Institutions of higher learning are in a unique position to instill environmental stewardship and campus safety practices. PCOM is dedicated—through its Mission—to the advancement of sustainable practices in its campus operations. It has also increased its focus on strengthening security on its campuses, emergency preparedness and crisis management.
REEXAMINING PRACTICES IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
In the aftermath of the Virginia Tech tragedy, in which a student killed 32 people and then turned a gun on himself, leaders of higher educational institutions have been impelled to reexamine their crisis preparedness efforts.
In 2007, PCOM implemented e2Campus messaging, a Web-based mass notification service. It was termed “P.E.N.S.,” short for the PCOM Emergency Notification System. The alert system has the capacity to send a message simultaneously to subscribers’ mobile phones, e-mail addresses and/or telephone voice mailboxes. Seventy-six percent of students, faculty and staff on the PCOM and GA–PCOM campuses are enrolled in P.E.N.S. As of fall 2008, all new students were required to create an account during orientation.
In addition, state-of-the-art security surveillance systems have been enhanced on the Philadelphia and Georgia campuses as well as at the PCOM Healthcare Center facilities. Other advanced measures include increased police presence on the Philadelphia campus, forthcoming in-house supervision of PCOM and GA–PCOM security staff, installation of public annunciator systems outside all campus buildings and remote lock-down capabilities for campus sites.
“You never know what the crisis situation is going to be,” notes Richard Kralle, director, security and public safety, who leads a campus team on emergency preparedness. “Organized action—from disaster preparedness through mitigation, response, communication and recovery— is the strongest line of defense in an emergency incident. PCOM is committed to protecting the health and safety of all students, staff, faculty and visitors at all College facilities.”
A PCOM Emergency Preparedness Plan details the operational steps for College personnel responders, outlining procedures for the coordination and communication of the College’s response to encountered situations as well as campus evacuation maps and lists of local and federal resources.
A comprehensive Crisis Communications Plan delineates protocols for ensuring that appropriate notification is made in the event of a crisis. The plan provides suggested guidelines and materials to be utilized by senior officials and strategic response team members within the College to communicate with internal and external audiences. “By being proactive with our plan—and reviewing it annually with key administrators and team leaders—we hope to improve awareness of essential communications,” remarks Wendy Romano, director, marketing and communications.
ENERGY MANAGEMENT SAVINGS INITIATIVES
Since 2006, PCOM’s Department of Plant Operations, led by Frank H. Windle, director, plant operations, has been evaluating College facilities and energy usage. Among their savings initiatives has been the implementation of a unique plan for peak demand energy times—deploying an auxiliary generator and bidding load reduction capabilities real-time on the open market. In 2007-2008, these two initiatives saved the College $50,000. A dual-fuel usage plan, embracing alternative fuels and blended fuels, has likewise resulted in cost savings: $150,000 in 2007-2008.
“GO GREEN” INITIATIVES
As of this fall, the College is engaged in a survey of its existing condition that will lead to the development of a master sustainability plan, a concerted process to reduce PCOM’s impact on the environment. The Institutional Environmental Safety and Health Committee, a College-wide task force, is working to develop the action plan in collaboration with the community. The College presently promotes environmental awareness through its continuous expansion of a recycling program that includes plastic, aluminum and printer cartridge recycling in addition to paper product recycling. Over 6,500 pounds of recycling waste collection is projected for this fiscal year.