University Park, IL,
12
August
2019
|
12:45 PM
America/Chicago

10 Ways to Keep GSU Safe

As new and returning Jaguars arrive on campus ready for an exciting new academic year, the Governors State University Emergency Response Team (ERT) is issuing an alert: keep safety first.

“GSU takes seriously its position as one of the safest public campuses in Illinois and one of the safest in the nation. We are committed to a peaceful campus but realize we are each responsible to for our community as unfortunate events occur all around us more and more frequently,’’ said  Aurélio Valente, GSU Vice President, Student Affairs and Enrollment Management.

As Chair of the GSU ERT, Dr. Valente is asking faculty, staff, and students to assume an active role in keeping the community safe, to ensure a fun and productive semester for everyone.

Here’s what everyone can do:

1. Download the GSU LiveSafe (available on iTunes and Google Play).  The new LiveSafe app provides students, faculty and staff with a direct and easy way to communicate all their safety needs. Its easy-to-use features help you stay safe every day and enable us to better protect you. Download “LiveSafe” from App Store or Google Pay. Register and fill out your profile, and you’ll be all ready to: 1) report tips, 2) summon help, 3) get home safely, and 4) know what to do in an emergency. For more information, visit http://www.govst.edu/livesafe/

 

2. Download myGSU Mobile (available on iTunes and Google Play), the official mobile app of Governors State University. Download now to check grades, see course schedule and keep up with all GSU news and events , as well as weather alerts and emergency communications.

 

 

 

 

 

3. Watch and share the ERT video. The team produced the six-minute video to overview emergency preparedness policy and procedures on campus. “Everyone on campus, regardless of their role, should watch this video to learn what to do or where to go in the event of an emergency,’’ Dr. Valente said.

 

4. Check Instagram and Facebook for communications. In many instances, emergency communications and alerts regarding weather delays or campus closings are being reported on social media. Students are looking to social media as a source for news and information so this is a good way for us to push out information. We’re meeting students where they are already,’’ Dr. Valente said.

 

In addition to following these steps, faculty and staff can go further to ensure a safe community. "As stewards of our campus, all employees share the burden of responsibility," Dr. Valente said. He encouraged faculty members to:

5. Include the Emergency Preparedness Statement in course syllabi and review it on the first day of class. Faculty are required to include this statement, which addresses emergency exits locations, and classroom emergency plans.

6. Review and post the Faculty Emergency Preparedness Checklist to become familiar with first responders, emergency phone numbers, and lockdown and evacuation procedures.

 

7. Print and post the Staff Emergency Preparedness Checklist. Department heads should initiate conversations with their teams, review the emergency procedures, and identify circumstances that may be unique to your area or role. “Having the conversation will help better prepare everyone in the unfortunate case disaster strikes,” Dr. Valente said.

8 Stay Vigilant. If you see something, say something. If you know a student who may be distressed or whose behavior is of concern, report it to the Student Concerns Program, which provides a centralized method that focuses on identifying and working with students experiencing stress.

9. Contact the Campus Threat Assessment team, whose role is to identify and reduce risks related to campus violence. If you have concerns about staff or faculty members, report it their supervisor or Human Resources. If it is an emergency, call the campus police immediately.

10. Reach out to a member of the ERT. If you’d like a member of the ERT to talk with your class or student group about campus safety or LiveSafe training, please contact Dr. Valente at avalente@govst.edu.