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Transition to Leadership

Overview

This online course is intended for laboratory managers, directors, chiefs or any other personnel in a supervisory position. The purpose is to gain a better understanding of what it means to be a leader and a manager. Transition to Leadership will explore the nuances between these two concepts in detail.

Cost: $0-225. This course takes 5 hours to complete, on average

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

Explain the difference between leadership and management
Discuss whether leadership is innate or if it can be learned
Discuss different types of leadership styles
Discuss how change is a necessary component of any business
Offer 10 tips for effective leadership

Course Structure and Schedule

This is a non-credit course offering 2.32 ILUs. (What is ILU?) Average completion time for the course is 5 hours. The course cost is $225 per registration (with the exception of public lab employees, law enforcement, public attorneys, and federal employees – please see "Registration Information" below). A certificate of completion will be issued to students successfully meeting course requirements.

Table of Contents:
Unit 1 - Management vs. Leadership
Unit 2 - Leadership Attitude
Unit 3 - Facing Change
Unit 4 - Summary

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course. A printable version of the course content is available in PDF format in the course library for future reference. Course readings are also available in PDF format.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are discussion posts required?

Answer: Yes, all the discussion posts in this course are required.

How do I know that I have successfully completed all assignments?

Answer: You may follow your progress by clicking on “My Grades” in the left toolbar. If something does not have a grade or does not meet the 80% minimum standard, it must be completed.

Computer Requirements

Mozilla Firefox (recommended) or Internet Explorer
Adobe Acrobat Reader
QuickTime
Macromedia Flash Player
Java

(Free software plug-ins are available in the Getting Started area of the course.)

Basic computer skills required (i.e. turning on your computer, navigating to websites, etc.). The course is user-friendly but support is available if needed.

Instructor Information

Robin Bowen is the Assistant Director for the Forensic Science Initiative, a program that develops scientific resources, outreach opportunities, and professional training for forensic scientists and related professionals. Her primary responsibilities include coordination of continuing education programs, management of grant funded projects, and correspondence of progress to the National Institute of Justice. Bowen is the author of Ethics and the Practice of Forensic Science. She is a former advisory member of the Outreach and Communication Interagency Working Group (IWG) under the National Science and Technology Council Subcommittee (NSTC) on Forensic Science. She is also on the Editorial Advisory Board for the revised edition of Encyclopedia of Forensic Sciences. Bowen is the primary developer of the Forensic Educational Alliance, an initiative to offer a variety of forensic science continuing education courses online. She has an undergraduate degree in Forensic and Investigative Sciences and a graduate degree in Secondary Science Education. Robin is the online course instructor for Ethics in Forensic Science, Fibers and Textiles for Forensic Science, and Transition to Leadership. Contact: Robin.Bowen@mail.wvu.edu, 304-293-6214

Kelly Ayers is a curriculum developer with the Forensic Science Initiative. Prior to joining FSI, Kelly was employed as a forensic services technician with the Asheville, NC Police Department. While there, she was qualified as an expert in forensic identification in North Carolina Superior Court and was published in the Journal of Forensic Identification. She has an undergraduate degree with a double major in Philosophy and Biology from Frostburg (Maryland) State University and was the first graduate of the West Virginia University Forensic Identification Program. Since joining FSI, Kelly has become an IAI Certified Senior Crime Scene Analyst and received her Master of Science in Forensic Science Administration from Oklahoma State University. She is a native of Romney, WV. Contact: kelly.ayers@mail.wvu.edu 304-293-0323

Forensic Science Initiative: http://fsi.research.wvu.edu/, Contact: fsi@mail.wvu.edu
Technical Assistance: 304-293-4444 (non-credit eCampus student)
Extended Learning: http://continuinged.wvu.edu, Contact: WVUEnrich@mail.wvu.edu

Registration Information

Please read below to determine your eligibility. If you have any eligibility questions please contact Forensic Science Initiative at FSI@mail.wvu.edu BEFORE you register. Registration is accepted year-round for this course.

Law Enforcement, Public Lab Employees & Public Attorneys

Anyone employed by state, county, or city Law Enforcement or Public Safety Agency, or those employed by a Public Forensic Laboratory are eligible. Attorneys employed in the public sector at a state or county department are eligible.

Registration Steps:

Go to our Online Registration System, log in or create new profile.
Navigate to the category Forensics – Public Lab Employees
Select Course and Click on "Add to Cart" (Instructions under "How to Register")
Completely Fill out "Supervisor Approval Form: Release Form" and Click "Submit". Please note that we cannot accept registrations that list the Student as his or her own Supervisor.
Proceed to Checkout (even though charge is $0 this MUST be done)
You will receive a confirmation email verifying course registration
Course Access information will be emailed to students within 5 business days from WVUEnrich@mail.wvu.edu

Penalty Fee (Public Lab Employees, Law Enforcement, and Public Attorneys ONLY):

Public Laboratory Employees, Law Enforcement, and Public Attorneys are funded by NIJ Award 2009-DI-BX-K012. A $30 penalty fee will be charged to the individual for any student that does not access or finish the class in the time allotted. The student will be held responsible for the $30 penalty even if they have left the agency. If the student defaults on the payment, the agency will be responsible for the $30 penalty fee. Failure to pay the $30 penalty fee will result in the individual student and the agency’s ineligibility to register for future FSI online and onsite courses. Each situation will be handled on a case by case basis but exceptions are rarely given.

Cancellation Fee

This $30 fee is a technology fee and is charged once registration is submitted- if there is any question concerning eligibility, please check PRIOR to registering.

Federal Employees

Anyone employed by the United States Federal Government is eligible to enroll in any course that directly impacts their job position for a cost of $30.

Registration Steps:

Go to our Online Registration System, log in or create new profile.
Navigate to the category Forensics – Federal Employees
Select Course and Click on "Add to Cart" (Instructions under "How to Register")
Completely Fill out "Supervisor Approval Form: Release Form" and Click "Submit". Please note that we cannot accept registrations that list the Student as his or her own Supervisor.
Proceed to Checkout & Pay $30 course fee
You will receive a confirmation email verifying course registration
Course Access information will be emailed to students within 5 business days from WVUEnrich@mail.wvu.edu

Refund Policy (Federal Employees ONLY):

The $30 course cost is non-refundable under any circumstance.

General Public

All others employed by private agencies, universities, agencies out of the United States, or anyone interested in taking the course.

Registration Steps:

Go to our Online Registration System, log in or create new profile.
Navigate to the category Forensics – General Public
Select Course and Click on "Add to Cart" (Instructions under "How to Register")
Proceed to Checkout & Pay $225 course fee
You will receive a confirmation email verifying course registration
Course Access information will be emailed to students within 5 business days from WVUEnrich@mail.wvu.edu

Refund Policy (General Public ONLY):

All requests for cancellations/refunds must be in writing. Requests must be made within one week from when the class access information was emailed to the student. Email your request to WVUEnrich@mail.wvu.edu or mail your request to: WVU Extended Learning, P.O. Box 6800, Morgantown, WV, 26506.

For general FAQs for the FSI online courses please click here.