Lockdown Procedures

The purpose of a lockdown is protection from a potentially dangerous situation on campus. A lockdown requires that you shelter in place in situations where there is reason to believe that leaving a safe place will expose you to greater danger.

In the event of a violent intruder on campus, armed or otherwise, follow the Lockdown procedures below and the instructions on the Violent Intruder Procedures website.


What do I do?

If the campus issues a lockdown, which is a shelter-in-place directive, please do the following:

I am a faculty member.
  1. Students will look to you for instructions so remain calm and remember your training.
  2. If you are conducting class, immediately cease all classroom activity and secure your classroom.
  3. Turn off the lights.
  4. Close and lock the door. Do this quickly to minimize sound and movement.
  5. Get out of the line of sight. This may require you and your students to get up against an interior wall perpendicular to a door window. This may be the most important thing that you do. Remember the old saying that goes “out of sight-out of mind.”
  6. Advise your students to silence their phones (including vibration mode). Silence your phone.
  7. Stay hidden until the lockdown is lifted.
  8. DO NOT open the door or allow anyone to leave. Allowing someone to leave could potentially endanger everyone in the room. 
I am a student.
  1. If you are in class, follow instructions provided to you by your instructor.
  2. If you are not in class, seek shelter immediately and remain hidden until you receive word that the lockdown has lifted.
  3. Silence your phone (including vibration mode).
  4. If you are behind a secure door, DO NOT open the door or allow others to leave. Allowing someone to leave could potentially endanger everyone in the room.
I am a staff member.
  1. Immediately cease all activity.
  2. Turn off lights.
  3. Close and lock all doors where you are. Do this quickly to minimize sound and movement.
  4. If you are in a space that cannot be secured, find a lockable room nearby and stay there until law enforcement officers or College officials direct you to move.
  5. Get out of the line of sight. This may require you to get up against an interior wall perpendicular to a door window. This may be the most important thing that you do. Remember the old saying that goes “out of sight-out of mind.” 
  6. Silence your phone (including vibration mode).
  7. Stay hidden until the lockdown is lifted.
  8. DO NOT open the door or allow others to leave. Allowing someone to leave could potentially endanger everyone in the room.
I am off campus (employee/student/family member).
  1. Do not come to campus during a lockdown.
  2. Avoid the vicinity of campus so as to not interfere with law enforcement and first responders.
I hear someone outside the room.

Remain silent. Allow law enforcement to enter with a key and do not open the door for anyone.

I have a carry permit. Should I get involved?

No. Stay locked down. Law enforcement will not recognize you as friendly if you display a weapon. Your weapon should only be used in defense of life. If you are prepared to use your weapon, call 911 and inform them of your location and that you have a carry permit and a weapon.

I am concerned that law enforcement does not know where we are. What do I do?

Call 911. By calling, you are calling the very people who are linked directly to the law enforcement personnel on campus. The 911 dispatcher can relay your location to law enforcement very quickly.

I have a medical emergency during lockdown.

If you or someone in your lockdown area is experiencing an emergency, including a medical emergency, call 911.

The Lockdown has lifted, what next?

Depending on the nature of the event, you may be:

  • escorted to another location by law enforcement personnel
  • directed to another location by a ChattState Alert
  • free to leave

 

If you are escorted to another location...

Please follow the instructions provided to you by law enforcement personnel.

 

If you are directed to another location by ChattState Alert...

Please make your way to the designated location. DO NOT attempt to drive off campus unless specifically instructed to do so. It is important that you go to the designated location so that officials can verify that you are safe and help you to reconnect with your family and friends. You may be asked to board public transportation and leave the campus to go to a reunification site. Do not ask family or friends to attempt to drive onto campus to get you as they will be denied access. Your ChattState Alert notification should inform you of the location of the off-campus reunification site.

 

If you are free to leave...

remember that once a lockdown has lifted, everyone will be in a rush to leave. Traffic congestion will be a problem if everyone attempts to leave at once. Law enforcement personnel may not be staffed to assist with directives, so please consider staggering your departure. If law enforcement or security officers are present, please follow their directives regarding traffic procedures. Specific procedures for exiting the campus may be provided. Otherwise, follow the general dismissal guidelines below when leaving.

 

General Dismissal Guidelines, when free to leave:

  1. Staggered Dismissal to reduce congestion.
    1. Students Dismissed First: allow students to exit first
    2. Employees Dismissed Next: after students have cleared
  2. Use Nearest Exits. To minimize crowding, please use the exit closest to your parking lot, if possible.
    1. Left Turn Guidance: If you need to turn left onto Amnicola Highway when exiting campus, it is recommended to use the Main traffic light.
    2. Campus Map: Refer to the campus map to determine which exit is closest to you of the three options: Main, River, or West.