Process for Complete or Partial Closing of the University

Examples: health epidemic, strike, disturbance or (threat of) violent crime

Process - When a general campus emergency condition exists or is pending (other than medical related emergencies), Global Risk Management Services will take the lead in assessing conditions and notifying the Sr. Vice President of Finance & Administration and the Provost & Sr. Vice President of Academic Affairs. Consultation between the Sr. Vice President of Finance & Administration, the Provost & Sr. Vice President of Academic Affairs and, as the situation dictates, other vice presidents will result in a recommendation to the President and a decision on the scope of University closing and class cancellation. Notification to the University community, and Rochester community, if necessary, will follow steps outlined in Section IV below.

• Special Process for Medical Related Campus Emergency - When a medical related campus emergency exists or is pending, Global Risk Management Services , in consultation with RIT's Student Health Center Director, will determine the level of threat to the campus community and they will notify the Sr. Vice President of Student Affairs, and the Sr. Vice President of Finance & Administration. Consultation between the Sr. Vice President of Finance & Administration, the Sr. Vice President of Student Affairs and the Provost & Sr. Vice President of Academic Affairs will result in a recommendation to the President and a decision on the scope of University closing and class cancellation. Notification to the University community, and Rochester community, if necessary, will follow steps outlined in ”Notification” section below.

Examples: Loss of power, gas or water line break, bomb threat, fire

Process - When a building emergency occurs (other than a bomb threat or fire), Facilities Management Services will determine the estimated duration of the building(s) closure. Facilities Management Services will notify Global Risk Management Services who will in turn notify the Sr. Vice President of Finance & Administration and, the respective Vice President, Dean(s) and/or department head(s) of the building(s) involved. Consultation between the Provost & Sr. Vice President of Academic Affairs, Sr. Vice President of Finance & Administration and the respective Vice President and/or Dean(s) will result in a recommendation to the President and a decision on the scope of building closure/class cancellation and its duration. Notification to the University community, and Rochester community, if necessary, will follow steps outlined in the “Notification” section below.

Special Processes for Specific Building Emergencies

1. Bomb threats - When a bomb threat is received by anyone at the University, the threat should be reported to Public Safety immediately (x5-3333). Public Safety will alert the Sr. Vice President of Finance & Administration and University Communications. The Sr. Vice President of Finance & Administration in consultation with the Provost & Sr. Vice President of Academic Affairs and President, as appropriate, will decide on the course of action. Chain of communication will follow the “Notification” section below. Public Safety will take the lead in coordinating any building evacuation, search and investigation of the threat. The building(s) will remain closed until such time as determined safe for human occupancy. Public Safety will make status reports to the Sr. Vice President of Finance & Administration who will authorize re-entry to the building when appropriate.
2. Fire - When Public Safety receives notice of an active fire situation, it will notify the Sr. Vice President of Finance & Administration, Facilities Management Services and University Communications. Public Safety will provide coordination of the fire emergency and will announce to Facilities Management Services and University Communications when a building entry can be made to assess damage. Facilities Management Services will assess the damages and make any necessary report to the Sr. Vice President of Finance & Administration regarding damage and building availability. Notification to the University as a whole will follow the steps outlined in “Notification” section below.

These conditions create unsafe travel and mobility both on and off campus. Examples: Significant snowfall, ice, fog, floods or extreme cold.

Process - When a weather related condition is pending or exists, Public Safety will take the lead in assessing conditions and will provide regular and updated verbal reports to the Assoc. Vice President F&A for Global Risk Management Services. Public Safety will monitor reports regarding conditions from the following sources:

1. Monroe County Office of Emergency Management
2. National Weather Service
3. Town of Henrietta Highway Department
4. Local media
5. Facilities Management Services (campus condition and transportation)

Conditions that could give rise to RIT implementing a severe weather closure include but are not limited to:

• Public Safety receiving storm data from these four sources of an area wide "storm warning advisory of no unnecessary travel," ,
• Monroe County Office of Emergency Management advises "emergency travel only".

In addition, Public Safety will monitor on-campus roadway, parking, walkway and building conditions. In the event campus conditions deteriorate to unacceptable levels, Public Safety, in consultation with Facilities Management Services, will notify the Associate Vice President for Global Risk Management Services regarding current and projected conditions.  The Associate Vice President for Global Risk Management Services will make recommendations to the Provost and Sr. Vice President of Academic Affairs, who will decide on the course of action - open as scheduled, delay opening, early closing, or full closure. Notification will follow the steps outlined in the Notification section below.

• Overnight Development of Emergency Conditions - When conditions develop overnight, an effort will be made to have an announcement to University Communications by 5:00 a.m. This announcement should be aired by 6:00 a.m. If the emergency condition persists for more than one day, a daily announcement will be made by University Communications.
• Chain of Communication - When a decision to close or cancel classes is made, the responsibility and chain of communication will be initiated according to Chain of Communication Table.
• Channels of Communication - Notification of emergency closings/cancellations will be announced through internal and external channels by University Communications.

Internal RIT Communication Methods:

• RIT Message Center: An emergency message is delivered via e-mail and to the MyRIT portal. The entire RIT community (students, faculty, staff) will receive emergency messages via e-mail.
• Social media: RITNews Twitter and RIT Facebook
• Web sites: http://emergency.rit.edu and www.rit.edu
•  “Cancellation/emergency hotline”: (585) 475-7075
•  RIT’s Main number: (585) 475-2411
•  Voice Mail: A voice mail blast is sent to over 3,500+ faculty and staff.
• Radio station WITR-FM (89.7)

External Communication Methods:

• Students, faculty and staff are advised to stay tuned to Rochester-area media.
• Cancellation/closing information will be announced on the following television and radio stations:
  • TV – 8 (WROC), 10 (WHEC), 13 (WHAM), FOX Rochester, Spectrum News
  • Radio 
    • AM – WYSL 1040, News Radio WHAM 1180, WGVA 1240, Fox Sports 1280, AM 1370 NPR News & Talk
    • FM – WBSU 89.1, WYSL 92.1, 92.5 WBEE, Fickle 93.3, 94.1 The Zone, Radio 95.1, 95.7 ESPN, 96.5 WCMF, 97.9 98PXY, 98.9 The Buzz, Mix 100.5, WARM 101.3, Sunny 102.3, 103.9 WDKX, Kiss 106.7, 107.3 The Bull

Chain of Communication