When an emergency happens, seconds matter. Whether it’s a medical emergency, severe weather, a dangerous situation or a disruption to campus operations, the effectiveness of a campus safety alert depends on people understanding what it means when they receive it and knowing what to do next.
Earlier this year, the University of Utah’s Department of Public Safety began implementing the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) as part of an updated approach to campus emergency communications. The goal is simple: create a common safety language that helps the campus community respond quickly, confidently and appropriately when incidents occur.
The Department of Public Safety has recently developed a new safety training video designed to help higher education institutions use the SRP. The training helps viewers understand what to expect from a campus alert and provides implementation guidance for those responsible for creating and issuing safety communications.
The U’s emergency alerts combine the SRP with principles from the Warning Lexicon, a research-based approach to crisis communication that helps answer these questions:
- Who is sending the message?
- What is happening?
- Where is it happening?
- Who is affected?
- What action should I take?
- When will I receive another update?
Providing this additional context helps community members determine whether an alert applies to them and what steps they should take to remain safe.
Campus Alerts Beyond Emergencies
Not every situation requires an emergency action. To support a wide range of safety and operational communications, the U also utilizes several additional alert categories.
- Safety Notices: Provide awareness about incidents that may affect the campus community but do not necessarily require immediate action. Examples include Clery-reportable crimes, ongoing investigations or situations where awareness and vigilance are important.
- Campus Advisories: Communicate disruptions or conditions that may impact campus operations. Examples include weather-related concerns, road closures, utility interruption, or access issues that may affect daily activities.
- All Clear: An All-Clear message is just as important as the original alert. It communicates that the situation has been resolved and normal operations can resume.
Building a Safer U Together
Emergency alerts are most effective when everyone understands them.
By combining the SRP with modern emergency communication practices, the U is creating a system that is clearer, more consistent and easier to understand across the campus community.
This effort improves preparedness and helps every student, employee, patient and visitor know what to do and trust that additional information will be shared regularly.
As implementation continues, the Department of Public Safety will provide additional education, resources and opportunities for the campus community to help those on campus feel safer, more informed and better prepared for any situation.