Campus Emergency Response Guide

The University of Pikeville follows the emergency notification procedures outlined within the Emergency Preparedness Plan and is not required to issue a timely warning based on the same circumstances; however, the University of Pikeville will provide adequate follow-up information to the campus community as needed. 


What is an Emergency Notification?

Notice of any significant emergency or dangerous situation occurring on the campus involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees. This may be an approaching weather event such as a tornado, a hazardous material incident, a threat of violence, an armed person, or an outbreak of a serious contagious disease or illness. Emergency Notifications may also serve as a Timely Warning if the reported incident is also defined as a Clery crime.

Emergency Notifications may be delivered in a number of different ways depending on the facts and circumstances of a situation. These may include email messages, SMS text messages to registered cellular phones of community members, phone calls to registered phone numbers of community members, public address speakers and any combination of these.


What is a Timely Warning?

The Clery Act requires institutions to alert the campus community to certain crimes in a manner that is timely and will aid in the prevention of similar crimes. Although the Clery Act doesn’t define “timely,” the intent of a warning regarding a criminal incident(s) is to promote safety. This means that a warning will be issued as soon as pertinent information is available.

Timely Warnings are generally issued via email messages to students and employees.

The three criteria for determining the issuance of a Timely Warning are:

  • A Clery Act crime has been reported; and
  • The crime occurred in or on the institution’s Clery geography; and
  • The crime represents a serious and continuing threat to the students and employees.

What is Timely?

The Clery Act doesn’t define timely. The intent of a warning regarding a criminal incident(s) is to enable people to take measures that promote their safety. Again, this means that a warning will be issued as soon as pertinent information is available. Generally, there is no allowance for taking time to review video footage, interviewing involved parties beyond the initial report, or completing an investigation, etc. Even if all of the facts surrounding a Clery Act criminal incident that represents a serious and continuing threat to students and employees are not available or known, a Timely Warning must be issued.


What is Clery Geography?

Institutions must disclose statistics for reported Clery Act crimes that occur (1) on campus, (2) on public property within or immediately adjacent to the campus, and (3) in or on non-campus buildings or property that the institution owns or controls. Timely Warnings are issued when pertinent information becomes available for those specific Clery Act crimes that occur in the institution’s Clery geography and that represent a serious and continuing threat to students and employees.


EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION
TIMELY WARNING
Wide focus on any significant emergency or dangerous situation (e.g., crime, severe storm, chemical spill, disease outbreak) Required for certain crimes
Emergency notification is triggered by an event that is currently occurring on or imminently threatening the campus. Initiate emergency notification procedures for any significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees occurring on campus. Timely warnings are triggered by crimes that have already occurred (but may be continuing) but which represent an ongoing threat. An IHE must issue a timely warning for certain crimes that are reported to its campus security authorities or a local law enforcement agency and is considered by the institution to represent a serious or continuing threat to students and employees.
Applies to situations that occur on campus Applies to crimes that occur on campus, in or on non-campus buildings or property, and on public property
Initiate procedures immediately upon confirmation that a dangerous situation or emergency exists or threatens. Issue a warning as soon as the pertinent information is available.