Timely Warnings

Safety Alert

In the event that a crime occurs on The University of Akron campus, or on the public property surrounding campus, that, in the judgment of The University of Akron Police Department (UAPD) constitutes a serious or on-going threat to the campus community, a Safety Alert will be issued.  The purpose of a Safety Alert is to provide to individuals information about the incident that will: enable persons to protect themselves; lead to an arrest and conviction of the perpetrator; and aid in the prevention of similar crimes.   Safety Alerts also include information that will heighten overall safety awareness.

Safety Alerts are distributed to students, faculty and staff via an e-mail.

Every attempt will be made to distribute a Safety Alert as soon as possible after the pertinent information about the incident is available.  The decision to issue an alert will be made jointly by the University's assistant vice president for campus safety/police chief, with notice to the senior vice president, provost and chief operating officer and the director of internal communications.  Safety Alert e-mails typically include:

1. A succinct statement of the incident.
2. Possible connection to previous incidents, if applicable.
3. Physical description of the suspect, if available.
4. Date and time the bulletin was released.
5. Other relevant and important information.
6. Appropriate safety tips.

Emergency Notification and Response

Emergency Messaging System – Notification of an Immediate Threat

The University of Akron maintains multiple systems for alerting the University about campus emergencies, including via cell phone text messages and email. These notices also post to the University home page and police page. The University of Akron Text Messaging System is available to all University students, faculty, and staff.

To enroll in the Z-Alert System, go to: http://www.uakron.edu/safety/z-alert.

In addition, in the case of an emergency the University can activate an announcement via a public announcement system.   The university may also elect to alert the media.

Emergency messaging primarily will be used for those situations that pose an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees on campus or for the closing of an entire campus (i.e., severe weather, chemical spills, fires, and crimes.) Messages about criminal activity generally will not be sent unless it is decided there is an imminent threat of danger. In those cases where a crime has been reported and UAPD determines that although there is no immediate threat the crime represents a serious or ongoing threat to the campus community, a Safety Alert will be issued.

The emergency messaging system is provided in addition to existing emergency notification procedures and does not replace or eliminate any other emergency notification system (e.g., fire alarms, tornado sirens).

The University generally will provide follow-up information to the community as appropriate via the University's website.

Emergency Notification Procedures

If UAPD confirms there is an immediate threat to the health or safety of some or all of the members of the campus community, UAPD will advise the Office of Internal Communications, which, in consultation with UAPD, will determine the content of the message and will use some or all of the methods described above to communicate to the campus community or appropriate segment of the campus community.  The University will, without delay and taking into account the safety of the community, determine the content of the emergency message and initiate the emergency messaging system, unless issuing a message will, in the judgment of UAPD or other responsible authorities, compromise efforts to assist a victim or to contain, respond to, or otherwise mitigate the emergency situation.  The warnings typically consist of the following elements: a short description and location of the incident; actions the recipient needs to take to avoid harm; and how follow-up information will be provided.

For guidance on response to a variety of potential dangers, see Emergency Procedures, muohio.edu/emergency.

Emergency Notification v. Timely Warning

If there is an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees occurring on campus, The University of Akron will follow its Emergency Communication Procedures. No Crime Alert based on the same circumstance will be issued. However, follow-up information will be disseminated to the community as needed.

Additional Communication

In the event of a significant on-campus emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students, faculty or staff, the University will also post information on its homepage at www.uakron.edu.  The University of Akron’s Office of Marketing and Communications is charged with notifying the media in the event of an emergency. Updated information will be posted to the University’s website and provided to the media.

Annual Publication

General information about the University’s response and evacuation procedures is publicized each year as part of its Campus Safety Report, which is published as part of its compliance with the Clery Act. 

Emergency Response Procedures and Testing Emergency Response and Evacuation Procedures

Emergency Response Procedures

The University of Akron has established a Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) to provide an all-hazards approach for managing its response to emergencies or disasters that threaten the safety and well-being of the University’s community or disrupt its programs and operations.  The University also has established an Emergency Management Group (EMG) to carry out its CEMP.  These types of large-scale emergencies require a coordinated response effort between the University and local emergency response agencies.  The CEMP is an operational plan that establishes policies, procedures, responsibilities and organizational structure to be implemented during emergencies and disasters, both during campus-wide emergency planning and during an actual emergency incident.

The CEMP shall be activated when circumstances indicate that there is a significant emergency or dangerous incident on campus.  The first University safety force member that arrives on scene shall establish incident command over the radio and give a detailed overview of the situation, including: the type of incident; the number of people, vehicles or buildings involved; the number of injured people and type of injuries; and whether the situation presents an immediate threat to the health or safety of students and employees.  If the situation presents an immediate threat, the University of Akron Police Department (UAPD) Dispatch Center, under the direction of the Assistant Vice President of Campus Safety - Chief of Police (or designee) and with notice to the President, is responsible for initiating the CEMP by immediately contacting the University’s Chief Communication Officer (CCO) and Emergency Management Coordinator (EMC), who will coordinate the distribution of necessary notifications and activation of the Campus Emergency Operations Center.

In the event that the University President or Board of Trustees determines that unsafe conditions (i.e. the threat of serious injury to persons or extensive damage to property) exist as the result of a natural, human caused or technological disaster, the President (or designee) will immediately proclaim in writing the existence of a State of Emergency and the time of its occurrence.  The President (or designee) shall issue a declaration to the campus community and public through the news media and such other means of dissemination consistent with Chapter 3345.26 of the Ohio Revised Code.  Prior to the issuance of the emergency proclamation, the President should, if possible, consult with members of the UA Board of Trustees and Assistant Vice President of Campus Safety to discuss the proclamation of the State of Emergency.  When proclaimed, the EMG immediately shall notify the Summit County Emergency Management Agency (SCEMA).

Testing Emergency Response and Evacuation Procedures

Text messaging and the indoor and outdoor warning systems are tested regularly. E-mail, the telephone announcement line and the Internet announcements are in use daily. A dark website has been developed and social media streams are in place, ready to be activated if needed during an emergency. System tests are pre-announced. In addition, the campus is informed at the beginning of the academic year of the monthly tests of the outdoor warning system.

Campus safety services also conduct tests of emergency response procedures on at least an annual basis. The tests typically are announced. The Office of Environmental Health and Safety coordinates at least one announced or unannounced drill and exercise per year and conducts follow-through activities designed for the assessment and evaluation of emergency plans and capabilities, and documentation of the tests is maintained by the University’s Office of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety. The University also includes this description of Emergency Response procedures annually in its campus safety report.

Evacuation drills are coordinated by EOHS each semester for all residence hall facilities.  The purpose of evacuation drills is to prepare building occupants for an organized evacuation in case of an emergency.  Evacuation routes are posted in each residence hall and students learn the locations of the emergency exits in the buildings and are provided guidance about the direction they should travel when exiting each facility for a short-term building evacuation. Designated locations for long-term evacuations are affected by time of day, location of the building being evacuated, the availability of the various designated emergency gathering locations on campus, and other factors such as the location and nature of the threat. UAPD, SEAS staff and Residence Life staff on the scene will communicate information to students regarding the developing situation or any evacuation status changes.  In addition to educating the occupants of each building about the evacuation procedures during the drills, the process also provides the University an opportunity to test the operation of fire alarm system components.

Evacuation drills for residence halls are monitored by EOHS and SEAS staff.  Recommendations for improvements may be submitted to the appropriate departments/offices for consideration.  The University of Akron has protocols for assisting people with different disabilities for safe evacuation.