NOW APPROVED: FORS 2460: FORENSIC CHEMISTRY

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

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

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

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 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

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:

1. 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...
2. 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

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