At last week’s all-staff meeting, Chris Lee addressed recent questions regarding Lawrence’s preparations to handle emergencies on campus.
He noted that Lawrence maintains a 9-person Crisis Management Team to prepare for and respond to emergencies at Lawrence. That team consists of:
Catherine Kodat, Provost and Dean of the Faculty
Chris Card, Vice President for Student Life
Chris Lee, Vice President for Finance and Administration
Curt Lauderdale, Dean of Students
Steve Armstrong, Director of Information Technology Services
Lindsay Kehl, Interim Director of Human Resources
Dan Meyer, Director of Facilities Services
Craig Gagnon, Associate Vice President of Communications and
Jon Meyer, Director of Campus Services
He also listed and discussed several recent, current and ongoing initiatives to strengthen LU’s crisis response and to provide training for staff and faculty. These include:
- Monthly training and testing once each term of the LU Alert System (RAVE), implemented in 2016
- Active Shooter training offered in the summer and fall of 2017 by Chris Tarmann and Joe Peterson from University of Wisconsin/Oshkosh
- Comprehensive updates in 2017 to the crisis management handbook which all members of the crisis management team use in response to campus emergencies
- Updated emergency procedure signs and exit maps posted in all campus buildings in 2017 – typically on each floor by every exit
- Discussions with the Appleton Police Department to provide campus-wide training in 2018
- A comprehensive evaluation of LU’s emergency preparations conducted by Mark Bagby of Emergent Solutions the week of May 7 with recommendations to be provided next month.
- Online resources available for the crisis management team including the FBI video “The Coming Storm” and FEMA online training courses IS-700.A and IS-100.HE.
Our goal through all these activities is to develop a response protocol for any type of emergency. Our most likely event would be weather-related but other types of emergencies are covered as well. And while much has been done, it is worth noting that preparation for emergencies is an issue that will remain an ongoing priority. It is an effort that will require diligence, practice and training on a continuing basis to assure that the Lawrence community is prepared for emergencies of all kinds and equipped to respond if/when they happen.