By R.V. Baugus
IAVM is set to launch Academy for Venue Safety & Security (AVSS) Extension, built as a companion session of learning to the Association’s flagship AVSS, in May at the IAVM store. Comprised of eight sessions featuring expert speakers in all areas of venue safety and security, this is the perfect place for attendees to stay current with relevant sessions that can be viewed at the participant’s leisure on the virtual site until April 2022. Purchase options will include both single-user and venue multi-user accounts.
“Online safety and security is more important than ever during COVID-19,” said Mark Herrera, IAVM Director of Education and Life Safety. “IAVM has had to rapidly adapt to changing conditions under the current health pandemic to assure we provide the most current educational offerings on recommended safety and security best practices. Industry professionals and committee members representing the Academy for Venue Safety and Security faculty along with the Venue Safety and Security Committee have been instrumental in adapting the Academy to an AVSS extension offering in order to improve attendee skills on safety and security and better define their roles to the post-pandemic ways of working, which is critical to the success of the security to all Commercial Facilities.”
Herrera added that the goal of AVSS Extension is to provide virtual training opportunities in 2021 with the anticipation of returning to AVSS in-person training once the current health safety concerns are resolved. He emphasized that while AVSS Extension does not take the place of the current AVSS curriculum, it will allow attendees to stay current with expert-driven safety and security sessions that compliment the AVSS.
“We are excited to be able to offer our members an opportunity to enhance their venues’ safety and security this year through attendance at the AVSS Extension program,” said. Paul Villotti, PE, FSFPE, Chair of the AVSS Faculty. “When the faculty learned that the current COVID protocols would not allow our 2021 Academy to occur live in New Orleans, we wanted to find a way to continue to assist the members who wanted to provide the best in risk management at their venues. The faculty, IAVM staff, and the Venue Safety and Security Committee initiated this opportunity to allow the faculty to provide some ancillary information and training that enhances the learning that would have occurred at the 2021 Academy.
“We hope this gives past, current and future students an opportunity to explore more deeply the Academy’s core curriculum including Risk Management, Emergency Planning and Management, Security Operations, and Training. As Mark said, this AVSS Extension is not intended to replace the normal curriculum, but to give new students a taste of what is to come, and past and current students additional insights and a deeper understanding of the subject matter presented.”
The opportunity to self-pace in AVSS Extension is a feature as well as how the program will serve as a benchmark for future learning.
“One great aspect of this Extension is its ability to continue to be built upon in future years,” Villotti said. “We are hoping that it becomes a cache of safety and security resources for both AVSS students and the broader IAVM membership. Another great aspect is this format allows industry experts, including past students, to contribute to the AVSS Extension resources. This expands our knowledge base and infuses new approaches and experiences into the already expansive breadth of the faculty.”
