Emergency Management Committee
Purpose
This Committee will analyze the plans designed to respond to emergencies and to evaluate their effectiveness for disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery at the University of Chicago.
Scope of Authority
The purview of the Committee shall be limited to such matters pertaining to emergency preparedness, response and business continuity planning.
Responsibilities
The Committee is responsible for:
- Continuously analyzing all risks which expose the University to the potential for disruption of its activities such as natural, manmade or others (e.g. pandemic, loss of research data, equipment failure);
- Facilitating a Business Impact Analysis in order to set the recovery plan priorities;
- Facilitating creation of the Business Continuity plans needed to guide the University with its recovery from long-term disruption to it’s Mission;
- Designing and conduct two internal disaster drills per year. One of the drills is to include participation by external emergency response agencies;
- Overseeing the development of emergency preparedness and response plans;
- Presenting university-wide emergency plans to the VP for Administration and CFO for approval and further presentation to the Policy Group for approval to implement;
- Overseeing the development of operational units emergency response plans and ensure their consistence with the University while plan;
- Reviewing, annually existing emergency management policy and procedure, and recommend changes to the VP for Administration and CFO for approval and further presentation to the Policy Group;
- Facilitating posting to the University Website any changes approved by the Policy Group;
- Creating performance measurements, specifically for:
- Response to emergencies and drills;
- Reviewing emergency responses and drills for problems;
- Frequency of emergencies and failures; and
- Communications.
- Developing training curricula and facilitating presentation of curriculum to all concerned;
- Serving as the University’s emergency response team in order to manage the university’s response to an emergency;
- Recording minutes and distributing them to its membership;
- Complete plans for unified command of Hospitals and University operations in case of a community-wide disaster or bio-outbreak.
Reporting Structure
The Committee reports through its Chairperson to the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (VP/CFO) on all matters related to its charge. The VP/CFO represents, and serves as the liaison to the Policy Group (senior officers) of the university. The overall authority and responsibility for the emergency management plan rest with the Policy Group, which provides support and direction to the Committee. Minutes of committee meetings will be provided to each member.
The Chairperson will be appointed by the VP/CFO and will serve for a period of three years.
Committee Membership
The following departments will be represented on the Emergency Management Committee:
- Safety;
- Police Department;
- Facilities Services;
- Networking Services and Information Technologies;
- Biological Sciences Division;
- Physical Sciences Division;
- University Human Resources;
- University Occupational Medicine;
- Student Care Center;
- Hospital Safety;
- Hospital Security;
- University Communications;
- Residence Halls and Commons;
- International House;
- Vice President and Deans of Students Office (University);
- Other departments as needed;
- Real Estate Operations;
- Laboratory School;
- Risk Management; and
- Additional ad-hoc consultants (i.e. legal, consultants)
The representative from each unit shall be a key administrator for the operational area, thereby facilitating timely decisions.
Due to the number of operational areas represented, each area will be limited to one representative, with one alternate to attend when the regular representative is not available.
Meeting Schedule
The Emergency Management Committee will hold regular monthly meetings or more often, depending on need.
