/Institutions/University-of-Texas-Rio-Grande-Valley/json/som/policies-local.json

/Institutions/University-of-Texas-Rio-Grande-Valley/json/som/policies.json

EAA073 Security, Student Safety, and Disaster Preparedness

Policy Number: EAA073
Policy Title: Security, Student Safety, and Disaster Preparedness

A. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide clear guidelines for the School of Medicine in the event of an emergency in the Rio Grande Valley or on any of the campuses or clinical sites.

B. Persons Affected

This policy will cover all faculty, staff, and students affiliated with UTRGV SOM.

C. Implementation Date

This policy is effective with the UTRGV SOM inaugural class, the Class of 2020, and will remain in effect for future classes unless otherwise amended.

D. Policy

• Overview:
  All members of the SOM community are expected to adhere to University standards and policies regarding emergency preparedness, safety, and security. The UTRGV SOM will collaborate with clinical affiliates to review and ensure alignment of affiliate policies and procedures, and to ensure the safety and security of faculty, staff, and students at clinical and community sites.
• Emergency Preparedness:
  UTRGV SOM adheres to University procedures in the event of an emergency. UTRGV SOM follows the UTRGV Emergency Operations Plan, which can be found here:
  (https://www.utrgv.edu/emergencypreparedness/_files/documents/emergency-operations-plan.pdf). This plan is designed to provide framework and guidance for coordinated response to minor emergencies, major emergencies and disasters. It is maintained by the Office of Emergency Management (http://www.utrgv.edu/emergencypreparedness) and regularly updated to mitigate potential emergency situations. All members of the UTRGV community are encouraged to read the Emergency Operations Plan to understand their respective roles in a given situation. UTRGV SOM will be in consistent communication with The Office of Emergency Preparedness in the event of an emergency or security threat for purposes of emergency management.
  
  If the students, faculty, or staff members are at one of the clinical sites during such an emergency, the UTRGV SOM will coordinate responses through the Office of Clinical Affairs
  
  The UTRGV SOM coordinator will work with the designated hospital official to ensure alignment with emergency preparedness plans at both hospital sites and UTRGV SOM.
  UTRGV SOM adheres to all UTRGV procedures for safety, chemical, biological and other hazardous material response, and other emergency measures established at the University level (http://www.utrgv.edu/ehsrm/programs/lab-safety/index.htm).
• Safety
  The UTRGV SOM ensures a safe learning and workplace environment through the adherence to all University safety policies and procedures. This includes the University fire safety program (http://www.utrgv.edu/ehsrm/programs/fire-safety/index.htm) that aims to protect lives and property at UTRGV, occupational health and safety program to provide safe working conditions, laboratory safety and environmental protection.
  
  The UTRGV SOM will communicate with UTRGV's Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management office (http://www.utrgv.edu/ehsrm) to promote a healthy and safe campus environment. This UTRGV office oversees hazard communication, OSHA compliance, indoor air quality, blood borne pathogens, asbestos awareness, construction safety, accident investigation/reporting, ergonomics and industrial hygiene.
  
  Please refer to the UTRGV SOM's Student Exposure to Infectious and Environmental Hazards Policy for further detail on UTRGV SOM's specific safety policies and procedures around environmental health.
• Security
  UTRGV SOM faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to utilize UTRGV campus security resources. These resources include:
  • Calling The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Police at 956-882-4911 or by personal visit to the UTRGV Police Department; or
  • Using any campus telephone and dialing 911; or
  • Contacting an officer in uniform on patrol; or
  • Using CampusShield Smartphone app (Android and Apple);
  
  In addition to these University resources, the UTRGV SOM limits access to educational buildings to SOM faculty, staff and students after normal business hours. The UTRGV SOM works closely with campus law enforcement to ensure the safety of the SOM community through regular surveillance and supervision.

Refer to the UTRGV Office of Emergency Management for updated policies, procedures, and operational plans as well as questions regarding natural hazards and emergency preparedness. http://www.utrgv.edu/emergencypreparedness