For plan purposes, an emergency involving a crisis is defined quite broadly. It can be any event or situation that threatens the health, safety, or wellbeing of the campus community, is outside the range of ordinary human experience, and requires immediate action. Such events have the potential to overwhelm the usual effective coping skills of either the individual or the group.

Various plans and procedures will be utilized for emergencies that occur on campus, such as:

  • sudden deaths through accident or suicide
  • multiple deaths or injuries through accident
  • major fire
  • large-scale acts of violence
  • terrorist threats specific to the campus

( Note: Refer to the Emergency Response Management Plan for natural disaster events, such as earthquakes. )

Campus Response Procedures

  1. Primary Response Functions
    Campus departments with primary response functions (such as Security Services) will respond to the emergency and obtain appropriate outside assistance (e.g. police, fire, and/or medical aid). They may establish a perimeter emergency scene barrier to reduce risks, to facilitate scene protection, to support emergency response access, to provide comfort and privacy for those affected by an emergency, and/or to prevent inappropriate access by the public and the media.
  2. Security Services
    Security Services will immediately notify at least one member of the Emergency Response Center Management Group about actual or potential "on-campus emergencies." That individual will coordinate contact with other team members and the Emergency Policy Council.
  3. Emergency Policy Council (President's Cabinet)
    The Emergency Policy Council (President's Cabinet) will provide executive leadership to the university during emergencies in which the academic and research programs are interrupted, or normal business cannot be conducted. They also will provide direction and coordination with the Faculty Senate, Department Heads, and the EOC Management Group/Manager.
  4. Emergency Operations Center Management Group
    This group advises on overall strategy for the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), assists and supports the EOC Manager with the overall priorities and action strategies for the emergency response. The group works with and supports the Office of Communications in the development and delivery of messages, coordinates and communicates as necessary with the Emergency Policy Council and other university groups regarding the EOC operations. They also oversee response and recovery operations.
  5. Office of Communications
    The Office of Communications will communicate information to the media and coordinate online communications. They also will respond to the crisis scene to facilitate appropriate media access and prevent inappropriate media access.
  6. Stress Management Response
    Counseling, Health, and Wellness Services, in collaboration with Human Resources and the university's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider, will coordinate delivery of critical incident stress management (CISM) services to persons involved in or affected by emergency circumstances. They may solicit assistance from outside counselors if warranted.

The university regularly reviews its emergency management plans and seeks opportunities to strengthen them.