The Core Support Operations Team (CSOT) is responsible for planning for the preparedness and response to emergencies as it relates to the ongoing core educational and support services of the University. CSOT develops the guidelines to be used for each department required to submit an emergency plan and to recommend additional areas where training may be required to better prepare the community of managing through an event. CSOT departments are expected to annually review and update departmental emergency plan (due August 1st). This responsibility includes annually reviewing the emergency plan with departmental faculty and/or staff. 

In the event of a significant emergency involving larger segments of the SPU community, any member of the CSOT may be asked join the ECMT to discuss to review the situation and provide information and recommendations deemed necessary and appropriate to the situation for ECMT’s consideration. The level and extent of housing, food, education, scheduled events, and other primary services of the University will vary depending on the circumstances. 

The CSOT will be called by ECMT to meet to work through specific tasks and make recommendations related to the emergency situation. CSOT may also be asked to implement decisions made by ECMT as it relates to core educational and support services of the University and will work in coordination with the CT (Communications Team) as necessary to communicate changes to normal service levels and expectations.

• The CSOT in its initial response to an emergency may elect to call other staff and faculty to join the team if it is deemed appropriate and useful in response to the specific emergency

  - CSOT leadership will convene the meeting: Take role and asking each department to share key issues which have emerged in their area

  - Contact back-ups if an essential department is not present

  - Work with colleagues to address essential questions/issued that emerge from ECMT and/or surface during CSOT discussions

  - Appoint someone to maintain written record of issues and recommendations/decisions.

 

If an emergency were to occur involving the entire campus CSOT members should focus on providing leadership to their students, faculty and/or staff. You will be contacted by ECMT (Emergency Crisis & Management Team; Safety and Security) if needed. 

• ECMT meets in Safety and Security’s conference room, CSOT meets in the next door apartment, and the Communications Team meets upstairs in Safety and Security.

- Departmental emergency plans are maintained in Safety and Security Conference Room lateral file

• If CSOT members or the entire team are asked to meet, you’ll be contacted via SPU Alert system (cell text message, email, phone call) or other method. 

• In your absence from campus, your back-up should be prepared to attend. Take notes of what has transpired in your area and be prepared to provide information and/or recommendations.

Most common reason CSOT may be asked to gather would relate to significant disruption to service and working through plans to become operational once again:

• Fire

• Earthquake

• Chemical spill

• Pandemic

• Armed Intruder

CSOT has agreed to meet twice each year – in the fall and during the spring. If an agenda emerges, the CSOT leadership may call a meeting at any time. CSOT members are encouraged to forward emergency planning topics to the chair or any member of the leadership team.

The CSOT list serve contains the email addresses of primary contacts for each department. It’s the expectation of the university that either the department’s primary contact and/or secondary contact person will attend all CSOT meetings. If an emergency were to occur, the primary contact would be notified to come to the Safety and Security office – and CSOT would meet in the apartment within the building.

The “cc CSOT” list serve contains the list of secondary contacts for each department. To encourage a broad communication of emergency planning issues and resolutions, CSOT leadership has agreed to send information to department’s primary and secondary contacts with the hope the key elements will be discussed at departmental leadership and/or staff meetings. The best way to manage through an emergency is to prepare our leadership and staff.

CORE departments are expected to function effectively during crisis situations; therefore you are encouraged to work with your employees in the following areas:

• Log into the Banner Information System and click on Personal Information Menu and then click on

- Emergency Contact Form --- update your contact information (name and contact information of person(s) to contact if something happens to you

- SPU Alert – update your contact information (cell phone, home land line, etc.). This technology which will allow the University to contact you via phone/voice mail or text   
  message in an emergency. 

• Review departmental emergency plans with leadership within the department and all staff members. 

• Insure those listed as back-ups are able to function effectively if you are absent during a crisis.

• Review Stop.Think.Act. booklet and insure it is available to all employees and accessible in key gathering spots (contact Safety & Security to obtain).

• If your building is evacuated, you are encouraged to take with you a Stop.Think.Act. booklet as it outlines procedures for various situations. 

• Review the on-line emergency plan tutorial with new employees; review with staff as needed.