The U. of I. is one of nine Illinois universities and colleges chosen to participate in a pilot program to enhance campus safety. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency announced on April 22 the participants for the pilot program of Ready to Respond Campus, with a full rollout of the program expected in January 2014.
“The Ready to Respond Campus program will recognize those institutions that meet rigorous standards for ensuring the safety of their students, staff and visitors,” said Jonathon Monken, the director of IEMA. “The Ready to Respond Campus designation will let current and prospective students and their parents know that safety is a top priority on the campus.”
To attain the Ready to Respond Campus designation, colleges must demonstrate compliance with standards for hazard identification, operational and violence prevention planning, incident management, training, exercises and crisis communications/public education. Templates are available if needed to help schools document compliance with the standards.
Colleges and universities designated a Ready to Respond Campus can use the Ready to Respond Campus logo on official correspondence, websites, brochures and other media for three years. They will be able to renew their Ready to Respond Campus designation by submitting updated documentation at that time.
“The Division of Public Safety at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is looking forward to participating in the Ready to Respond Campus pilot program,” said Lt. Todd Short, of the U. of I. Police Department. “We are strong advocates of this initiative and are encouraged by the number of higher education institutions in Illinois who are also participating. This program will undoubtedly help campuses throughout Illinois respond more effectively during emergency situations.”
The Ready to Respond Campus program is the latest component of Illinois’ Ready to Respond effort. In 2012, lEMA announced the Ready to Respond Community initiative.
The program is endorsed by the Illinois Campus Law Enforcement Administrators and supported by lEMA and the U. of I. Center for Public Safety and Justice.
Ready to Respond campus participants
• Augustana College, Rock Island
• Columbia College, Chicago
• Heartland Community College, Normal
• Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills
• Parkland College, Champaign
• Richland Community College, Decatur
• Southeastern Illinois College, Harrisburg
• Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
• U. of I. at Urbana-Champaign
