Crisis on Campus

            Crisis on campus is an issue that no student affairs professional wants to face, however, the reality in todays’ world is that most of us will encounter this situation at some point in our careers.  The key to successful facing these events is having a plan.  College campuses with solidified crisis management plans can communicate efficiently with students, faculty, visitors, and local community members.  Often times, crisis can bring individuals together.  However, without a plan to handle the crisis at hand and the after effects of the crisis, an unexpected event could shake the foundations of student and professional life on campus and in the community. 

            Surprisingly, after the attacks on September 11, 2001, many college students who were directly impacted said they did not plan on changing any of their educational plans or career goals.  Many reported that they felt safe surrounded by their peers and found some sort of peace and normalcy in their daily routines and classes.  Professors and other staff members also offered support and adequate counseling for students.  Pace University’s World Trade Institute was destroyed, but the students at Pace reported no plans of changing their major or career goal.  Some researchers attribute that to the age of those students, citing that young students had a robust future planned and would only use this crisis as a form of motivation to succeed in their goals and eventually change the world. 

            Gary Thomas, director of the program for school preparedness and planning in the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University believes schools should have plans for all possible situations.  What might not be considered a terrorist attack could have a serious impact on a campus.  A derailed train, a chemical spill, or even spreading fires could pose a serious threat to campus crisis.  He encourages campuses to have plans intact to address multiple scenarios. 

            The first step is to develop a comprehensive plan, identifying and addressing possible risks in the surrounding areas.  This plan should be focused on four key phases:  mitigation and prevention; preparedness; response; and recovery.  School administrators, faculty members, and students should all be aware of plans and procedures.  Practicing drills and updating the people on campus of policy changes is key to success in crisis situations.  Staff training and student orientations should include information about crisis events and plans of action for all on campus.  Thomas encourages campuses to look at other schools for suggestions, but to tailor policies and procedures specifically for institutions. 

            According to Barry Munitz, former head of the California State University System feels that institutions should focus on the welfare of students.  Rather than focusing on faculty benefits and workloads, we should focus on preparing the next generation of students.  In today’s world with such advanced technology and access to more weapons than ever before, it is imperative that each institution has a tested and reviewed plan of action for crisis events.  Along with students’ emotional health, we are also responsible for providing the safest environment for learning and development. 

Sources:
Pace U
Barry Munitz
A Plan of Your Own