Emergency Management Committee
Function
The Emergency Management Committee (EMC) is a University-wide committee consisting of representatives from across the institutional. The committee's mission is to collaborate on emergency management strategies and initiatives designed to enhance preparedness and improve the University's ability to respond to, and recover from, all threats.
Scope of Authority
The purview of the Committee is limited to matters that pertain to the Emergency Operation Plan's mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery strategies.
Responsibilities
The Committee is responsible for:
- Continuously analyzing all risks which expose the University to the potential disruption of its activities, including risks that are natural and manmade.
- Overseeing the development of emergency preparedness and response plans in response to the risks identified.
- Presenting university-wide emergency response plans to the VP for University Affairs (VPUA) for approval and further presentation to the Executive Group for approval to implement.
- Assisting with the development of emergency response plans for operational units, and for ensuring they align with the university-wide plan.
- Facilitating communication of the emergency operations plan through updates to the appropriate website and written materials as needed.
- Designing and conducting two internal disaster drills per year, with one of the drills to include participation by external emergency response agencies.
- Developing training materials and facilitating the appropriate training for the university community.
- Serving as the University's emergency response team, managing the university's response to an emergency.
- Annual review of existing emergency management plans and related policies and procedures, with changes to be recommended to the VPUA for approval and further presentation to the Executive Group.
- Recording minutes and distributing them to its membership.
Reporting Structure
The Committee reports through its Chairperson to the VPUA on all matters related to its charge. The VPUA represents, and serves as the liaison to the Executive Group (senior officers) of the university. The overall authority and responsibility for the emergency management plan rest with the Executive Group, which provides support and direction to the Committee. The Chairperson of the EMC will be appointed by the VPUA.
Committee Chair
The Director of Emergency Management
due to the current vacancy in that position the acting chair is Dr. Steve Westbrook - Vice President for University Affairs
Representation on Committee
The following departments will be represented on the Emergency Management Committee:
- University Police - Amanda Kennedy, Interim Chief of Police
- Physical Plant - Ron Watson, Director, Physical Plant
- Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management, Dr. Jeremy Higgins, Director - Safety, Environmental Health and Risk Management
- Student Affairs - Dr. Adam Peck, Dean of Student Affairs
- Student Services / Residence Life - Sam Smith, Director of Student Services
- Information Technology Services - Mike Coffee, Deputy Chief Information Officer
- University Marketing Communications - Dr. Shirley Luna, Director, University Marketing Communications
- Academic Affairs - Dr. Steve Bullard, Provost
Additional ad-hoc consultants (i.e. legal, consultants) can be engaged to assist when needed.
The representative from each unit should be a key administrator for the operational area represented, thereby facilitating timely decisions. Due to the number of operational areas represented, each area is limited to one representative, with one alternate to participate when the regular representative is not available.
Meeting Schedule
The Emergency Management Committee will hold regular monthly meetings, and may meet more often if the need arises.
Related Policy
(13.8) Emergency Operations Plan