Training and Education

In order for this plan to be effective, the campus must maintain a constant state of readiness to ensure the effective and orderly transition from routine activities to those associated with crisis/emergency situations. A planned program of training, drills and exercises for members of the response teams and employees of the campus is essential and should be conducted through a variety of methods.

Training and education programs should effectively train all members of the University on the ERP. Regular conducting of table top exercises, drills, functional and large-scale activities help prepare members of the University community to be better prepared to respond to a crisis or emergency situation.

Drills and exercises: Drills are relatively small-scale activities that are designed to focus on specific areas or specific sections of this plan. Drills are normally developed and evaluated by internal personnel. Drills allow for disruption so that a "do-over" can be initiated if the understanding of the participants is not at the desired level. The purpose of drills is to help acquire knowledge/skills.

Exercises are generally larger in scale and are formal events and are designed to be as close to "real-life" as possible. They are typically not stopped or interrupted to make corrections except for safety concerns or real incidents that could impact the participants. The exercises have a debriefing and a critique at the conclusion. The purpose of exercises is to test the knowledge/skills of the participants.

Training Objectives

• To assess and establish benchmarks for capabilities necessary to protect employees, students and visitors from the effects of a crisis or emergency situation.
• To enhance the ability to respond effectively to an actual occurrence of a crisis or emergency situation
• To prepare the university community to help provide recovery in the aftermath a crisis or emergency situation.
• To assess, improve and validate plans and assure preparedness.