August 5, 2014

On July 24, 2014, more than 20 University administrators took part in a tabletop exercise that focused on emergency response planning related to potential incidents on campus. Tabletop exercises are discussion-based sessions where team members meet in an informal, classroom setting to discuss their roles during an emergency and their specific responses to a particular emergency situation. These biannual exercises help key administrators become more familiar with their role in an emergency, but in a low-stress situation. The recent exercise featured two separate scenarios. The first was a HAZMAT situation and the second was focused on potentially disruptive groups of protestors on campus. Additionally, representatives from the Chicago Police Department and Chicago Fire Department attended the exercise to give presentations on what kind of support the University would receive from local first responders. The next tabletop exercise for the administration will be held on January 6, 2015.