Emergency Event and Weather Closing Policy
The Berea College campus has occasionally faced a serious emergency. In order to ensure the safety of our students, faculty, staff, guests, and visitors, it has on rare occasions been necessary to close the campus due to such emergencies as crisis, severe snowstorm, tornado, fire, water damage, etc. When an emergency arises, the President of Berea College or his or her designee may decide to close the campus in order to preserve the safety of students, employees, guests, and visitors. This policy specifies how Berea College will respond in such circumstances. This policy also specifies that employees throughout the campus community have a personal responsibility to consider individuals with disabilities in their area.
Policy and Procedures
The President of Berea College or his or her designee will decide as early as possible before or during the work day that the College campus will be closed.
If the decision to close the College is made before or after the regular workday, the Publications and Projects Manager will inform the news media of the emergency situation, who is and who is not to report for class and/or work, and, if known, the expected duration of the emergency. Employees should listen to radio channels or watch Lexington TV channels for official notification of an emergency closing of the campus. If information is not available on these media, the employee should call the head of his or her department or division, People Services (ext. 3050), Public Relations (ext. 3018), or, only if none of these can be reached, a campus operator (985-3000) for appropriate information.
If the decision to close the College is made before or after the regular workday, College faculty, staff, and student employees will also be notified through the College calling tree. When the decision has been made to close the College, the President’s Office will immediately activate the College calling tree as follows:
- The President’s Office will notify the Vice Presidents, the Publications and Projects Manager, and the Director of People Services.
- Each Vice President will contact the employee in each department and office in the Vice President’s division who has been designated in advance as the “contact person” for that department or office.
- The designated “contact person” in each department or office will activate the calling tree of that department or office. It is imperative that each division, department, and office develop its own calling tree.
- The Directors of Facilities Management and Public Safety will notify their emergency response teams and convey instructions on actions to be taken.
- The Publications and Projects Manager will advise the Phone Center staff on appropriate responses to callers’ inquiries.
- The Director whose area is primarily responsible for handling the incident will maintain close contact with their divisional Vice President, who will keep the President’s Office informed about the situation. The President or his or her designee will keep Communications staff informed of developments, and the Publications and Projects Manager will update media information and the Phone Center accordingly.
If the emergency occurs during the regular workday, the President, the Academic Vice President and Dean of the Faculty, or a designee may direct People Services staff to notify all campus departments of the situation and action to be taken. Or the President, the Academic Vice President and Dean of the Faculty, or a designee may direct the Vice Presidents to notify the various departments and offices within their divisions through the designated department and office “contact persons” and calling trees.
Essential employees, described as those persons involved with the required operations of the campus, will be expected to staff their positions during an emergency.