Emergency News & Information
PRESIDENT'S BULLETIN - 4R
Hinds Community College District
July 2000 ( D-ALL)
August 2008 (D-ALL)
STATEMENT OF PROCEDURE CONCERNING THE OPERATION
OF THE HINDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER
I. This bulletin is to prescribe the action and set up channels of communication whereby administrators, instructors, students, and parents might understand the procedures in event of change from the regular schedule.
II. Administrative Procedures
A particular campus, all campuses, or other locations where classes are taught in the Hinds Community College District will close when the safety and well being of the student body is in jeopardy. There may be times when one campus is closed and others will be open. The following administrative procedure is set forth as a guide for all concerned when it becomes necessary to deviate from the calendar, which has been set and approved by the Board of Trustees.
A. The EagleOne Alert system will be used as the primary tool to communicate with employees and students during inclement weather and other emergency situations. The system consists of two levels of alert: the EagleOne Alert Receiver and EagleOne Alert Email/SMS.
Designated college administrators will have the ability to generate an EagleOne Alert Receiver message to all receivers throughout the district or to specific campuses or centers in the district. Approximately 400 EagleOne Alert Receivers are strategically located throughout the district to aid in emergency communication. Students, employees and parents may also subscribe to EagleOne Alert messages at http://eagleone.hindscc.edu, and have the option of receiving EagleOne Alert messages via email or text message.
In addition, an EagleOne Alert Web page will also be hosted on the college Web site. All students and employees should first check the college Web site for school closing and other emergency announcements. Go to www.hindscc.edu and click on the EagleOne Alert icon OR go directly to the EagleOne Alert page at http://eagleone.hindscc.edu.
B. When College is in session any change from the routine schedule will be announced by the president through the vice president/branch/campus dean. The president will follow the following procedure to notify each Hinds location and employee.
The president will contact the vice president for physical plant and auxiliary services along with the vice president for community relations. These two employees will disseminate information to the vice presidents and deans of campuses by the EagleOne Alert receivers or by phone calls as well as posting a message on the College's EagleOne Alert Web page http://eagleone.hindscc.edu and the 1-800 HINDS CC phone system. The vice president for physical plant and auxiliary services will notify the Hinds County Department of Emergency Management.
An official global email message will also be sent to all employees informing them of the closing and directing them to the EagleOne Alert Web page for more information. The vice president for community relations will notify the appropriate personnel at the local television and radio stations through email, fax or by phone. This will be the only official notification from the College to the media. In the event that the College will remain open while other schools have closed, the vice president for community relations will use the same procedure to notify the media that Hinds will remain open and students should attend class as normally scheduled.
In the event of a natural disaster where telephone communications are interrupted or it is impossible or inadvisable for the vice president/branch/campus dean to consult with the president, the vice president/branch/campus dean concerned will take action to provide for the safety and welfare of the students and faculty.
C. If weather or other situations necessitate a cancellation of classes when students are at home after a school day, during a weekend or during holidays, students and instructors should first check the college Web site and the EagleOne Alert page. If Internet access is not available, students and employees may also check television and radio announcements in the early evening (between the hours of 7:00 and 9:00 p.m.) and in the early morning (between the hours of 5:00 and 7:00 a.m.) to get correct information. Attention could also be given to the 1-800 HINDS CC phone system.
When the following conditions exist, students and faculty should look or listen for announcements concerning the operation of the various campuses or centers:
- When streets, roads and highways are covered with ice and snow and otherwise dangerous to travel.
- When rapidly changing temperature produces sub-freezing weather that causes failure in water and heating systems.
- When there are natural disasters such as floods, tornadoes, and explosions.
Upon making a decision, the president will contact the vice president for physical plant and auxiliary services along with the vice president for community relations, and they will follow the plan prescribed above in Section B.
D. Students should not call administrators or instructors. They should first check the college Web site for an EagleOne Alert. They should also listen for announcements from television and radio or check the 1-800 HINDS CC phone system. Instructors are at liberty to call the vice president/branch/campus dean if there is any reason for concern or if there are any questions.
E. While efforts will be made to provide either an open or closed announcement, if no announcements are forthcoming on the college Web site and the EagleOne Alert page or from the television or radio stations between the hours of 5:00 and 7:00 a.m., it will be assumed that all campuses will be open and in operation. All students, faculty and other employees would be expected to report to classes and work. Students not reporting to class will be counted absent and employees not reporting to work will have to take a personal leave day.