR WEEKLY UPDATES...

see you in Austin...djacobs

TRACKS UPON WHICH THE FORS RUBRIC BEST RUNS

2008-10-18T08:55:00.000-07:00

As colleagues across the State start the exciting process of which degree of Forensic Science emphasis would be the best to initiate on their campuses, the following RESEARCH may be helpful.

THE AA DEGREE
Back in Spring 2004, when Weatherford College colleague Erin Mackenzie (Biology) and I (Don Jacobs, Psychology) began a dialog of choice ourselves we had just completed a week-long investigation into PROS and CONS of ALL potential FS degree emphasis; we decide upon the AA pathway because:

We absolutely felt (and still do) that FORS courses are academic transfer courses that must articulate into university interdisciplinary Bachelor's degrees. As Forensic Science has, by its nature and practice, an interdisciplinary pedigree (biology, chemistry, physics & psychology & anthropology & criminal justice, ETC) students require horizontal course offerings--courses with great breadth of understanding--BOTH at the 2-year level and including the Bachelor's degree in many cases...
After careful analysis of both the AS (Associate of Science) and AA (Associate of Arts) degree requirements, the AA path offered 5 electives instead of only 1 elective for the AS degree. Five electives allow program chairs to insert into the degree pathway the courses that represent the all-important eclectic interdisciplinary sciences (in our view). In the path, students could choose any 5 the following:

PSYC 2302 Applied Psych: Intro to Criminal Psychology
PSYC 2389 Academic Cooperative: Clinical Psychology
PSYC 2307 Adolescent Psychology I: The Adolescent Brain
CRIJ 2314 Criminal Investigation
CRIJ 1310 Criminal Law
ANTH 2389: Forensic Anthropology
ANTH 2301: Physical Anthropology (with Osteology)

3. Our research indicated back then (and now) that obtaining the Bachelor's degree starts to
open doors for top students and, may in fact, pave the way for obtaining a Masters Degree via tuition reimbursement. While committed to a Bachelor's degree more doors open most importantly the highly coveted INTERNSHIP.
For example, my former teaching assistant in forensic science at Weatherford College, Ashleigh Portales, provides a helpful model student for this career path philosophy. Now in her senior year at UTA, Ashleigh obtained an Internship with a local police department in Dallas County. (Ashleigh met this individual who offered her the Internship at one of our Forensic Science conferences--an absolute requirement for successful programs at all levels I will soon address). Ashley has excelled as a civilian CSI in her first and only Internship. Factoring in her academic course work at WC & UTA combined with her timely Internship, Ashleigh has been offered full time employment as a civilian CSI (non-police officer status) upon graduation in May. She represents the best case scenario we had in mind way back in 2004 when we chose the AA degree. The AA articulates well with UTA interdisciplinary degree (BSIS). My student will make in the vicinity of 50K in her first job.

THE AS DEGREE
Some of our colleagues across the State have chosen the AS degree, a natural choice for students seeking Criminalistics laboratory exposure with focused and indepth course of study in the natural sciences enhanced by additional math. For example, students can graduate with 16 hours of natural science, plus an additional 6 hours of required math.
The AS degree leads predictably into university BS degrees in forensic chemistry. In fact, one of our senior advisors, Dr. Artur Isenberg of The UNT Health Science Center offers a Masters in Forensic Chemistry at UNT Fort Worth characterized by a 100% placement rate. Recall that this degree allows for only 1 elective; therefore the AS is more of a vertical degree--focused upon more indepth knowledge in the natural sciences, in contrast to the horizontal AA degree that stretches ACROSS DISCIPLINES.

THE AAS DEGREE
Some of our colleagues have chosen the AAS degree that focuses upon occupational competencies such as crime scene investigation (CSI) preparation within, for example, the Criminal Justice AAS degree. Courses such as Crime Scene Investigation (CRIJ 2401) would be the focus of this pathway along with other workforce-type courses. As many vocational courses are termed "workforce preparatory courses" or WECM courses , described in the Workforce Education Manual of the Texas Coordinating Board of approved courses, they are by nature NOT academic transfer courses listed in the ACGM--Academic Course Guide Manual. (All of our graduates are told upfront the value of obtaining a Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Forensic Science.) Therefore, for program chairs offering a FORS AAS degree requires taking stock of placement rates upon graduation and other criteria associated with WECM for continuation of this degree pathway making the FORS AAS degree not better or worse than the AA or AS just DIFFERENT.

CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS
Yet another pathway for Forensic Science preparation exists with a Certification program. As I am less familiar with this path than all others, I would ask that colleagues across the state who are offering this pathway, please educate me on the PROS & CONS by sending me an email (djacobs@wc.edu) so I may have this helpful information.

FORENSIC SCIENCE CONFERENCES
I have found that well planned Forensic Science conferences to be almost a NECESSITY to marketing ALL FORS programs. The "conference experience" brings communities together via law enforcement, nurses, and other practitioners into the orbit of education by offering meaningful CEU accreditation. There exists many ways and venues for this to occur during the long semesters. I strongly urge SPRING (March, April, & May) conferences. This timeline allows conference preparation in the fall by lining up vendors, speakers, and other attractions.
My duties at WC have precluded me from participating in conferences during the week, as weekends (especially Saturday), are the only open times for me. However, I can offer a bit of wisdom to those who can be more actively involved in their own conference presentations. Please let me know if your campus would be interested in how a conference might become part of your FORS marketing plan. My email address is djacobs@wc.edu or phone at 817-598-6431.

Please make plans to met me and other FORS colleagues across the State at our TCCTA conference in Austin this year.....We have two vital breakout sessions with all the latest updates

All for now, but as always, more EACH MONTH...check around the 10th of each month for THE LATEST NEWS...djacobs

MOST UP TO DATE FORS INFO BLOG IN TEXAS

2008-10-09T10:24:00.000-07:00

FORS Update for Colleagues Across the State (OCTOBER 10, 2008)

As FS colleagues know, FORS is the ultimate INTERDISCIPLINARY course of study at the 2-year & at the Bachelor's levels. Anthropology, Criminal Justice, & Psychology (for sure) comprise academic disciplines along with NATURAL LAB SCIENCES (BIOLOGY & CHEMISTRY ). So, until I can arrange for a University Center of Forensic Science in Texas, we can choose to CROSS LIST FORS 2340--Introduction to Forensic Science (or 2440 with CSI lab) as CRIJ 2340; FORS 2350--Introduction to Forensic Psycholgoy (2450 with lab) as PSYC 2350.

This strategy will allow CJ instructors and Psych instructors to teach the respective FORS courses.

Temporarily, cross-listing will fly with SACS, but only until we get too popular (certainly within 3-5 years). At that point, they will make an argument that 18 graduate hours in FORS is required to teach ALL FORS courses. We will have some lead time in this predictable eventuality.

All for Now....D. Jacobs

WHY FORENSIC SCIENCE ON MY CAMPUS?

2008-08-14T06:35:00.000-07:00

"once one puts aside all of the drama of a forensic science case, what remains is an academic subject emphasizing science & technology."
Richard Saferstein, Ph.D.
Author & Senior Advisor to
Weatherford College Forensic Science