44.100:  Critical Incidents

Emergency response plans defining specific procedures will be developed and maintained by the Department of Campus Safety and the Department of Environmental Health and Safety, with input from the university community, and will be reviewed on an annual basis by the Critical Incident Response Team.

I.  Definitions

A.  Critical Incident

Any incident that significantly impairs the normal operations of the University and its community resulting in a negative impact that requires immediate actions be taken by the President's Cabinet to ensure that institutional operations are restored and a safe and healthful environment exists.

B.  Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT)

Upon the declaration of a critical incident, members of the President's Cabinet will appoint the CIRT, which will consist of appropriate members given the nature of the incident. In most cases this group will consist of the Chief of Police (chair), Director of Environmental Health and Safety, Dean of Students, Associate Vice President for Facilities and Auxiliaries, and Associate Vice President for Communications and Marketing.

C.  Critical Incident Command Center

Pre-determined locations that allow the President's Cabinet and CIRT to meet when a Critical Incident has been declared. These locations will not be publicized.

D.  Critical Incident Media Site

Pre-determined locations that allow the dissemination of information to the local media. The following sites have been designated as Critical Incident Media Sites: Howard Park, Nelson Commons, and Irvine Hall. Upon declaration of a Critical Incident, the Associate Vice President for Communications and Marketing, or his or her designee, will determine the Media Site.

II.  Critical Incident Activation

After taking immediate emergency actions, such as calling 911 or activating an alarm, any member of the Ohio University community who becomes aware of a potential critical incident should contact the Ohio University Police Department. The Police Chief or his or her designee will contact the Provost or his or her designee. In consultation with the Vice President for Finance and Administration, the Provost will consider a Critical Incident declaration. In the absence of the Provost, the Vice President for Finance and Administration or the Vice President for Student Affairs will be contacted for consideration of a declaration.

Upon declaration of a Critical Incident, the Ohio University Police Department Communication Center will notify the following three groups of people that a declaration has been made:

1. The specific members of the President's Cabinet identified by the Provost or the Vice President issuing the declaration.

   This group will meet to take whatever actions are deemed appropriate and to establish the membership of the CIRT; the meeting will be convened by the Provost or the Vice President issuing the declaration.

2. Other appointed Critical Incident Response Team members, or their designees.

3. Such additional people as are needed to deal effectively with the particular incident (e.g., the Vice President for Research).

The notification will specify the location of the Command Center for this critical incident, to which those notified should report as promptly as possible.

III.  Preparation

Individuals identified in the definition of the CIRT, above, will:

1. Each name a designee to be notified in the event that member cannot be contacted. Contact information for the CIRT members and their designees will be maintained at the Communication Center of the Ohio University Police Department.

2. Each be responsible for developing, maintaining, and activating a staff emergency notification list within his or her department for the purpose of responding to a Critical Incident when needed.

3. Together prepare, and at least annually review and revise as needed, the Ohio University Emergency Preparedness Response Plan, which will be published online, linked from the Environmental Health and Safety home page at http://www.ohiou.edu/ehs/.

IV.  Regional Campus Responses

The Vice President for University Outreach and Regional Campuses will work with each campus dean to prepare response plans augmenting those described above.

1. President

2. Provost

3. Cabinet

4. Vice President for Finance and Administration

5. Vice President for Student Affairs

6. Vice President for Research

7. Director of Legal Affairs

8. CIRT members

9. Vice President for University Advancement

10. Vice President for University Outreach and Regional Campuses

11. Policy and Procedure Review Committee