INTRODUCTION
September, 2023
Message from the PresidentSeptember 15, 2021
To Whom It May Concern:
Eastern Mennonite University is committed to maintaining a safe, environmentally responsible, and physically attractive environment for our students, faculty, staff, and visitors. To that end, I am pleased to present the EMU Campus Safety and Security Fire Report.
Although EMU is committed to creating a safe, caring, and cooperative campus culture, we cannot lose sight of the fact that no community is immune to, or completely safe from, a crisis or catastrophic event.
Use this report to become aware and to help make the EMU community an environment of mutual care and respect.
Sincerely,
Susan Schultz Huxman, PhD President
Message from the Coordinator of Campus Safety and Security Coordinator
Eastern Mennonite University is committed to providing a safe place where individuals can grow and learn.
The office Office of Safety and Security is responsible for the oversight of oversees campus safety, security and fire safety on campus. Security , and security. Safety and security services on campus is are provided both by contract security officers , and by university staff who are trained by the trained according to Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services standards.
The university has a standing group of administrators and support staff who make up comprise the Crisis Management Preparedness Team (CMPT). This team meets monthly during the academic year or as needed to work with issues that arise dealing with concerns and issues relating to safety, security, and emergency preparedness. The university also works closely with our local emergency service partners in preparation and preparedness planning and training.
To proactively protect the campus community, EMU has undertaken numerous endeavors in the past few years to address safety and security in an effort to be proactive in protecting the campus community. A few of the more recent accomplishments have been to work working with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to extend a grant through the Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) focused on a trauma-informed approach to sexual assault investigations.
In 2020, the university set up additional emergency notification systems and updated three monitored fire alarm systems with addressable devices throughout, two of which are in residential buildings. 2021, the university received a Nonprofit Security Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Department of Homeland Security (DHS), administered through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) to enhance security systems in the Campus Center, University Commons, and Seminary buildings.
The Crisis Management Preparedness Team continues work to update and optimize an emergency operations plan, crisis management, and continuity of operations plans. The university has hosted the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) three-day course for administration, selected staff, and public safety partners entitled Managing Critical Incident for Higher Education.works closely with the Harrisonburg City, Rockingham County, and James Madison University emergency management coordinators.
All community members are encouraged to participate within the community by stepping up and being an advocate for campus safety. Campus safety takes a group effort and is an individual responsibility. Additional safety, security, and reporting information can be found at {+}at http://www.emu.edu/safety-and-security/.+
Sincerely,
Ed Lehman, Cheryl Montgomery
Interim Coordinators of Campus Safety and Security
scroll-pagebreakWayne Martin