THE INDIANA UNIVERSITY ROBERT F. BORKENSTEIN COURSE ON ALCOHOL AND HIGHWAY SAFETY: TESTING, RESEARCH AND LITIGATION

May 12-17, 2013 – Registration is now open

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The Indiana University Alcohol Borkenstein Course is a one-week expert-level program of on-campus instruction and interaction, on medico-legal alcohol topics. The primary emphasis in most of the presentations is on alcohol in relation to traffic safety, covering basic alcohol chemistry and physiology, principles of measurement of alcohol in blood and breath, and presentation of alcohol information in the courtroom. The program is presented twice annually (May and December) on the Indiana University main campus in Bloomington, IN as an activity of the Robert F. Borkenstein Center for Studies of Law in Action in the IU Department of Criminal Justice.

Student Jennifer Rattanaprasit
and Professor Wayne Jones
at the May 2011 Alcohol Course

The Course currently consists of 18 elements presented by ten visiting faculty members and the Course Manager over six days. Faculty presentations and other Course elements include lectures, question and answer, panel discussion with faculty-registrants, and tutorial sessions led by individual faculty members. The program also includes an initial Course orientation, welcoming faculty/student dinner, and a wine and cheese reception courtesy of the Criminal Justice Department.  The program also features daily review sessions, and a final program exam/review.

This course, which was originated by Robert F. Borkenstein in the 1950’s, was primarily intended for professionals who administer or perform blood or breath tests to determine blood alcohol content.  Enrollment in the course is limited to those technical and scientific personnel who manufacture, operate or maintain instruments, perform tests or manage blood or breath alcohol programs, or who provide expert testimony in alcohol litigation or hearings.

Neither the Center nor the course receives financial support from Indiana University. Both are entirely funded by the revenues generated from course enrollments.  Please contact the Center administrator for questions about additional courses for other groups outside our current enrollment.

Joseph Boodoosingh traveled from
Trinidad and Tobago to attend the
May 2011 Alcohol Course

COURSE FEATURES

Information is provided to Course participants mainly through:

• An extensive Course notebook, with additional resource materials provided on-line
• Formal lectures and informal discussions
• PowerPoint presentations
• Flip chart and chalkboard use
• Questions-and-answers sessions
• Panel discussions

Full documentation and additional reference materials and sources prepared by each presenter and updated for each Course session are provided to each registrant. Frequent breaks during and between each set of presentations provide opportunities for interaction among the registrants and between registrants and faculty. The Course faculty, who are also in residence during the Course discuss one-on-one case situations or other current concerns with the registrants throughout the course.

The 2011 Alcohol Course Wine and Cheese Reception provided
a great opportunity for faculty and student interactions

There are also after-hours social events, scheduled free-time, refreshment breaks.  The Course Manager is present on-site throughout the Course to assist any registrant as needed, to maintain adherence to the schedule, to introduce faculty, and to coordinate the presentations as well as gather input for the daily review tests. Of particular value are the frequent, informal interactions among the registrants (approximately 60) and among registrants, faculty, and the Course managers. The Course schedule is closely adhered to. However, there is time for social events and relaxation on and off-campus. Housing is on-campus in the first-class hotel operated within the Indiana Memorial Union – the world’s first and largest student union complex, with a complete physical fitness center and many other splendid facilities.

An Indiana University certificate of satisfactory completion of the Course is conferred by the Center on each registrant who meets the Course requirements, and is presented at the end of the Course.  AACC Accent credits are also now available for the course (30 hours).

Faculty member Joseph Turner and an officer from
IUPD assist a student wearing Fatal Vision goggles

COURSE CONTENTS

The Borkenstein Course begins with a brief orientation to the Course, Indiana University, and Bloomington by IU Criminal Justice Professor and Center Director Kip Schlegel; Center Executive Director Dr. Barry Logan; and Borkenstein Course Manager Joe Turner.

The schedule will be available from the Center shortly before each class begins.

Registration • Faculty • May 2012 Course Schedule • Printable Brochure • Tuition/Lodging