Emergency Preparedness

Saint Joseph’s University has taken steps to ensure that the campus continues to function in the event of an emergency.

The resources and information contained on this page are designed to help you cope with an emergency situation and protect yourself and your colleagues should the region experience an incident.

In any emergency, call the police at 911 and security at 610-660-1111. All emergencies should first be reported to the police and to the security operations desk at 610-660-1111, or by picking up the auto-dial red phones or pushing help buttons.

Emergency Plans:

• University Emergency and Crisis Management Plan

Evacuation Maps:

• Area 1 – Sweeney Field
• Area 2 – Saint Mary’s Lawn
• Area 3 – Chapel Lawn
• Area 4 – Sullivan Garage
• Area 5 – Mandeville Lot
• Area 6 – Merion Gardens Lot
• Area 7 – Moore Hall Lot
• Area 8 – Quinn Hall Lot
• Area 9 – Merion Hall Lot
• Area 10 – Fine Arts East Lot
• Area 11 – Gabriel Lot
• Area 12 – Wolfington Campus Lot

The University conducts two (2) building evacuation drills per calendar year.

Campus Community Emergency Guidelines

• Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT)

Federal Resources

• U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• Ready.gov – US Department of Homeland Security
• FEMA – Federal Emergency Management Agency
• CDC – Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Local Resources

• City of Philadelphia – Emergency Preparedness
• City of Philadelphia – Evacuation Procedures
• Township of Lower Merion – Emergency Planning Guidelines
• PEMA – Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
• Saint Joseph’s University – Emergency Service Phone Numbers

Saint Joseph’s University is a community of over 8000 students and over 1000 employees, located in an urban/suburban campus of 114 acres. As such, it is a relatively large organization, yet it works to maintain a shared and collegial sense of community-based on the Jesuit notion of cura personalis, or care of the whole person. To that end, Saint Joseph’s University must be aware of and responsive to the needs of the entire community when encountering emergency and traumatic events. In recognition of those needs, the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) was created to respond to critical incidents in the local area as well as to serve as a university contact source when students are involved in critical incidents away from the campus.

The goals of Saint Joseph’s University CIRT are:

• to coordinate and communicate the University’s responses to critical incidents involving students, faculty, and staff while paying special attention to the safety and security needs of the University community;
• to offer counseling, guidance, and appropriate support to members of the University community, their families and University caregivers, and;
• to use critical incidents, when appropriate, as “teachable moments” which may enhance the quality of life for those involved with such incidents.

With these goals in mind, Saint Joseph’s University has defined critical incidents to which the CIRT may respond to include but not be limited to:

• Death of a student (on or off campus)
• Attempted suicide when known within the community
• Life-threatening injury/illness that impacts the community
• Sexual assault when known within the community (as appropriate and in line with Title IX and Clery reporting with sensitivity to the privacy needs of those involved)
• Mental health crisis impacting the community
• Drug/alcohol overdose when known within the community
• Campus disturbance/riot
• Fire/explosion with injuries or significant damage
• Natural disasters
• Human-made disasters
• Infectious disease including epidemic and pandemic response
• National emergencies
• Hate/bias incidents that impact the student body or campus community
• Locally impacting domestic and international acts of terrorism

Saint Joseph’s University recognizes that the above list may not cover all situations that warrant CIRT intervention. Therefore, the determination of whether or not a situation needs CIRT attention will be decided by the Chair of Saint Joseph’s University’s CIRT in conjunction with members of the President’s Cabinet. Additionally, a smaller subset of the CIRT may be called to address these and other critical incidents as appropriate.

Key Personnel: Each area has its own procedure.

• Vice President for Student Life, Associate Provost – Decision maker and liaison with President and Cabinet Officials.
• Director of Public Safety & Security – Relays on-site occurrences to VP of Student Life, Associate Provost.
• Assistant Director of Operations for Public Safety & Security – Document incident and maintain incident chronology log.
• Assistant Directors (3), Facilities Management – Coordinates facility requests, Responds to internal campus needs. Responds to external campus needs.
• Manager, Special Events – Supplies necessary bedding, set-up lounges, etc. Log and store any displaced personal belongings.
• Director, University Communications and Marketing – Responsible for any media releases. Liaison with media.
• Assistant Vice President for Campus Life, Residence Life – Trauma Response Team – Responsible for necessary temporary housing and communication with parents and family members.
• Associate Vice President for Info Technology – Responsible for IT Needs.
• Chemical Hygiene Officer – Relay environmental exposure information to municipal and University officials.
• Director, Purchasing – Responds to purchasing needs.

• Emergency Preparedness and Fire Prevention
• Shots Fired: When Lightning Strikes (active-shooter training video)
• Shots Fired: When Lightning Strikes (Student Edition) (active-shooter training video)

In Any Emergency, Call Police @911 and Security @ 610-660-1111:

• All emergencies should first be reported to the police@911 and to the security operations desk at 610-660-1111, or by picking up the auto-dial red phones, or pushing help buttons.
• Saint Joseph’s University Emergency Team

EMERGENCY CALL BOXES

Emergency call boxes are strategically placed throughout both campuses for your safety. When activated, they automatically contact the Department of Public Safety Dispatch Center and allow direct communication between you and a dispatcher.

Speak in a calm and clear manner while providing as much detail as possible. The Public Safety Dispatcher will dispatch public safety personnel and other emergency responders to your location based on the information you provide. Officers respond to and investigate all call box activations.

The Department of Public Safety tests the emergency call boxes on a regular basis to ensure operational compliance. If an emergency call box is out of service, a sign will be posted on the call box directing you to the nearest functioning call box.

Anyone experiencing a problem regarding the condition or use of an emergency call box should contact the Public Safety Dispatch Center immediately: Hawk Hill: 610-660-1111 or University City: 215-596-7000.

EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM

In the event of an emergency on campus, the Department of Public Safety uses the University’s Emergency Notification System to communicate information to all members of the University community.

SJU Safe is a mobile app that makes it possible for community members to send up a mobile BlueLight to alert campus security to their whereabouts within SJU’s geofootprint. SJU Safe also enables users to request a virtual escort from the Office of Public Safety or a friend, and send anonymous tips to campus security. 

SJU Safe has been updated to include our University City campus. Users will now be prompted to select which campus they are on. Selecting your campus will allow you to properly connect through the app to public safety. 

The ENS network utilizes the AppArmor Rapid Notification System (text messaging), email, an internal phone system, video display systems, the Campus TV cable network, the University's website, information flyers, local TV, and radio.

VIDEO SURVEILLANCE (CCTV SYSTEM)

The Department of Public Safety strategically deploys a 24/7, state-of-the-art video surveillance system to monitor interior and exterior public space areas around campus. The system provides valuable information for investigative purposes and a deterrent to criminal activity.

IDENTIFICATION CARDS

All current students, faculty, and staff are issued identification cards in order to access campus buildings, events, and services. When on University-owned property, you must wear your ID card and be able to produce identification upon request from a Public Safety official or University official.

Individuals are not permitted to lend their ID cards to others, use another individual's ID card, or tamper with ID cards in any manner. ID card holders are responsible for immediately reporting any ID card that fails to operate correctly, is lost, or is stolen to the Department of Public Safety: Hawk Hill: 610-660-1111 or University City: 215-597-7000.

ACCESS CONTROL

University buildings are equipped with electronic access control devices that monitor certain University buildings during normal business hours and monitor all buildings 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

All University residential halls require students to use their ID cards for entry. Guests entering a residence hall are required to show ID and follow all policies and procedures.

University students are responsible for the actions and behaviors of their guests at all times. It is against University policy to attempt to use your ID card to enter any area in which access has not been authorized by the Department of Public Safety or an authorized department administrator.

In the event of an emergency, the Saint Joseph's Department of Public Safety has the authority to evacuate campus buildings. An evacuation of a building does not automatically result in a cancellation of classes or the closing of all or part of the University. Only the University President or his designee has the authority to approve cancellation of classes or closing of the University.

What to Do

At the sound of the alarm, remain calm, evacuate immediately through the nearest exit, alert others, proceed to assembly points (safe zones), move away from the building, and follow the instructions of the emergency responders.

Assist individuals with disabilities to the nearest fire tower and wait for assistance. In the event that an individual with disabilities is in the fire tower, notify a Public Safety Officer or first responder so rescue arrangements can be coordinated.

Do not return to an evacuated building until the “all clear” signal is given by the Department of Public Safety, who will be working in conjunction with city, state, and federal support agencies to ensure that it is safe to resume normal operations.

Remember: Silencing of the alarm does not mean the emergency is over.