海角社区

#158 - Institutional Emergencies

Approved: June 9, 2026

Monitor: President

The President's Council has primary responsibility for developing and maintaining campus emergency plans. The President's Council is supported by the Emergency Management Team.

Emergency Management Team

The Emergency Management Team (EMT) will coordinate the immediate institutional response to situations involving loss of life, major accidents, disturbances, disasters, etc. The EMT does not replace the University's senior leadership in determining appropriate responses to emergencies, but rather coordinates the initial response and planning for emergencies under the direction of the President's Council. The membership will vary depending on the nature of the emergency.

The Vice President for Student Affairs will normally chair the EMT. The Vice President for Business Affairs will normally co-chair for emergencies involving facilities (fire, tornados, etc.). Upon being informed of an emergency requiring activation of the EMT, the chair will mobilize other needed members of the team by convening the EMT virtually or at a designated location.

The EMT will normally be formed from among the following members, as appropriate to the incident. Each member will have a designated alternate:

Vice Presidents as appropriate

Directors and campus leaders as designated

For Facilities Emergencies:

Vice President for Business Affairs, Co-Chair

Director, Facilities Planning and Management

Safety Officer

Unless directed to an alternate site, the EMT will meet at a pre-designated location.

In the absence of the President or a presiding Vice President, the EMT will respond to the emergency in accordance with written guidelines, established policy, and as common sense dictates, in order to minimize loss, safeguard lives and property, and minimize disruption of normal activity. All campus communications may be initiated by the Chief of Police, President or designee, Vice President for Student Affairs, or the local Coles County Emergency Management staff.

The EMT will review the accuracy of its resource and contact lists, conduct practice discussions, and review various emergency scenarios.

Weather Advisory When the University Continues to Operate

Because the University is basically a residential university, its teaching activities should continue despite the adverse weather. These guidelines have been established to provide uniformity in handling staff and student absences when the University continues to operate but when some students and staff cannot get to the University. The President or their designee will make the determination on weather related closures or advisories and communicate this decision electronically to the University community via the University homepage. (SEE: WEATHER-RELATED ABSENCES POLICY)

When the University Closes Officially

Board of Trustees Regulations provide that the President of the University, or a designated representative, may close the University in an emergency in which the safety, health, or welfare of employees is a matter of concern. When this occurs, the employees may be excused from work with pay, under the following guidelines:

Employees in a collective bargaining unit are governed by the appropriate bargaining agreement.

1. Civil service employees shall not lose seniority because of such absence.
2. An employee on vacation, sick leave, leave without salary, layoff, day off, or other paid time off, shall account for the time away from work as if there were no closing.

Essential Services During University Shutdown

There are some essential services which must be provided despite the adverse weather. These guidelines have been established to provide for those conditions.

1. The appropriate Vice President shall determine what services shall be defined as essential.
2. Employees who are required to work on essential duties shall be granted equivalent time off for hours worked during their regular shift during the official close-down period. Equivalent time off shall be scheduled at a time mutually agreeable to the employee and the supervisor.
3. If the employee's work schedule requires it, overtime shall be paid for the time worked.