Emergency Management Manual
Table of Contents
The Emergency Management and Response Plan establishes the structure, processes, and protocols for the College’s response to major emergencies that threaten the health and safety of the campus community or disrupt the College’s operations. The plan supports Baruch’s intent to respond to any emergency situation in a safe, effective, and timely manner. In an emergency, the College’s mission is to:
- Protect human life.
- Preserve health, safety, and basic care.
- Protect the College’s facilities and assets.
- Maintain College services.
- Assess damage and restore campus operations.
This plan is based on the best emergency preparedness research and practices. However, it cannot foresee all the specific conditions that occur during an emergency. Therefore, the plan is most effective when combined with common sense and sound judgment during an actual emergency.
The Vice President for Administration and Finance, in consultation with the President, will designate the level of a major incident. The designation level may change as the emergency conditions intensify or diminish.
DEFINING EMERGENCY CONDITIONS
The following are the definitions of emergency levels with examples of applicable communications, notifications, and involvement for each level:
LEVEL 1 – Minor department or building incident, such as a broken water pipe, that can be resolved locally by the responding service unit. This may result in calling Baruch personnel and notifying the department where the problem occurred.
LEVEL 2 – A department or building incident that can be resolved with existing College resources or limited outside help. A Level 2 incident is usually one-dimensional, lasts for a limited time, and causes little impact on the campus community beyond those using the space or building in which it occurred. Examples include a minor chemical or fuel oil spill, loss of heat or electricity for several hours, or a minor fire confined to a single room and not involving hazardous chemicals. College administration must be notified about the incident.
LEVEL 3 – An incident primarily focused on people, rather than infrastructure, including assaults, sexual assaults, building or office occupations, hate crimes, or workplace violence. In these situations, the campus Emergency Response Team plans must be implemented with involvement from the Office of Public Safety or local law enforcement. The University Emergency Management Team must be informed of the incident. College and University legal and media relations teams may need to be consulted depending upon the incident’s nature and severity.
LEVEL 4 – A major emergency that impacts a sizable portion of the campus and/or the outside community. Level 4 emergencies may be a single or multiple hazard situation that often requires extensive coordination both within and outside the College. Level 4 emergencies also include imminent events on campus or in the general community that may develop into major College crises or disasters. Examples include bomb threats, heating plant failures, extended power outages, weather emergencies, major fires, contagious disease outbreaks, or domestic water contamination. In these situations, campus Emergency Response Team plans must be implemented and the College Emergency Management Team must be notified and involved.
LEVEL 5 – A catastrophic emergency impacting the entire campus and surrounding community. Immediate resolution of the disaster, which usually features multiple hazards, is beyond the emergency response capabilities of campus and local resources. Examples include earthquakes, tornadoes, or major hurricanes that require state and federal assistance. In these situations, campus Emergency Response Team plans must be implemented and the University Emergency Management Team must be notified and involved.
First, dispatch Peace Officers and make appropriate fire and medical rescue calls. Then, notify the Director of Public Safety or their designee who will determine whether or not to notify all individuals on the emergency notification list or selectively contact individuals in the affected area (as established through policy set by the President or a designee).
If the emergency notification list is initiated, the President or their designee, in consultation with the Vice President of Administration and Finance, will determine the appropriate level of emergency and the extent of the Emergency Management and the Emergency Response Support Teams’ involvement. This includes the transmission of a CUNY Alert issued by personnel who are authorized by the President to compose and direct the transmission of a CUNY Alert message.
Note: This sequence is to be followed for nearly all emergency situations. Some situations might require a slight deviation from this sequence, but full and complete communication with College officials is required in all situations.
Level 1 and 2 Emergencies
Emergencies at these levels are usually spontaneous, unfold rapidly, and do not require the formal declaration of emergency. For the most part, these emergencies are related to facilities and can readily be resolved between the College’s Facilities Department and other groups, such as Telecommunications, Public Safety, and Environmental Health Safety and Risk Management.
Level 3 Emergencies
The College administrative staff also functions as a critical group that must evaluate Level 3 situations. This group needs to be convened by the President or his/her designee. These individuals or their representatives must be notified about the emergency so they can evaluate all conditions and potential impacts of a Level 3 situation. Situations that begin as minor emergencies have the potential to evolve into major ones if mishandled. An example would be a simple assault that is later determined to be racially motivated. The College could suffer significant consequences if the situation is not dealt with appropriately.
Issues can become quite complex because of the varied institutional, student, and community responses that must be handled. These include assaults, sexual assaults, building or office occupations, hate crimes, bomb threats, controversial speakers, symbolic structures, and bias-related crimes. This is not an all-inclusive list; therefore, if there are ever any questions about properly categorizing an emergency, appropriate senior administrative individuals must be informed.
Level 4 and 5 Emergencies
The President or their designee shall declare a Level 4 or 5 emergency upon recommendation of the Vice President for Administration and Finance or when the President or his/her designee deems it necessary. This declaration immediately initiates emergency procedures that may result in the closing of all or parts of the College campus. It is the sole responsibility of the President or their designee to declare an end to the state of emergency when appropriate.
When the President or designee declares a Level 4 or 5 emergency, the Emergency Management Team will assemble to address the situation. Before assembling the Team, on-scene responders are authorized to make necessary operational decisions and to commit resources in order to mitigate and control the situation. Public Safety Services may also request help from other College departments on an emergency basis, including asking staff to be pulled off less-critical assignments to assist their officers.
CUNY Central Office Notifications
The President or their designee will also decide whether an emergency on the Baruch College campus should be reported to the CUNY Central office. Below are general guidelines based on designated emergency levels:
LEVEL 1 and 2 Emergencies:
- CUNY Central Office notifications, while not required at this level, should be considered if the event is still unfolding and has the potential to develop into a higher-level emergency.
LEVEL 3 Emergencies:
- College Public Safety Director notifies Office of the University Public Safety Director in accordance with Operations Guide Instruction #13.
LEVEL 4 and 5 Emergencies:
- College Public Safety Director notifies Office of the University Public Safety Director.
- College President or their designee notifies the CUNY Chancellor, Chief Operating Officer, and Vice Chancellor for University Relations.
- Vice President for Administration and Finance
- Provost
- Director of Public Safety
- Assistant Vice President of Campus Facilities
- Director of Human Resources
- Vice President for Student Affairs
- Member of the President’s Staff
- Vice President for Communications/External Relations
- Emergency Management Coordinator
- Faculty Senate Representative
- Vice President for Information Services
- Assistant Vice President, Legal Counsel and Labor Designee
Depending upon the emergency situation members of the Emergency Response Support Team (see below) may be added to the Emergency Management Team. The following College offices are expected to assume various roles in an effort to provide a coordinated response to an emergency:
- Dean of the Zicklin School of Business
- Dean of the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences
- Dean of the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs
- Environmental Health Safety and Risk Management Officer
- Senior Registrar
- Director of Purchasing
- Chief Administrative Superintendent
- Athletic Director
- Telecommunications
- Student Health Center
- Counseling/EAP
In some circumstances, it may be necessary to request faculty or staff to assume temporary roles outside the normal scope of their duties, taking into consideration their ability to carry out the temporary roles.
It is understood that if any department does not have specific roles for their personnel to carry out (i.e., the Center for Career Development, Admissions, and Financial Aid), then those individuals will automatically become part of a “pool” of reserve personnel to assist as assigned by those coordinating the emergency response efforts.
1. Vice President for Administration and Finance – serves as the Commander of the Emergency Management Team roles:
- In the absence of the President, declare and end a state of emergency.
- In all cases, supervise and direct all emergency team members. Orders to each emergency team member originate from the Vice President for Administration and Finance.
- Authorize emergency purchasing to provide emergency funding.
- Receive all information from emergency team members directly.
Note: The Director of Public Safety will assume these responsibilities if the Vice President for Administration and Finance is not present.
2. Provost roles:
- Advises Academics during the emergency.
- Advises and updates appropriate Deans about the emergency.
- Notifies faculty members about the emergency, and notifies them where they will be teaching or if classes are moved or canceled.
3. Director of Public Safety roles:
- Assume initial on-site command and control of the emergency response.
- Ensure that temporary command logs are kept at the command center.
- Provide supplemental emergency communications between the emergency operations center and the site of the emergency.
- Provide portable radios and cellular phones.
- Request assistance from city agencies as required.
- Coordinate evacuation of personnel as needed.
- Video recording for documentation.
At all times, the Director of Public Safety is responsible for:
- Posting and regularly updating a checklist of equipment and emergency telephone numbers.
- Conducting periodic drills to ensure evacuation procedures are effective.
- Maintaining a list of everyone needing assistance in evacuation.
If the Vice President for Administration and Finance is not present, the Director of Public Safety will be in command of operations. The Director of Public Safety will make non-emergency decisions after consultation with the Assitant Vice President of Campus Facilities and the Director of Human Resources.
4. Assitant Vice President of Campus Facilities roles:
- Provide facility information.
- Mitigate damage to facilities and grounds.
- Restore facilities and grounds to a safe and functional level.
- Assist Public Safety with creating a safety perimeter at the emergency site.
5. Director of Human Resources roles:
- Designate staff as “essential personnel” who must respond in case of an emergency.
- Direct staff to unaffected areas. After consulting with the Director of Public Safety and the Assitant Vice President of Campus Facilities, designate on-site and off-site locations for staff to report.
- Create lists of staff, their room numbers, and telephone numbers to be kept at each Baruch building. One copy should be organized by building and the other by the department.
- Communicate with unions during labor strikes after consulting with the University’s Office of Faculty and Staff Relations.
- Keep accurate records of staff working hours (absence, overtime, etc.), at all times.
6. Vice President for Student Affairs roles:
- Establish and maintain communications with students for all situations affecting them (e.g. class relocations or student protests).
- Monitor student involvement and support of protests.
- Establish contact and offer emotional support to students and/or their families during emergencies.
- Develop a procedure for identifying safe and injured students.
- Identify an adequate location and method for administering first aid.
Note: New York City Police will notify the families of student casualties.
7. Executive Assistant to the President roles:
- Advise the President during the emergency.
- Notify people on the secondary notification list as needed.
- Act as recording secretary.
8. Vice President for Communications, External Relations, and Economic Development roles:
- Receive emergency-related information directly from the Vice President for Administration and Finance, the member in charge of the Emergency Management Team. Emergency-related information may be released to the public only by the Vice President for Communications, External Relations, and Economic Development or with their consent.
- Gather information as quickly as possible.
- Determine the severity of the emergency based on the information received.
- Determine and prioritize the groups that the emergency may affect (e.g., students, parents, department heads, faculty, staff, and the general public).
- Contact University legal counsel.
- Determine the best methods for communicating with the affected groups.
- Inform and consult with representatives of the affected groups (i.e., Student Affairs, appropriate administrative offices, Public Safety, Office of Human Resources, and Campus Facilities).
- Determine the resources and personnel needed to deliver responses to group and media inquiries.
- Update media and groups as necessary.
- Maintain accurate records of all inquiries and keep written records of all statements, releases, newspaper articles, social media posts, and broadcast reports.
- Notify local radio stations about school closings.
9. Emergency Management Coordinator (Appointed by the Director of Public Safety) roles:
- Coordinate plans for Emergency Management.
- Update changes to Emergency Management plans.
- Train Public Safety personnel on duties and responsibilities during emergencies.
- Advise the Director of Public Safety during emergencies.
10. Faculty Senate Representative roles:
- Facilitate communications with the Faculty Senate.
11. Vice President for Information Services – Roles:
- Provide all necessary technology support.
Members of the Emergency Response Support team and their responsibilities:
1. Academic Deans and Chairs
- Identify and resolve instructional issues (e.g., re-assign classrooms, instructors, and coordinate faculty resources).
2. Athletics
- Coordinate the use of the gym complex as a temporary shelter, staging area, or other emergency use.
3. Senior Registrar
- Provide classroom rosters.
- Coordinate classroom re-scheduling and relocation with Provost and Academic Deans.
4. Director of Purchasing
- Obtain emergency supplies and services.
- Arrange for deliveries to and from the emergency site.
5. Telecommunications
- Supply temporary phone and computer access points.
- Provide “broadcast” capability.
6. Student Health Services
- Provide medical support.
- Assist people with minor injuries.
- Coordinate with first aid services.
- May be asked to assist or provide medical triage.
7. EAP/Counseling Services
- Counsel employees and students in coping with trauma.
8. College General Support Staff
- Provide staffing to other support functions.
1. When the President or their designee declares an emergency, an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is established where the Emergency Management Team will assemble and coordinate the emergency response. It will typically be located at 135 East 22nd Street on the 7th floor Conference room, but in cases where it is not feasible because of a power outage, for example, other locations are:
- 151 East 25th Street, 1st floor, Subotnick Financial Services Center, or
- 55 Lexington Avenue, Public Safety Office, room 1-182.
2. When the Emergency Management Team assembles, its responsibilities are:
- Determine the scope and impact of the incident according to the emergency levels described in this manual.
- Prioritize emergency actions.
- Deploy and coordinate resources and equipment including the mobilization of essential personnel.
- Communicate critical instructions and information about the emergency response.
- Develop a communication plan for campus and outside communities, following the Response Framework described in this manual.
- Monitor and re-evaluate conditions.
- If needed, implement business continuity plans.
3. Public Safety will provide necessary equipment such as:
- Hand-held radios and cell phones for communicating with supervising staff.
- Camera for documentation.
- Fully operational public address system.
- Fully operational fire extinguishers, keys, flashlights, floor plans, and a private telephone line and number to be used only by authorized people.
4. When an emergency situation dictates that the use of all phone lines must discontinue, a private telephone line will be established in order to provide uninterrupted communication with the Emergency Management Team. In the case of a bomb threat, do not use hand-held or “walkie-talkie” type radios as their signals can interfere with other electronic devices.
5. Human Resources, in consultation with the Assitant Vice President of Campus Facilities, the Director of Public Safety and the Chief Information Officer, will designate certain staff as essential personnel who will be required to respond in case of emergency even if the college is closed. In an emergency, departments will notify essential personnel that they need to report for duty.
6. Record Keeping
- Public Safety will select a person for recording messages and incidents for documentation purposes (a temporary headquarters log with an administrator).
- Departments involved in emergency response will select a person for tracking staff hours and OTPS expenditures so that we can use as documentation for insurance and FEMA cost recovery.
7. After the crisis has subsided, assess emergency response, debrief staff members, and make any necessary changes in protocols or training.
- Public Safety Emergency Number
- The Public Safety emergency number is 3333 from any campus phone, or 646-312-3333. All students, faculty, and staff should be directed to use the public safety emergency number to report emergencies.
- Using that number instead of 911 will allow Public Safety to respond to the emergency and make the appropriate notifications to City law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services.
- CUNYfirst Alert System
- This system can be used to send short voice and text messages to the mobile phones and landlines of all registered users to alert them about emergencies that disrupt College operations or present an immediate health or safety concern.
- Public Safety will send the alert, as directed by the VP for Administration and Finance, or at the discretion of the Director of Public Safety if the situation requires an immediate alert.
- The VP for Communications has written alert scripts for the most common emergencies in order to send alerts as quickly as possible.
- Public Address System
- Public Safety will use the public address (PA) system, which is available in all buildings, to direct evacuation procedures and provide instruction for a “shelter in place” order.
- Public Safety will use the PA system along with the fire alarm system if students, faculty, and staff need to evacuate in the case of a fire.
- Fire Alarm System
- All buildings have a fire alarm system to be used to alert building occupants of a fire and the need to evacuate.
- College Website
- For an event that disrupts campus operations, such as severe weather and power outages, the Vice President for Communications, External Relations, and Economic Development will post an initial message and further updates on the College homepage.
- Faculty and staff are directed to check the website for communications about College closings and other events impacting College operations.
- College Social Media Sites
- Depending on the type of emergency and the length of the recovery effort, the Office of Communications may also post updates to the College’s official social media channels.
- College Telephone System
- The College voicemail system can be used to leave messages on office phones. BCTC is responsible for putting a message on the system. Communications, in consultation with the President and Vice President for Administration and Finance, will determine the content of the message.
- At all times, the College’s main number, (646) 312-1000, should refer callers to the website for updates on an emergency situation.
Public Safety will liaise with these agencies. The Director of Public Safety will work closely with the Vice President for Administration and Finance and consult with and/or notify agency officials whenever these agencies are brought in. Public Safety will follow protocols for bringing in NYPD in case of a Student/Faculty Disturbance outlined in Section G.
Public Safety and the Vice President for Administration and Finance will liaise with CUNY, which will be the primary contact for the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management. The Office of Emergency Management operates 24/7 and will respond to serious emergencies. Their purpose is to coordinate emergency response efforts between city agencies and assist police, fire, and EMS personnel in handling emergencies. They have access to all agencies that can assist during an emergency and will be in charge of the situation when they are on the scene.
- Students’ Family, Interested Members of the Community, and Media
- The Vice President for Student Affairs is the primary contact for students’ families and relatives. He/she will develop procedures for keeping family members and other relatives informed about students enrolled at the College in consultation with the Vice President for Communications, External Relations, and Economic Development.
- The Vice President for Communications, External Relations, and Economic Development will establish an information delivery procedure and post information so it is accessible to parents and other members of the community.
- The Vice President for Communications, External Relations, and Economic Development will create a procedure for establishing and maintaining control of media and onlookers who could impede emergency operations. This includes having an information officer designated to provide regular updates on the status of an emergency.
- The Vice President for Communications, External Relations, and Economic Development should interact with press members exclusively and they will be permitted to approach staff or students only after college officials determine that they would not adversely affect staff or students.
- University Officials
- In cases of major emergencies, the University must be notified. The President or their designee will advise the Executive Vice Chancellor for University Operations.
Public Safety will provide building-specific instructions for these individuals and maintain a list of individuals who require assistance at the security desk in each building lobby. Fire Wardens/Emergency Evacuation Volunteers will be aware if there are individuals in their areas who need assistance in an evacuation because of a disability.
- The College mandates all faculty and staff complete a workplace violence training program on an annual basis in order to make sure they are aware of their responsibility to behave in a non-violent manner and immediately report violent acts and threats of violence.
- The College conducts mandatory evacuation drills each semester for all members of the community. The College has a Crisis Intervention Team to evaluate all reports of student behavioral concerns.
- The College has Workplace and Domestic Violence policy and protocols, Title IX policy and protocols, and an Employee Assistance Program that can provide counseling to faculty and staff.
- The College has a Public Safety Committee that reviews college safety reports, makes recommendations on improvements to campus safety, and oversees education programs for the campus community on safety issues.
- The College conducts education preparedness programs and training and will continue to develop programs as needed.
- The Fire Safety Director conducts training sessions for Emergency Evacuation Volunteers (includes Fire Wardens, Deputy Wardens and Searchers).
Our response to a disturbance will be in accordance with the level of intensity. The three levels are:
LEVEL 1 – The disturbance is confined to one area and without threat to students or staff. College personnel would respond by containing or removing persons involved with minimum interruption.
LEVEL 2 – The disturbance is mobile and/or poses a direct threat to students and staff. The College would remain open, but Public Safety personnel would isolate the disruptive activity, detain individuals involved and deescalate the disturbance. As many College personnel as possible should carry out College operations during the disturbance.
LEVEL 3 – The disturbance prevents regular College operations, there are serious threats to staff and students’ safety and/or the situation is no longer within the College’s control. The President would request assistance from the S.A.F.E. Team or N.Y.P.D after consulting with the Chancellor in accordance with CUNY guidelines.
Based on the nature of the incident, Public Safety may decide to evacuate a building to ensure the building occupants’ safety. In other cases, Public Safety may determine that the safest course of action is to direct building occupants to “Shelter in Place.” Examples of such incidents include an armed intruder, a riot, or severe weather.
Public Safety will provide campus community members with instructions. It will routinely update communications via the communication systems (described in detail in Chapter 1, Section H).
Emergency Evacuation Procedures
If a fire alarm is activated, all building occupants must immediately evacuate the building in compliance with the fire alarm evacuation plan described in Chapter 3. Public Safety will use the public address system to provide further instructions and updates.
For non-fire alarm incidents that require an evacuation of the buildings, Public Safety will communicate instructions using the public address system, CUNYalert, and other systems depending on the incident.
The Director of Public Safety will deploy Public Safety staff to manage the evacuation, ensure full compliance by building occupants, and aid those in need of assistance. Public Safety staff will lock doors, close windows, and isolate hallways and classrooms to control movement in the building. They will not allow anyone to re-enter until it is determined safe to do so.
Every building and every floor will have pre-designated Emergency Evacuation Volunteers (known as Fire Wardens, Deputy Fire Wardens, and Searchers). These individuals will be trained and directed by Public Safety. They are not first responders. Their role is to assist by instructing others in their area to evacuate or to stay in place, as directed by Public Safety. They are expected to help guide their floor’s evacuation and account for building occupants in the Evacuation Assembly or other areas designated by Public Safety.
The Emergency Assembly area is Madison Square Park unless Public Safety designates another location.
General Instructions for the Campus Community
- Stay calm.
- Take the closet and safest way out.
- If you know the location of the hazard, use an exit route that avoids it.
- In cases of a gas leak or hazardous material spill, use a route the will keep you upwind of the problem area.
- Do not use elevators.
- Do not stop for belongings or records.
- Aid those needing special assistance.
- Check for injuries and report to Emergency Personnel after evacuating.
- Report to designated Emergency Assembly Area.
- Wait for further instructions.
Building occupants are directed to use all fire exit stairwells in an evacuation and not use the elevators in any circumstances. All faculty and staff members should be familiar with the locations of building egresses listed below.
Location | Number of Fire Exit Stairwells |
17 Lexington Ave.
|
Two Fire Exit Stairwells
|
135 East 22nd St.
|
Two Fire Exit Stairwells
|
137 East 22nd St.
|
Two Fire Exit Stairwells
|
151 East 25th St.
|
Three Fire Exit Stairwells
|
137 East 25th St.
|
Two Fire Exit Stairwells
|
55 Lexington Ave.
|
Eight Fire Exit Stairwells (Lobby and above)
|
55 Lexington Ave.
|
Eight Fire Exit Stairwells (Lobby and Below)
|
Note: All fire alarm pull boxes are adjacent to fire exit stairwells on all floors of each building.
General Instructions for the Campus Community
- Close all windows and doors.
- Turn off lights and move away from doors.
- Do not stand in hallways or stairwells.
- Go to a room.
- In the case of an active shooter incident, follow the instructions to barricade the door, stay low to the ground, and shield behind large objects.
- In the case of an active shooter incident, stay quiet and silence cell phones
- If instructed to “Lock Down” as well as “Shelter in Place,” follow “Lock Down” procedures stated below, which differ depending on what building you are in.
- Wait for further instructions.
- When Public Safety and or N.Y.P.D. arrive, obey all commands. Keep open hands in the air visible to first responders in cases of an armed intruder incident.
- 17 Lexington Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010
- 55 Lexington Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010
- 135 East 22nd Street, New York, N.Y. 10010
- 137 East 22nd Street, New York, N.Y. 10010
- 137 East 25th Street, New York, N.Y. 10010
- 151 East 25th Street, New York, N.Y. 10010
No two emergencies are the same. Therefore, these procedures are flexible and should be used as a guideline. Each department concerned should develop specific responses to their areas of expertise.
The objective is to assure an orderly evacuation, protect physical assets, immediately initiate the emergency response plan, and resume regular operations as soon as possible. Procedures are established to:
- Establish a method of safe and orderly response to a fire disaster
- Ensure the safety of personnel who remain on campus
- Identify the administrator that actions should be reported to
- Establish a notification list; designate a location for the Emergency Management Team to meet
- Designate a temporary alternate security headquarters
- Designate a temporary workspace for key staff members (President, Vice President, Provost)
- Designate a location for faculty and staff to receive information regarding work assignments.
- The person(s) discovering the fire will immediately pull the nearest alarm box located adjacent to fire exit stairs or elevator banks. Pull boxes are bright red.
- They are to then notify Baruch Public Safety using any campus phone to call 3333 or using a cell phone to call 646-312-3333 and give the location and extent of the fire.
- The member of Baruch Public Safety receiving the information will immediately call 911 and then make the notifications.
Note: Monday through Friday, from 7 to 12 am Assistant Director of Public Safety is always present. - Order of notifications: Notifications will be made in descending order to:
- Public Safety Administrators. If the first person does not respond to the notification within 10 minutes, go to the next person on the list. This will continue until a response is made.
- Buildings and Grounds at 646-660-6630 while waiting for a response.
- The highest-ranking member of Public Safety will direct an evacuation of the building. Evacuations use the stairs, not the elevators
- The most critical areas for immediate evacuation are the floor(s) where the fire is located and the floor immediately above.
- Evacuation to two or more levels below the floor(s) where the fire is located is generally adequate. If in doubt, evacuate the building completely.
Note: Detailed fire response is covered in the Public Safety Manual of Operations. - The Vice President for Administration and Finance will determine if the building is safe to continue Public Safety and/or Building and Grounds operations pending consultation with the Fire Department and building engineers.
- When available – 135 East 22nd St., 7th fl. President’s Conference Room
- Alternate locations:
- 151 East 25th St., Subotnick Financial Services Center, 1st floor
- 55 Lexington Ave., Public Safety Office 1-182
Note: MSDS sheets located at 151 East 25th Street Public Safety Office and in the Buildings and Grounds office on the first floor at 135 East 22nd Street
Relocation requirements:
- Two phones and phone lines
- Radios and battery charges
- Command logs
If time and conditions allow, the equipment would be moved as instructed by the Director of Public Safety or his/her designee.
Fire Safety Instructions for the Campus Community:
- Pull the nearest alarm. Pull boxes are bright red and typically located adjacent to fire exit stairs or elevator bank.
- Call New York Fire Department, 9-628-2900 or 9-911 and give the following:
- Condition (fire, smoke, etc.).
- Specific location (building address, floor, and area on floor).
- Your name and your location.
- Call Baruch Public Safety by dialing 3333 on any campus phone, using your cell phone to call 646-312-3333, and give the following information.
- Condition (fire, smoke, etc.).
- Specific location (building address, floor, and area on floor).
- Your name and your location.
- Unless your safety is in jeopardy, remain at the location to direct Public Safety Personnel, Floor Warden(s), Searchers, or the Fire Department.
- Start evacuating the affected area, using the Fire Exit stairwells only.
- Never use the elevators unless directed by the Fire Department.
- Close all doors on the floor and use the fire extinguisher to contain or extinguish the fire only if the fire is small.
- Never let the fire come between you and an exit.
- Remain calm and proceed with orderly evacuation.
- Do not return to the floor with fire or smoke until instructed to do so.
Faculty members in class: If a fire or smoke condition exists while you are conducting class, direct the students to the nearest Fire Exit.
Faculty and Staff members: During an actual fire/smoke condition, all faculty and staff members will assist Fire Wardens in the evacuation of students by directing them to the nearest fire exit. All students, faculty, and staff, must follow three basic principles during any emergency:
- Follow instructions of Public Safety and Fire Department personnel.
- Do not panic.
- Do not use elevators.
Every individual plays a role in the safety of a community. Accordingly, Baruch Public Safety is available for questions pertaining to the instructions outlined above or any information with respect to safety and security. Contact the Public Safety Office at 646-660-6000.
Fire Wardens
Make notifications indicated below:
- Determine the location of fire – immediately contact Public Safety by dialing 3333 on any campus phone, using your cell phone to call 646-312-3333, or using fire warden phones located on every floor, if so equipped.
- Direct the evacuation in accordance with instructions.
- If a stairway is affected by smoke, select an alternate stairway and notify the Fire Command Station.
- Fire Wardens will inform the Fire Command Station of evacuation procedures.
- The most critical areas for immediate evacuation are the floor(s) where the fire is located and the floor immediately above.
- Evacuation to two or more levels below the floor(s) where the fire is located is generally adequate.
- Fire Wardens and their deputies will notify all occupants of the fire.
- Fire Wardens on the floor where the fire is located will notify the Fire Command Station of the particulars.
- Fire Wardens on the floor above the floor where the fire is located will notify the Fire Command Station of evacuation procedures and any other details.
Deputy Fire Wardens
- Assist the Fire Warden.
Searchers
- Monitor the entire floor for stragglers. Pay particular attention to lavatories.
Instructions:
- All alarms will be considered as indicative of a fire until otherwise determined. Never assume that an alarm is a false report.
- Fire Control personnel must know the location of the fire alarm boxes, which are typically at each end of the floor.
- When an alarm sounds, the Fire Warden or Deputy Fire Warden will immediately search the floor, locate the fire, determine conditions and promptly notify the Fire Department by calling 9-911 (this notification must be made). Wardens will also notify the Baruch College Public Safety Office. When making these calls, give as much information as possible.
- Fire Wardens should understand that complete evacuation of the building is not always necessary. Congestion in the stairways can often cause more injuries than the fire. Fire Wardens should be guided by their knowledge of the existing conditions. Public Safety will do everything possible to keep fire control personnel informed.
- Elevators must not be used unless advised to the contrary by the Fire Department.
Helpful Hints:
- Evacuation to two floors below the floor(s) where the fire is located is sufficient for most fires.
- The most critical areas for immediate evacuation are the floor(s) where the fire is located and the floor above.
- Those above the fire who are unable to evacuate below the floor(s) where the fire is located should wait for instructions from Fire Department personnel.
- Feel doors for heat. Do not open any hot doors. If possible, close the doors of the room containing the fire.
- If in doubt, completely evacuate the building in a calm and orderly way.
- The Fire Command Post should be notified if there are people whose mobility is impaired and cannot reach a safe area.
- A Command Post will be set up in the following locations:
- 135 East 22nd Street – Lobby – 646-660-6655
- 137 East 22nd Street – Lobby – 646-660-6949
- 17 Lexington Avenue – Lobby – 646-660-6000
- 151 East 25th Street – Lobby – 646-312-1500
- 137 East 25th Street – Lobby – 646-312- 2039
- 55 Lexington Avenue – Lobby – 646-312-4888
- Keep the Command Post informed.
After the evacuation, take a headcount to account for all occupants. Fire Wardens will be notified when it is safe to return to their floor. These guidelines are to help until the Fire Department arrives and takes complete charge. Keep in mind that these plans cannot anticipate every problem that might arise. However, since the occupants’ safety is the primary concern, do whatever is necessary to protect lives. Fire Wardens must check fire exits daily. The doors should be closed but unlocked.
Fire Drills:
- At the sound of an alarm, proceed to the nearest fire exit in an orderly manner.
- Stand by the fire exit and do not enter the stairwells.
- Follow the directions of Fire Safety personnel or faculty members.
- Do not return to an area until Public Safety personnel give an “all clear.”
Faculty members in class: During drills, faculty members conducting class will direct their students to the nearest fire exit.
Faculty and staff members: If not involved with a class, assist Fire Wardens in the evacuation of students during a Fire Drill.
In instances of severe weather threats, the Vice President for Administration and Finance will convene the Emergency Management Team, and any other members of the Emergency Response Support Team needed to assess and implement a plan to manage the situation and decide whether to close the College or adjust opening times. The assessment will consider the anticipated impacts to access routes to the campus and access to campus facilities. The team’s assignment is to ensure that staff, equipment, and supplies are in place to respond to the emergency adequately. There will likely be a period of active monitoring and consultation before a final decision on opening. In non-weather emergencies such as water main break, fire, power outage, or other severe events, the process will remain the same. A period of active monitoring may not occur before deciding whether to close or adjust opening times for non-weather emergencies.
Departments should notify their essential personnel as early as possible after the emergency staffing plan is activated to provide them with sufficient notice to respond.
All efforts to minimize the impact of an emergency so that the College remains open will be made. For example, in some cases of non-weather related emergencies, it may be possible to adjust campus operations by moving staff to areas not impacted by the emergency.
If the College must close due to an emergency, Campus Facilities and other members of the Emergency Management and Emergency Response Support Teams will do their best to restore services quickly so that normal operations can be resumed.
The College will notify faculty, staff, and students by multiple communication systems, including CUNYalert, the College web page, and other systems as needed. Public Safety will issue CUNYalert messages after consulting with the Vice President for Administration and Finance. The Vice President for Communications will post notices and updates on the College website as directed by the President.
The decision to close or adjust the opening and closing times is subject to CUNY policy. The Central Office policy protocols are described in a memo from CUNY found in Appendix A: CUNY Weather-Related Closure Policy.
An extended power outage to one or more buildings resulting from flooding, weather, or system failures are examples of facility-related emergencies that can disrupt campus operations and present safety hazards to the campus community.
In instances that have a significant impact on campus operations, the Vice President for Administration and Finance will convene the Emergency Management Team and any necessary members of the Emergency Response Support Team. They will assess the impact on operations and develop operational and communications plans. Among the factors to be considered are:
- Does the incident affect one or more buildings, or is limited to one or more floors of a building?
- Are basic systems such as electrical, heat, air conditioning, data impacted?
- What is the anticipated duration of the incident, including estimates when normal operations can resume?
In some cases, when the impact is only to one building or particular floors in a building, operations can be moved to another location. When the facility emergency impacts the entire campus, the College will initiate protocols for closing the campus.
New York City has designated Baruch College an Evacuation Shelter and a Hurricane Shelter. The New York Office of Emergency Management will manage, staff, and provide supplies to the shelter site. The N.Y.P.D. will have police officers assigned to the site.
The College has designated staff as the CUNY Facility Administrators if the College becomes a shelter. Their role is to manage the facilities, not the shelter. They are:
CUNY Facility Administrators | Office Phone | Emergency Phone |
Robert B. Curry Director, Chief of Public Safety |
646-660-6010 | 646-477-1459 |
Lawrence Manganello Assistant Vice President of Campus Facilities |
646-660-6036 | 347-768-0791 |
Forty-eight (48) hours before the anticipated event, the City will decide on whether to activate the shelter plan or not. If they do, they will notify NYC Emergency Workers, who will manage and staff the shelter site and vendors who will deliver supplies to the College. Two containers are maintained on-site to be used if the plan is implemented. The shelter will open 36 hours before the start of the event. It will be the Chief Superintendent’s responsibility to open the site and work with the Office of Emergency Management staff. The Vice President for Administration and Finance will convene the Emergency Management Team when notified of the plan to set up the evacuation shelter. In most cases, the team will have already been convened to discuss severe weather conditions and develop an operational plan and communication strategy.
The personal safety of faculty, students, and staff in the Campus Community is the highest priority. Public Safety works closely with law enforcement to continually assess preparation for an active shooter or armed intruder incident and update our protocols according to the best available practices.
Once aware of an armed intruder, the Director of Public Safety will notify N.Y.P.D. and then inform the Vice President for Administration and Finance. The Director will initiate an evacuation or stay in place protocol for designated areas, as judged safest based on available information. The “Lock Down” procedure will be a part of the “Shelter in Place” protocol. Public Safety will make all efforts to gather information about the incident, including the shooter(s) location. This information will be provided to the first responders as well as the campus community as described below. Public Safety will also direct the evacuation of buildings, as described in Chapter 2. Generally, violence escalates very quickly and will require an immediate response from armed law enforcement officers trained to deal with such incidents. However, Public Safety personnel are there to support their efforts.
As part of the evacuation or “Shelter in Place” plan, the Director of Public Safety will alert the campus community to the presence of an armed intruder or active shooter and provide additional information, including the location, if known, that helps community members avoid danger. The Director will use the public address system, CUNYalert, and any other systems appropriate for the situation.
In some instances, the Director of Public Safety will give specific instructions to evacuate or to “Shelter in Place.” In others, the building occupants may have to make that determination on their own. The College provides various resources to prepare the campus community on how to respond. It is everyone’s responsibility to familiarize themselves with those resources. They include instructions posted on the Public Safety website, a training video prepared by Homeland Security posted on the website, and yearly mandatory workplace violence training that features guidance on reacting in an active shooter situation.
General Instructions for the Campus Community
Run
- If you can do so safely, exit the building immediately.
- Leave possessions behind.
- Notify anyone that you encounter to do the same.
- Do not activate the fire alarm as it may cause unknowing occupants to evacuate to a danger zone.
- When safe to do so, call 911 and Public Safety at x3333 and provide your name, the location of the incident, the number of shooters, the type of weapon, the direction of travel, and if there are any injured persons.
Hide
- If you are unable to safely evacuate go to the nearest room.
- Lock and/or barricade the door.
- Stay away from doors/windows.
- Stay low to the ground and shield behind large objects
- Stay quiet. Silence cell phones.
- Do not answer the door unless an “All Clear” announcement has been given.
- Wait for Public Safety and/or N.Y.P.D. arrive to escort you out of the area.
- When Public Safety and/or N.Y.P.D. arrive, obey all commands. Keep open hands in the air visible to first responders.
Fight
- Fighting back is dangerous but it may be your only option in the situation.
- Act as a group if possible.
- Improvise weapons.
- Act with physical aggression.
- Commit to your actions.
- Once the assailant is incapacitated, call 911 and Public Safety 646-660-3333.
Shooting incidents are difficult to predict, but many are related to workplace or domestic violence and behavioral issues. These are often preceded by warning signs that are ignored. At Baruch College, we have multiple venues for reporting safety related concerns and directing resources to maintain a safe community. They include:
- The Public Safety Department, where all violent incidents and threats must be reported.
- Workplace violence policies and reporting procedures.
- A Crisis Intervention Team for concerns about student behavior.
- An Employee Assistance Program to provide counseling and mental health referrals for faculty and staff.
Violent incidents, including hostage situations, can occur on campus with little to no warning. Specific protocols for active shooter incidents are described in Chapter 7. Many of the same actions would be taken in other violent incidents. As with active shooter incidents, the Director of Public Safety will take the lead and immediately notify N.Y.P.D. In consultation with the Vice President for Administration and Finance when possible, a decision will be made about implementing the evacuation or “Shelter in Place” protocol for designated areas. The Director of Public Safety has the discretion to act immediately if it is necessary to preserve life and safety in his or her judgment.
Public Safety will gather as much information as possible about the incident then alert the campus community. Depending on time constraints, Public Safety will coordinate with the Vice President for Communications and members of the Emergency Management Team on the message’s content.
General Instructions for the Campus Community
- If you see a violent situation or become aware of a hostage situation, move away from the area of concern and tell others to move away.
- Call Public Safety at 646-660-3333 and 911 as soon as it is safe to do so.
- If instructed to “Shelter in Place” follow the protocols and wait for further instructions.
- If you are taken hostage:
- Keep calm and follow the intruder’s instructions.
- Sit away from the intruder, windows, and exits.
- Stay alert.
- Be aware the police may come in at any time.
The College cares about the emotional and mental well-being of all members of the campus community. For this reason, the College has protocols in place for reporting behavioral concerns about students, faculty, and staff.
When a Baruch community member is experiencing a psychological emergency during regular business hours, notify Public Safety. Public Safety will respond. When the person is a student, they will take the individual to the Counseling Center for an evaluation. If the individual is unwilling to go voluntarily and Public Safety believes that he/she needs immediate assistance because he/she may pose a danger to him/herself and/or others, then Public Safety must call for an Emergency Medical Team.
When the person experiencing the emergency is a member of the faculty or staff, and he/she is behaving in a manner that may pose an immediate danger to him/herself and/or others, Public Safety must call Emergency Services.
There may be early warning signs that someone is experiencing emotional and/or mental distress. Early identification and support can help a person get proper treatment and prevent a more serious situation. The College Crisis Intervention Team, chaired by the Vice President for Student Affairs, is a resource available for anyone to report behavioral concerns about a student. More details about the program and the process for reporting behavioral concerns are available at the Counseling Center.
The College has an Employee Assistance Program for faculty and staff, providing counseling and referrals to mental health treatments. Contact the Office of Human Resources for information about the Employee Assistance Program. Also, information can be confidentially accessed on the Deer Oaks Employee Assistance Program webpage. More details about the Employee Assistance Program are available on the Deer Oaks website.
Please see the full CUNY Policy on Workplace Violence.
Every member of the CUNY and Baruch communities deserves the opportunity to live, learn, and work free from sexual harassment, gender-based harassment, and sexual violence. CUNY is committed to:
- Defining sexual misconduct.
- Providing clear reporting guidelines.
- Promptly responding to and investigating allegations of sexual misconduct.
- Providing ongoing assistance and support to students and employees who make allegations.
- Investigating and addressing any allegations of retaliation against those students and employees.
All incidents of sexual harassment, gender-based harassment, or sexual violence, whether witnessed or experienced, should be reported to the following Baruch personnel:
- Title IX Coordinator: 137 E. 22nd St., Rm. 204, 646-312-4540
- Public Safety, 646-660-3333
- Division of Student Affairs, NVC 3-175, 646-312-4570 (students only)
You are also encouraged to report all cases involving any form of sexual violence and/or stalking to the N.Y.P.D.; Public Safety will assist you.
Other resources and materials are provided on the College’s Title IX webpage. See also, the complete CUNY Sexual Misconduct Policy.
- Classes continue to take place.
- Exams are administered.
- Library access is maintained.
- Consultations with Student Body Presidents, Chairs of the Faculty Senate, Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs and the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs to conform to the parameters for summoning police or the CUNY S.A.F.E. team.
- Baruch notifications – President, Vice President for Administration and Finance, etc.
- The President shall designate a person to be responsible whenever he/she is expected to be unavailable.
- Whenever the President is unavailable, and a designee has not been assigned, the order for who will assume responsibility for reacting to the group action goes as follows, depending on who is available first: the Vice President for Administration and Finance, the Provost, the Vice President for Student Affairs or the Director of Public Safety.
Official contact with the media will be conducted by the Chief Communications Officer and Economic Development.
- Scheduled demonstration not in a building:
These events should be encouraged and are allowed. However, all parties on the notification list, including the Chancellor’s Office, must be notified. If such an event grows in significance, the Chancellor’s Office, having been notified of the event, will be prepared for an adequate response. - Scheduled demonstration not in a building with unsanctioned loudspeakers:
- Notify all as written above.
- Determine who the leaders of the demonstration are.
- Tell the leaders (if students):
- “I strongly support freedom of speech and your right to express your opinion for and against events, decisions, and governmental functions. However, freedom of speech is a freedom that requires responsibility on the part of all citizens. It is this administration’s responsibility to protect the rights of others on campus. Your use of an amplifying device threatens those rights. You are disrupting the normal academic and administrative operations of the College. This is a violation of College and University policy. If you do not stop this activity, you are subject to disciplinary action pursuant to Article V of the Bylaws of the Board of Trustees. Please turn off the amplifiers now [in ten minutes].”
- Unscheduled demonstration not in a building:
- These events can be allowed. Regardless, all parties on the notification list, including the Chancellor’s Office, should be notified.
- Determine who the leaders of the demonstration are.
- Tell the leaders (if students):
- “This demonstration is within the framework of the free exchange of ideas and information on campus. As long as it does not disrupt administrative or academic operations on campus, college officials will not attempt to intervene. However, you are on a public street and your actions will be monitored by the N.Y.P.D. If the leaders of this event are subject to disciplinary hearings, a videotape will be used to identify those who possibly violate campus policy.”
- After the event, the Dean of Students should determine an appropriate response as soon as possible.
- Unscheduled demonstration outside of a building with a sound device and no permit:
- Notify all as written above.
- Find out who the leaders are.
- Insist that the sound device is turned off or the Police will issue summonses. Notify the leaders that a non-amplified demonstration will be allowed to continue, but they will be subject to monitoring by N.Y.P.D. since they are on a public street.
- Scheduled demonstration in the interior of the building:
Occasionally a group will ask to hold an event that is actually a rally. The weather conditions or some other considerations may cause them to request a room for the rally. This is an allowable activity. The time and place of such events can be controlled, but these events cannot be restricted based on their content, including anti-administration rallying. As previously agreed, unsanctioned speakers are a violation of event policy and the organizers should be informed that they will face disciplinary hearings. Regardless, everything possible will be done to maintain order including stopping the event if the audience’s safety is jeopardized (e.g., if we believe that bodyguards will be used).- Notify all as written above.
- No other actions should be taken.
- “Symbolic” sit-in/administration building “takeover”:
The President may agree to allow a limited number of group members to sit peacefully in the lobby of a building for a limited duration of time. Full notification and consultation with the Chancellor’s Office should be made before the agreement is accepted. All parties should be ready to take other action if the President’s agreement is breached. The Vice President for Administration and Finance will ensure that the Provost, VP for Student Affairs, and Director of Public Safety are aware of the terms of the agreement. - Sit-in with no apparent obstruction of administrative processes:
In this case, no previous agreement with the President was made, and there is no apparent time limit. Activity and numbers of people involved may be limited. However, this group action will be treated the same as an obstructive group take over. See Section IV below. - Marching and chanting in the halls:
- Notify all as written above.
- An attempt should be made to determine the leaders.
- The following should be said to the leaders by the President or the President’s designee:
- “You are disrupting the normal academic and administrative functions of the College. This is a violation of College and University policy. You are now subject to discipline from the College pursuant to Board bylaws. If you continue, you will be subject to criminal charges and arrest for disorderly conduct. We have started videotaping in order to identify persons violating University and criminal codes.”
- The same message should be transmitted through conversations with all those involved.
- As long as the disruptions are limited to noise, only discussions and videotaping can occur.
- If criminal behavior of a higher level occurs – i.e. pulling of fire alarms, destruction of property, or physical threats to individuals – the Chancellor should be notified, and College Public Safety, accompanied by University Public Safety should begin securing the campus and arresting leaders and those engaged in criminal activity.
- Strike with picketing:
Groups may use tactics similar to those used by labor activists. They may attempt to convince individual students, staff, and faculty not to take part in the normal operation of the campus. They may set up picket lines on public property, including areas just outside of a Baruch building. There are many activities like this that are legal.- All parties should be notified.
- No immediate action should be taken and the matter should be referred to CUNY legal to determine if a legal remedy is necessary.
- Public Safety will act to secure the building and prevent greater numbers from moving to support the initial group.
- Requesting the assistance of the S.A.F.E. team:
The President may request the assistance of the S.A.F.E. team if the situation warrants. If the S.A.F.E. team is requested, S.A.F.E. team leaders are in charge during enforcement actions (arrests, evictions, etc.). The University Director of Public Safety will be responsible for coordinating with the New York City Police Department. Requesting the S.A.F.E. team:- Baruch Public Safety Director or his/her designee, after conferring with the College President, would notify the CUNY Public Safety Office.
- S.A.F.E. team can be activated by calling:
- CUNY Public Safety office: 646-664-2900
- 24 hours Operations Desk: 212-794-5693
- Director of CUNY Public Safety
- Generally, the S.A.F.E. team can be fully mobilized within 2 hours of a request.
- If the President of Baruch does not request the assistance of the CUNY-wide Special Assistance for Events (S.A.F.E.) team and a decision has been made to retake college space that was unlawfully occupied, the following will occur:
- Public Safety personnel will mobilize in the Public Safety office at 17 Lexington Avenue. When this is not feasible, the Public Safety office at 151 East 25th Street will be used for mobilization. If either location is not available for mobilization, the Director of Public Safety will designate a mobilization area via radio.
- Specific Duties:
All mobilized Public Safety personnel will be advised of the situation by the Director of Public Safety. The Director of Public Safety will relay the location, the number of students involved, and any other known information. The Director of Public Safety will notify the Vice President for Administration and Finance who will notify the Emergency Management Team and convene if necessary.- All Public Safety personnel will be equipped with a portable radio and a fresh battery.
- Anyone using a portable radio will use only the designated 9-code system.
- No one will communicate in layman’s terms.
- The President of the college will make the decision to re-take college space. When this occurs, the Director of Public Safety will enter the building along with Assistant Directors and Public Safety officers. In addition, the following people will be present:
- Vice President for Administration and Finance
- Vice President for Student Development
- AVP of Campus Operations
- Director of Student Life
- Locksmiths
- If deadly physical force is initiated by those occupying the space, Public Safety will withdraw and request police assistance.
- Separate leaders from the rest of the group to ensure a breakdown of communication between leaders and followers. Groups do not function effectively without leadership.
- If arrests are made, we will use the lobby area to safeguard the detainees until the N.Y.P.D. can respond and process the arrests. All detainees will be photographed and the following information will be placed on the rear of the photo.
- Detainees name
- Social security number
- Crime charged with
- Location of arrest
- Any other unusual or important information.
- If force must be used to accomplish the objective, the minimal amount of force necessary to accomplish the objective will be applied. Public Safety personnel have the right to protect themselves and others from physical force being used against them. However, it is unlawful to use unnecessary or excessive force to accomplish the objective.
- When a college space has been re-taken by Public Safety, the Director of Public Safety will designate a team to perform a vertical patrol in order to ensure no unauthorized personnel remain in the building and to access and document property damage caused by the takeover.
- A video will be made to document property damage.
- Radios will be signed out to all Public Safety personnel participating in the operation. Upon completion of the objective, all radios will be returned to the Public Safety office.
- Photos of arrested persons will be filed in the Public Safety office and information shared with Vice President of Student Affairs.
- The Director of Public Safety will designate personnel to obtain arrest numbers and court dates of those arrested.
- Cameras will be returned to the Public Safety office.
- There will be equipment kits located at three different locations to be announced by Public Safety when needed. These kits will contain:
- Floor plans
- Flashlights
- Cellular phones
- Radios
- Bolt cutters
- Building Keys
- When group activity comes to the attention of Public Safety personnel, The Director of Public Safety, or his/her designee will be notified immediately. The Director of Public Safety will notify the Vice President for Administration and Finance who will notify the following:
- President
- Vice President for Student Affairs
- Chief Communications Officer
- Student Body Presidents
- Chair of Faculty Senate
- Vice-Chancellor for Legal Affairs
- University Director of Public Safety
- Chancellor
- The Chancellor’s office should be notified by the President or designee at the start of activity before campus Public Safety are asked to escort people out, and before N.Y.P.D. is asked to intervene in an emergency situation.
Note: The AVP of Campus Facilities may need to be called in to assist the securing of buildings.
- Each Vice President should develop a “telephone tree” that will facilitate rapid communication. In some cases, a decision that a building will not be in service may occur and staff members should be asked to report somewhere else or to delay the start of their work day. The Vice Presidents involved can communicate that decision to the affected staff and reduce confusion if phone numbers are known in advance.
- If upper-level administration cannot get to their offices, there is a possibility of using offices on the 9th floor of 151 East 25th Street.
- Initial and all subsequent notifications:
- Is there any danger to persons or property? If yes, to what extent?
- Who are the protesters? Are any students from outside Baruch? Are any non-students?
- How many participants are there?
- Who is(are) the leader(s), if they can be identified? To what degree, if any, has the educational process, campus facilities, or the rights of students, staff, and faculty to avail themselves thereof been impeded or obstructed?
- What does it appear that they are protesting or demanding?
- What activities go beyond the scope of University Public Safety’s training (e.g., presence of weapons)?
- Are news media on the scene? Are they inside or outside?
- Notification after the President or designee meets with the protesters:
- What are the reasons given for the protest?
- Notification before N.Y.P.D. is asked to assist
- What danger exists to persons or property?
- What activities go beyond the scope of University Public Safety’s training (e.g., the presence of weapons
- Purpose: To establish a method of safe and orderly response to labor disputes and reduce or eliminate threats of violence.
- Objective: To provide proper education and training in order to assure personal safety for all members of the Baruch community and maintain a neutral status during labor disputes.
- Strikes must be dealt with in three stages:
- Pre-strike planning
- Strike operations
- Post-strike operations
- Strike planning begins with the earliest indications that a strike may occur.
- Once it is clear that a strike may occur, important questions to consider are:
- Will Baruch attempt to conduct business as usual? (If worker sentiment supports the strike, it may be unwise to try)
- If not, will members of the bargaining unit be permitted to work or will they be locked out?
- How will access to Baruch buildings be handled? (The fewer entrances and exits the better)
- Will shipments be received?
- If arrests are made, who will be the complainant?
- Will the strike be video recorded?
- N.Y.P.D will determine how many pickets are allowed.
- When planning access to a building, the fewest possible entrances should be opened, consistent with the realistic estimated operating status. The entrances that are used should be located where they are easily controlled by security or the police.
- If there are contractors and subcontractors working at Baruch who are not involved in routine maintenance, they may be given access to the building via a separate entrance reserved exclusively for their use. Baruch employees should not use that entrance.
- Pre-strike information to non-striking workers must clearly indicate which entrances will be open and where cars can be parked.
- Only important deliveries should be made during the strike period.
- The Director of Baruch Public Safety will be responsible for picket line disturbances, protection of property, police liaising and documentation of unlawful conduct.
- Support criminal charges.
- Protect Baruch against unfair labor hearings.
- Protect officers from unfair brutality allegations.
Documentation responsibility will be assigned to security officers who have been trained to operate video equipment.
- Inform the Police:
It is very important to inform the commanding officer of the 13th Precinct immediately when a strike settlement has been reached and when it is effective (immediately means even at 2 AM on a Sunday morning, if that is when it happens). - Threats and retaliation:
Threats may have been made to individual workers during the strike and friction may still exist when the workers are back together following the strike. It is important that Baruch strongly and clearly expresses its position that retaliatory behavior or violence will not be tolerated and that offenders will be dealt with swiftly. Recommend an increase of vertical patrols for the first three days following the return to work in order to reduce the possibility of sabotage. - Post-strike critique:
After normalcy has returned and strike resentments have cooled, there should be a review by the Emergency Management Team of how the strike was managed. The purpose of the review is to identify mistakes and avoid them in the future.
While most bomb threats are, in fact, hoaxes, they should all be treated as real. The campus community must report any threat, suspicious package, or letter to Public Safety immediately.
Actions to be taken after a threat is received
All threats should be treated as genuine. After receiving the threat directly or through a member of the campus community, Public Safety will immediately contact the N.Y.P.D. and notify them of the threat. The Director or his/her designee will then notify the Vice President for Administration and Finance. The Director of Public Safety or his/her designee will coordinate a search for the device by assigning officers to search specified areas following established protocols. Emergency Evacuation Volunteers and other staff located in the search area will be enlisted to provide situational awareness, such as the presence of any suspicious packages. Public Safety will coordinate with Building and Grounds. They may be able to give specific information about the facility if required. Public Safety will coordinate with the N.Y.P.D. and other first responders and assist as needed.
If a suspected object is found
No one will be allowed to move or touch the object or anything attached to it except for the trained members of the N.Y.P.D. and the first responder team. The Director of Public Safety or his/her designee will initiate evacuation protocols for the impacted area(s). The Director will notify the Vice President for Administration and Finance. They will then notify senior leadership and decide whether to activate the Emergency Management Team and any necessary Emergency Support Team members. Public Safety will evacuate the buildings while making every effort to avoid panic. The elevators will not be used for evacuation. Public Safety will prevent people from entering the threatened area(s) and keep access routes clear so first responders can enter unimpeded. If possible, Public Safety will open all doors and windows to minimize primary damage if the object detonates. All personnel should be located at a predetermined safe zone away from the suspected bomb location. Public Safety will use multiple channels to provide information and instructions to those being evacuated and the campus community. Public Safety will not transmit messages via walkie-talkie in the area where the suspected object is found. No one will be allowed re-entry into the building until the suspicious object has been safely removed or disarmed and the building is declared safe by Emergency Services or the Bomb Squad.
If no suspected object is found
The Director of Public Safety or his/her designee will confer with the N.Y.P.D. and follow their advice. After conferring with the N.Y.P.D., if the Director determines that no clear or present danger to occupants in the area(s) exists, he/she will not direct an evacuation of the impacted area. If previously disrupted, Public Safety officers will calmly notify the area occupants to continue with their normal activities.
If a bomb/explosive device detonates
Public Safety will call 911 immediately. Public Safety officers will respond to a designated area and receive instructions from the Director of Public Safety or his/her designee. The Director will notify the Vice President for Administration and Finance. They will then notify senior leadership and decide whether to activate the Emergency Management Team and any necessary Emergency Support Team members. The Director of Public Safety will determine if there is a clear and present danger to occupants in the impacted area and direct an evacuation following necessary protocols, including those detailed in the fire response plan. Public Safety officers will assist in the evacuation. No elevators will be used during the evacuation. The Vice President for Administration and Finance will determine if the building is safe for operations and occupancy after consulting with the appropriate facilities professionals, the N.Y.P.D., and other first responders.
- Danger to life and property.
- Safeguarding college property that is not removed. If deemed safe, vertical patrols would lock unsecured areas. In all scenarios, Public Safety personnel would limit access to only authorized personnel.
- Hazardous material exposure. MSDS sheets located at 151 East 25th Street and in the Buildings and Grounds office on the first floor at 135 East 22nd Street. Main storage rooms containing cleaning supplies and other chemicals need to be identified and safeguarded.
- Interruption of classes.
- Interruption of Public Safety operations. If the building was deemed unsafe, the Public Safety Department would set up temporary headquarters at an alternative location. If relocated, Public Safety would require four phones and phone lines; radios; battery charges; and command logs. If time and conditions allow, move equipment as instructed by the Director of Public Safety or his/her designee. If the emergency occurred during the weekend or off-hours, the Buildings and Grounds office located at 135 East 22nd Street would be used as a temporary headquarters.
General Instructions for the Campus Community:
- If you see or receive information about an explosive device in a campus facility, notify Public Safety immediately.
- Familiarize yourself with the Public Safety Bomb Checklist (at the end of this section) to use as a guide if you are speaking directly with someone making a bomb threat or see any suspicious package or letter.
- If you see a suspicious package or letter, notify Public Safety immediately.
- Never touch or move any suspicious object or letter.
- Follow instructions from Public Safety including directions to evacuate or about entry into areas impacted.
SOME TYPICAL LETTER AND PACKAGE BOMB INDICATORS
- Foreign mail, airmail, and special delivery
- Restrictive markings such as confidential or personal
- No return address
- Rigid envelopes
- Protruding wires, screws, or tinfoil
- Lopsided or uneven envelope
- Oily stains or discoloration
- Excessive postage
- Visual distractions such as fragile, rush or handle with care
- Postmarked from an area different than the return address
- Excessive or uneven weight distribution
- Handwritten or poorly typed addresses
- Excessive securing material such as masking, strapping, electrical tape, or string
- Incorrect titles
- Misspelling of common words
In most situations – i.e., a chemical release in a laboratory area – the incident will be handled locally and will not require the Emergency Management Team to be convened. Instructions to staff and students on how to handle the situation are included in the “What to do in Case of an Emergency” sign and posted on the College website. Staff who come into contact with potentially hazardous chemicals receive training from our Environmental Health and Safety Officer. All incidents must be reported to Public Safety and our Environmental Health and Safety Officer.
When a hazardous material spill disrupts the College’s academic and/or administrative operations, Public Safety will contact the Vice President for Administration and Finance. They will then convene the Emergency Management Team. The Director of Public Safety has the discretion to implement an evacuation or shelter in place protocol to protect people’s health and safety in or around the area of the incident. In cases when the hazardous material is known to be explosive or present a fire hazard, Public Safety will immediately notify the fire department and NYC HazMat team.
General Instructions for the Campus Community
In the event of a hazardous chemical release, adhere to the following:
- Alert others about the spill and tell them to leave the area.
- If you are not trained in responding to chemical spills, leave the area as well.
- Close off the area as much as possible to avoid exposure.
- Notify Public Safety at x3333 and Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management (EHSRM) at x6048
- Remember to report all spills to EHSRM
- During your call, please provide the following information:
- Your name and contact number (or your location).
- Location of the spill.
- Name of the chemical material and quantity.
- Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), if available.
- How the spill occurred.
- Report if anyone is injured and needs medical assistance.
IF THE MATERIAL IS KNOWN TO BE EXPLOSIVE OR EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE, NOTIFY PUBLIC SAFETY IMMEDIATELY SO THEY CAN CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND NYC HAZMAT.
- You can attempt to clean up the spill only if you have been properly trained in spill remediation.
- EHSRM and designated Natural Sciences personnel have the proper training and equipment for cleaning and decontaminating chemical and other hazardous material spills.
- If the spill is too large, leave the clean-up and decontamination to the vendor that is on an emergency call.
- Only use the correct spill clean-up supplies for that type of spill.
- Only those trained in spill remediation will have access to the proper supplies.
- All materials used to clean-up a chemical spill must be properly packaged and labeled as chemical waste. This material can only be disposed of by a chemical waste vendor.
DO NOT CALL BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS OR CUSTODIAL SERVICES TO CLEAN UP THE SPILL.
Download the CUNY Weather-related Closure Policy.