Campus alert policy
- When faced with a critical incident, Rush University will distribute pertinent information via the following: text alert, email, on-campus voicemail, listserv, radio and/or the website.
- All students, faculty and staff should be signed up for the emergency alert system.
- Students, faculty and staff should regularly update their contact information in the RU-Alert System to ensure inclusion in all emergency alerts and notifications.
Alert notifications – potential types
- Weather closing
- Facility closure
- Timely warning of criminal activity or threat to safety and security
- Emergency alert: general or specific to a targeted area of campus
- Emergency situation: potential danger
- All clear: return to business as usual
Media information and Office of Public Relations
- All inquiries from the media should be forwarded to the Office of Public Relations.
- Rush University will designate an official spokesperson that external media will have access to in the event of an emergency or crisis situation.
- Rush University will designate an area for official media interactions.
Concerns for dissemination of information
- It is critically important to have a designated point of contact with the media to ensure accurate, consistent information.
- It is important to have a safe area designated for the media, as not to interfere with ongoing operations.
- Faculty/staff need to be aware that any comment given could be taken out of context and jeopardize the University’s position.
- During an event, the exchange of information is dynamic and its accuracy could be affected by real-time events. Operations is responsible for maintaining the flow of up-to-date information.
- Make students aware that they can also refer inquiries to the Office of Public Relations and are not required to comment to media.