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Information regarding the closing, early delayed opening or early dismissal of either or both the Philadelphia and Gettysburg ULS campuses due to inclement weather will be posted as an “alert banner” at the top of the ULS homepage, on the official ULS Facebook page, and communicated via email and text alert. We encourage all students, faculty and staff to sign up for text alerts. You will need your ULS account to log in.
Every effort will be made to announce delayed openings or campus closures prior to 8AM that day. If that is not possible, staff who are unsure if they should report to work should check with their supervisors, and instructors with the dean. Early closure will be announced as soon as a decision is made.
For instructors and staff: If a campus is closed, you should not come to campus, with the exception of emergency personnel. Staff are expected to work remotely for the day to the extent possible, in consultation with their supervisors. Instructors with scheduled in-person class meetings should plan to hold class online. Instructors should email ithelp@uls.edu for any necessary assistance.
For students: In the case of campus closure, delayed opening or early dismissal, there will be no in-person class during the timeframe the campus is closed. You should generally expect that in-person or scheduled hybrid class meetings will take place entirely online. Check CANVAS or with your instructors for their inclement weather class plans.
There will be no in-person worship on a day either or both campuses are closed. Since food pantries are accessible to students regardless of weather, both will remain open. On days campus is closed due to weather, mail will not be sorted.
Note: This is not an exhaustive list of emergencies. Specific unforeseen events may require different approaches. This is intended to be a guide and should be utilized as the circumstances require, including specific instructions from law enforcement, campus security or other similar persons should be followed in lieu of this guidance.
MEDICAL EMERGENCY
Medical emergencies can involve illness or injury. They could be minor or life threatening. Should you experience or encounter an individual on campus with a medical emergency, call 911. Only administer first aid if you are trained to do so.
FACILITIES EMERGENCY
In the case of a fire, flood or suspicious odor, evacuate the premises to safety and call 911.
SHELTER DURING SEVERE WEATHER
To receive severe weather alerts (outside those sent by ULS that are specific to either/both campuses), we suggest downloading a weather alert app or go to the this state website to signup to JoinAlertPA and receive emergency notifications through CodeRED.
In the case of severe weather, such as a tornado warning, you should remain inside and take shelter away from windows until you receive a “clear” notice from a weather alert app or the CodeRED notification system. If you are outside, take shelter inside, away from windows.
CAMPUS SAFETY ALERT
In an effort to provide timely notice in the event of a criminal situation that may pose a serious or continuing threat to members of the campus communities, a Campus Safety Alert (timely warning notice) that withholds the names of victims as confidential and that will aid in the prevention of similar crimes, is sent primarily by email to all students and employees on campus as soon as pertinent information is available. Alerts will also be sent through the ULS text alert system.
Campus Safety Alerts are sent to the ULS community as notification about specific Clery Act crimes (as described below) that have been reported to Campus Safety and that have occurred on campus or on non-campus property or public property within the geographical area as outlined in the Act, and where it is determined that the incident may pose a serious or continuing threat to members of the ULS community.
Crimes that occur outside Clery geography, as defined by the Act, or other non-Clery specific crimes, will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Updates to the campus community, when deemed necessary, about any particular case resulting in a Campus Safety Alert, may be distributed as described above or posted on uls.edu.
Campus Safety Alerts may be distributed for any of the following Clery Act crime categories/classifications: murder and non-negligent manslaughter, sex offenses, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, arson, hate crimes, motor vehicle theft, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or arrests and referrals for liquor law, weapons law, and drug law violations. Alerts are considered on a case-by-case basis and depend upon a number of factors, including the nature of the crime, the timeliness of the report, and the continuing or ongoing danger to the campus community—such as whether the perpetrator was apprehended, and the possible risk of compromising law enforcement efforts. For example, if a physical assault occurs between two students who have a disagreement, there may be no continuing threat to the community.
Typically, alerts are not issued for any incidents reported that are older than ten (10) days from the date of occurrence, as such a delay in reporting has not afforded the seminary an opportunity to react or respond in a timely manner.
Most emergencies require one of three primary emergency procedures: evacuation, lockdown and shelter in place. It is very important to know what the action steps are for each of these procedures so that you will be ready when the time comes.
ACTIVE THREATS: RUN/HIDE/FIGHT
Although encountering an active threat on campus remains remote, we encourage members of the campus community to review these guidelines in the event of an emergency. An active threat refers to any incident which creates an immediate threat or presents an imminent danger to the campus community such as a shooter or a hostage situation. Taking the time now to review these guidelines increases your ability to respond in the event of an emergency.
RUN/ESCAPE IF A SAFE PATH IS AVAILABLE
If you can evacuate the building:
1. Try to stay calm and determine the location of the threat.
2. Call 911 as soon as possible, although escaping is your priority.
3. If a safe exit does exist, take it as quickly as possible
4. Continue running until you are well cleared from the location of the threat. Find a safe location and call 911 to tell police of your location.
5. If the only exit is through a window, consider the consequences of the fall: How high are you from the ground? Can you land in shrubs or grass to decrease the potential for serious injury? Can you make an improvised rope out of clothing, belts or other items?
HIDE IF YOU CAN'T GET OUT SAFELY
If you cannot evacuate the building:
1.Try to stay calm and determine the location of the threat.
2. Take shelter in the nearest office, classroom, closet or other area which can be secured. Barricade the door using desks, bookshelves, or other heavy objects. If the door opens outward, attach one end of a belt or similar item to the door handle and the other end to a heavy object.
3. If the door has a window, cover it.
4. Look for other possible escape routes, such as windows or doors.
5. Call 911 and tell them what is happening. Speak quietly and then set your cell phone to vibrate or silent.
6. Stay low to the ground and remain as quiet as possible.
7. Once in a secure location, do not open the door for anyone. Do not approach police officers as they attempt to locate and neutralize the threat. The police officers will return to assist you once the threat has been neutralized.
8. When law enforcement arrives, obey all commands. You may be asked to keep your hands in the air, you may even be handcuffed until the police assess the situation. These steps are taken for safety reasons.
FIGHT IF AN ACTIVE THREAT IS IN YOUR PRESENCE
If you are in a crowded room and the threat is shooting, “play dead” or quietly crawl to safety. If you are with a group, as an action of last resort, you might choose to take the offensive:
1. If the shooter is entering the room, position yourself in a location that allows for an element of surprise.
2. Throw anything available at the threat. Aim for the face to distract the individual.
3. Attack as a group, swarming around the threat.
4. Grab the threat’s arms, legs or head and take him/her to the ground. Use body weight to secure the individual.
5. “Fight dirty” – kick, bite, gouge eyes.
6. Have somebody in the group call 911.
If you have incapacitated the threat:
1. Make sure the suspect is secured (body weight, belts, etc.)
2. Move any weapons away from the threat.
3. Do not hold a weapon.
4. Call 911 and advise law enforcement that the threat/shooter is down.5.
5. Provide your location and stay on the line if possible. When law enforcement arrives, obey all commands for safety reasons.
BOMB THREAT
Bomb threats can be received by phone, posted on social media or delivered through other methods of communication. Such threats should be taken seriously. Should you receive such a threat directly, try to get as much information from the caller and then call 911. Call 911 should you learn about a bomb threat on social media. Follow the instructions given by emergency personnel.
SUSPICIOUS OBJECT
A suspicious object can be any container, such as a box, backpack or briefcase that is left unattended and appears to be out of place.
• Do not touch or disturb the object or package.
• Evacuate the area immediately.
• Call 911 and report to location and identity of the object or package.
SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR
• Do not physically confront the person exhibiting the behavior
• Do not block a person’s access to an exit
• Call 911
• Run, hide or fight if necessary.
