Georgetown University

Safety Initiatives

The following is a list of safety initiatives managed through the Office of University Safety.

• Updating and enhancing the Emergency Preparedness Plan

The Office of University Safety aims to make Georgetown University's Emergency Preparedness Plan among the best in the nation. To this end, the Vice President for University Safety has initiated an effort to update and enhance the existing Emergency Preparedness Plan through training and research.

Several practical exercises have been held and will continue to gauge the level of responsiveness and coordination. Evacuation drills are held for all buildings to ensure occupants are aware of how to evacuate and where to assemble. Also, training programs are routinely given to the Building and Floor Marshals to retain effectiveness in their areas of responsibility.

• Student Safety Advisory Board

The Student Safety Advisory Board (SSAB) started in April 2004 in order to obtain feedback from students on a variety of issues pertaining to university safety and emergency preparedness. The SSAB meets on a bi-weekly basis with Vice President DelMonaco and discusses issues ranging from educating students about campus safety to enhancing the interaction between students and DPS officers.

• Building and Floor Marshal Program

Building and floor marshals serve as a resource to provide safety and security information to other staff and students, especially during emergency situations. The marshals are responsible for making sure that emergency procedure information is posted in their building and that inhabitants of the building are familiar with these procedures, such as proper evacuation routes.

During an incident, building marshals will be identified by distinctive fluorescent hats and vests. These are the individuals to whom you should report so that all people can be accounted for if an incident impacts a building. They will maintain radio communication with members of the Emergency Response Team in order to be able to convey information about an incident to the members of their building.

In residence halls, Resident Assistants (RAs) serve as floor marshals and Hall Directors serve as building marshals.

• Pre-Event Planning

• Lessons Learned

• Threat Assessment

• Physical Security Assessment