Timely Warnings
Police Services issues timely warnings to the University community when a Clery Act crime has already occurred within the University’s Clery Geography and represents a serious or continuous threat. The Chief of Police Services (or their designee) will decided whether to issue a timely warning in consultation with others, when time permits, and on a case-by- case basis in light of the facts surrounding the crime and the continuing danger to the cam- pus community. The warning will be disseminated in a manner that is timely, does not dis- close the name or other identifying information about the victim, and will aid in the prevention of similar crimes.
The timely warning will also be distributed in a manner reasonably likely to reach the entire campus community, including but not limited to students, faculty, and staff. Depending on the circumstances, any of the following methods, or combination thereof, may be used to disseminate the timely warning: campus-wide email, LiveSafe smartphone app, text message, social media, posting to the University homepage, activation of the campus out- door warning system, special information hotline (901.678.0888), posting of notices, public address systems – mounted on Police Services vehicles, trained residence hall staff, press release, or local news media.
Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to read these alerts as soon as they receive them. Further, Campus Security Authorities are instructed to report crimes promptly so that the University may determine if a timely warning is warranted.
Emergency Notifications
The University will immediately notify the campus community upon confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation occurring on the campus involving an immediate threat to the health or safety to some or all of the campus community. After receiving a report or information, the University will immediately investigate to confirm a significant emergency or dangerous situation, usually through Police Services’ dispatch and/or personnel at the scene. The University and Police Services may also rely on information from other people or organizations to confirm a significant emergency, including, but not limited to, public safely officials, CSAs, Environmental Health & Safety, National Weather Services, and MPD or JPD.
Upon confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation, the President and select members of the President’s Council, including the Chief of Police Services, or their designee, and the Executive Vice President for University Relations have the authority and ability to draft and send emergency communications and initiate the notification system. Such designated individuals will, without delay, and taking into account the safety of the community, determine the content of the emergency notification and the appropriate segment of the community to receive it based on the information available at the time. The content of most emergency notifications is pre-scripted and ready to be sent to avoid unnecessary delays. Employees with authority to send emergency notifications, however, can amend the content of the message are insufficient based on the details of the situation.
The University maintains various systems for communicating information quickly to the University community. Some or all of these methods of communication may be activated in the event of an emergency or dangerous situation. These include:
- An outdoor warning system that can emit tones, pre-recorded digital voice messages, or live voice communication.
- LiveSafe smartphone app which delivers SMS messages, push notifications & emails to mobile phones.
- Mass e-mail to the University e-mail domain.
- Indoor “Informer” units that emit tones and voice messages in specific locations (e.g. Child Care Center, Residence Life lobbies)
- The University’s main web page or Twitter feed
- Notification of local media outlets
- Alertus program on all University network devices
The University will, without delay, and taking into account the safety of the community, determine the content of the emergency notification and initiate the emergency notification system, unless issuing an emergency notification will, in the professional judgment of re- sponsible authorities, compromise efforts to assist a victim or to contain, respond to, or otherwise mitigate the emergency.
Members of the larger community, such as parents or campus neighbors, may receive information about emergencies on campus from local/national media, social media, and/or the University’s website.