Section 1000: Campus Policy

Effective: December 16, 2013
Revised: November 2015; August 2026
Last Review: August 2026
Next Review: August 2028
Responsible Party: Chancellor

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to define the use of Montana State University-Northern's Emergency Notification System (ENS). The components herein are intended to improve emergency communications between University Administration and MSU-Northern students, staff, faculty, and visitors. In order to promote the safety of everyone on campus, this document establishes protocols in case of an emergency. The MSU-Northern ENS utilizes components that are activated under certain circumstances. These components include:

  • MSU-Northern Emergency Key Personnel Phone List
  • Text messaging
  • University e-mail list serves (All users and current students)
  • Message on all campus desktop computers
  • University web page
  • Local radio
  • Hand held public address systems
  • Campus sponsored social media

Participation

Participation in MSU-Northern's ENS is required for all students, staff and faculty.

MSU-Northern will pre-populate the ENS with the e-mails and cellphone numbers that exist within MSU-Northern's Banner system for all students, faculty and staff. The contact information will be updated every semester.

Participation does not constitute any form of guarantee of safety.

Acceptable Use of the Emergency Notification System

The MSU-Northern Emergency Notification System shall only be initiated within the acceptable use criteria as outlined below. General notifications of a non-emergency nature shall NOT be permitted via the ENS. The use of the system shall be limited to emergency events only. The following is a list of examples of appropriate emergencies. This is not exhaustive and MSU-Northern is not limited to only this list.

  • Bomb Threat - There is reason to indicate the threat is credible (e.g., potential device has been located).
  • Civil Disturbance - A demonstration by a large group that is disrupting normal activities and/or showing signs of aggressive behavior.
  • Fire - Any fire that is potentially placing lives in danger.
  • Hazardous Material Release - A dangerous material (i.e. chemical, biological, or radiological) that is spreading from a contained area and/or causing lives to be placed in danger.
  • Medical Emergency - Messaging encouraged or required by the Department of Health, for a confirmed contagious disease constituting a campus wide threat (i.e. pandemic).
  • Physical Assault - Weapons used, significant violence, perpetrator(s) at large (e.g. active shooter; hostage situation)
  • Suspicious Package - A package that is believed to have the potential to cause injury to a wide spectrum of lives or property
  • Utility Failure - A major disruption of utilities and or possible damage that potentially places lives in danger (i.e. gas, electrical, water, etc.)..
  • Severe Weather - Any severe weather that has the potential to cause injury to lives or property (i.e. flooding, thunderstorm, wind, tornado, snow/ice/cold, etc.).
  • Missing Person - If activation of the system has the potential to assist in locating the missing person. Alert for this type of incident shall be limited to the communication devices most appropriate for disseminating information.
  • Other, Life Threatening - Any other condition where lives are in immediate danger and the ENS has the potential to reduce the potential of harm.
  • "All Clear" and/or additional follow-up messages will be used when appropriate.

 

Activation of the Emergency Notification System

There are two ways the ENS can be activated. The first is for emergencies that have been identified by the campus and are the result of an administrative decision, the second is for emergencies identified through a 911 call.

  • Administrative Activation

The decision to activate the ENS must be in line with emergency criteria as stated above and must be made by the Chancellor or person who is in charge of campus pursuant to Policy 202 ("Officials to Act in Place of the Chancellor"). Once the decision has been made, that person will contact one of the people listed below to activate the system.

  • 911 Activation

When any person notices a potentially dangerous campus situation, they must immediately notify the Police by calling 911.

Once the 911 dispatcher receives a call that a potentially dangerous campus situation is in progress the 911 dispatch person will contact one of the following people:

      • Director of Communications and Marketing
      • Chief Information Officer
      • Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management 
      • ITS Systems Administrator
      • Chancellor
      • Provost
      • Director of Human Resources

Once the designated campus person is notified by the 911 dispatcher, they will activate the MSU-Northern ENS.

Drills

Drills shall be conducted annually in order to ensure that the system is effective and operational. There are two types of tests: an administrative test and a functional test, which may be done together.

  • Administrative test - assesses how much time it takes to get emergency information to a person receiving a text. This test will be done to a limited number of people.
  • Functional test - assesses the ENS by communicating to students, staff, and faculty a non-emergency message informing them of the test and providing information regarding what to do if this had been an actual emergency.

Following the administrative and functional tests, the Safety and Disaster Committee will meet to discuss how to improve the ENS and procedures.

Privacy and Confidentiality

Official use of emergency contact information will be in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974.