Emergency Management Committee

Overview

The Emergency Management Committee (EMC) is a University-wide committee consisting of representatives from approximately 20 different University divisions and departments. The committee's mission is to collaborate on emergency management strategies and initiatives designed to enhance preparedness and improve the University’s ability to respond to all threats.

Purpose

This committee will analyze emergency management initiatives and evaluate their effectiveness for emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation 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, technological, or human-caused 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 conducting 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 Senior Emergency Management Officer 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 consistent with the University-wide plan

  • Reviewing annually existing emergency management policies and procedures, and recommending changes to the executive vice president for administration and chief financial officer for approval and further presentation to the Policy Group

  • Facilitating the posting to the University website of 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

  • Communications

  • Developing training curricula and facilitating presentations 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

  • Completing 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 for operations 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.

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

  • Information Technology Services

  • Biological Sciences Division

  • Physical Sciences Division

  • University Human Resources

  • University Occupational Medicine

  • Student Care Center

  • Hospital Safety

  • Hospital Security

  • University Communications

  • College Housing & Residential Services

  • International House

  • Vice President and Deans of Students Office (University)

  • Commercial Real Estate Operations

  • Laboratory Schools

  • Risk Management

  • Financial Services

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.