{"675850":{"#nid":"675850","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Police Department Achieves 4th CALEA Accreditation","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn July, the Georgia Tech Police Department (GTPD) received its fourth accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). This prestigious accreditation signifies GTPD\u0027s commitment to meeting the highest professional standards in public safety.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EThe Significance of CALEA Accreditation\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECALEA accreditation allows public safety agencies to voluntarily meet a comprehensive set of professional standards, which include:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EComprehensive and Uniform Written Directives: Clearly defining authority, performance, and responsibilities to ensure that all policies and procedures are consistently followed.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EReports and Analyses: Enabling fact-based and informed management decisions.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EPreparedness for Critical Incidents: Being well-prepared to address natural or human-made critical incidents effectively.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECommunity Relationship-Building and Maintenance: Fostering strong relationships with the community to enhance public trust and cooperation.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIndependent Review by Subject Matter Experts: Ensuring that practices and procedures are reviewed by external experts to maintain high standards.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EContinuous Pursuit of Excellence: Conducting annual reviews and other assessment measures to maintain and improve performance.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EA Legacy of Excellence\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2022, GTPD\u2019s Emergency Communications Center made history by receiving CALEA accreditation. It became the first university communications center\/dispatch in the state of Georgia to achieve national accreditation. This milestone highlighted GTPD\u0027s leadership in public safety and its dedication to setting new standards of excellence.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EMoving Forward\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGTPD remains committed to continuous improvement and excellence in public safety. The fourth CALEA accreditation is a testament to the department\u0027s unwavering dedication to serving and protecting the Georgia Tech community.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor more information about GTPD and its initiatives, please visit police.gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"The prestigious accreditation signifies GTPD\u0027s commitment to meeting the highest professional standards in public safety."}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe prestigious accreditation signifies GTPD\u0027s commitment to meeting the highest professional standards in public safety.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The prestigious accreditation signifies GTPD\u0027s commitment to meeting the highest professional standards in public safety."}],"uid":"36418","created_gmt":"2024-08-08 15:34:12","changed_gmt":"2024-08-08 17:17:00","author":"sgagliano3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-08-08T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-08-08T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674537":{"id":"674537","type":"image","title":"GTPD CALEA Accreditation ","body":null,"created":"1723131461","gmt_created":"2024-08-08 15:37:41","changed":"1723131461","gmt_changed":"2024-08-08 15:37:41","alt":"GTPD CALEA Accreditation ","file":{"fid":"258080","name":"Unknown-3.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/08\/Unknown-3.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/08\/08\/Unknown-3.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2869202,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/08\/08\/Unknown-3.jpeg?itok=jmGswtmL"}}},"media_ids":["674537"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"64319","name":"Administration and Finance"},{"id":"1303","name":"GT Police Department"}],"categories":[{"id":"132","name":"Institute Leadership"}],"keywords":[{"id":"14493","name":"Georgia Tech Police"},{"id":"3390","name":"Georgia Tech Police Department"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:gena.snead@police.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EGena Snead\u003C\/a\u003E - Georgia Tech Police Department\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["gena.snead@police.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"674963":{"#nid":"674963","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Police Department Energizes Patrol Fleet With Electric SUVs","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Tech Police Department (GTPD) is electrifying its patrol division with three all-electric Ford\u202fMustang Mach-E\u202fGT SUVs, leading the national eco-shift among law enforcement.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe e-SUVs join an already-growing electric fleet, with the department currently using various electric alternatives.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cHaving electric cars join our force is great. We already have other alternatives we utilize as vehicles to include electric golf carts, trikes, and electric bikes,\u201d said GTPD Lt. Jessica Howard, adding that this development is one that further aligns with the Institute\u2019s vision of sustainability.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp lang=\u0022EN-US\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sites.gatech.edu\/electrifygt\/about-us\/\u0022\u003EElectrify GT\u003C\/a\u003E, a student group helping the Institute reach its carbon reduction goals as part of Tech\u2019s sustainability vision, researched and identified the best cost-effective electric vehicle options.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe supported them in that endeavor with research and cost analysis, carbon accounting for what it would look like to implement electric vehicles into the patrol car fleet,\u201d said Rohan Datta, Electrify GT president. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to Electrify GT\u2019s report, the Ford Mustang Mach-E\u202fGT vehicles, which offer about 250 miles on a full charge, supporting the patrolling needs for the Institute\u2019s 3-mile radius \u2014 while reducing carbon emissions, provide up to $4,000 in fuel savings per vehicle. Apart from reducing fuel costs, they also cut maintenance costs in half \u2014 key for patrol cars, which typically sit idle for extended periods. Noise pollution reduction on campus is another benefit.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Institute remains committed to reaching net-zero emissions by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/news\/2024\/04\/05\/climate-action-plan-provides-road-map-net-zero-emissions\u0022\u003E2050\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"The GTPD is among the first to adopt eco-friendly vehicles.  "}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Georgia Tech Police Department (GTPD) is electrifying its patrol division with three all-electric Ford\u202fMustang Mach-E\u202fGT SUVs, leading the national eco-shift among law enforcement.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Georgia Tech Police Department (GTPD) is electrifying its patrol division with three all-electric Ford\u202fMustang Mach-E\u202fGT SUVs, leading the national eco-shift among law enforcement."}],"uid":"36573","created_gmt":"2024-06-02 13:51:40","changed_gmt":"2024-06-04 14:35:15","author":"aprendiville3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-06-03T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-06-03T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"674119":{"id":"674119","type":"video","title":"Georgia Tech Police Department Energizes Patrol Fleet With Electric SUVs","body":null,"created":"1717421037","gmt_created":"2024-06-03 13:23:57","changed":"1717421051","gmt_changed":"2024-06-03 13:24:11","video":{"youtube_id":"wCJfxKDs6J8","video_url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=wCJfxKDs6J8"}},"674120":{"id":"674120","type":"image","title":"IMG_0042.jpg","body":null,"created":"1717421100","gmt_created":"2024-06-03 13:25:00","changed":"1717421100","gmt_changed":"2024-06-03 13:25:00","alt":"Electrify GT, a student group helping the Institute reach its carbon reduction goals as part of Tech\u2019s sustainability vision, researched and identified the best cost-effective electric vehicle options.  ","file":{"fid":"257594","name":"IMG_0042.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/06\/03\/IMG_0042.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/06\/03\/IMG_0042.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":7044980,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/06\/03\/IMG_0042.jpg?itok=NPw82wtP"}}},"media_ids":["674119","674120"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1303","name":"GT Police Department"},{"id":"64319","name":"Administration and Finance"}],"categories":[{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[{"id":"122561","name":"electric cars"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:aprendiville3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EAngela Barajas Prendiville\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EDirector, Media Relations\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"642954":{"#nid":"642954","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Art Installation at GTPD","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhen Christopher Paul Dean was commissioned by the Georgia Tech Arts Council to provide artwork for the new GTPD headquarters, he knew exactly what to do.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EHis installation, \u0026ldquo;OSHA\/ANSI No. 15: Safety Tape on Panel\u0026rdquo; (2020) is a celebration of safety through the unexpectedly colorful world of durable barricade and caution tape.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026ldquo;This heavy-duty safety tape is commonly utilized as a device to demarcate zones, create order, assist in navigation, alert us to potential hazards and ultimately maintain safety,\u0026rdquo; explains Mr. Dean. \u0026ldquo;But now, through my artistic intervention and in the context of The Georgia Tech Police Campus Safety building, there is a duality of existence in which the bold colors and diagonal pattern not only function as a sign of safety but also as a work of Art.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWe encourage you to stop by the GTPD building to view the diverse panels, which create a dazzling display on the lower lobby walls. Other works by Mr. Dean in this series are in numerous private and corporate collections, as well as the Permanent Collection of the Savannah College of Art and Design.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EArtist Christopher Dean installation available for viewing at GTPD\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"New public art displayed in GTPD lobby"}],"uid":"34585","created_gmt":"2021-01-14 21:14:01","changed_gmt":"2021-01-21 21:32:32","author":"ekuligowski3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2021-01-23T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2021-01-23T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"642914":{"id":"642914","type":"image","title":"Art at GTPD","body":null,"created":"1610574498","gmt_created":"2021-01-13 21:48:18","changed":"1610574498","gmt_changed":"2021-01-13 21:48:18","alt":"","file":{"fid":"244126","name":"Art at GTPD.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/Art%20at%20GTPD.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/Art%20at%20GTPD.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":54072,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/Art%20at%20GTPD.jpg?itok=0ssHi3Rt"}}},"media_ids":["642914"],"groups":[],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"42891","name":"Georgia Tech Arts"}],"keywords":[{"id":"2543","name":"GTPD"},{"id":"8655","name":"public art"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003Eelaine.kuligowski@police.gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["elaine.kuligowski@police.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"648988":{"#nid":"648988","#data":{"type":"event","title":"Open House for civilian Public Safety Officers","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAt Georgia Tech, civilians have an important role in campus safety and security. Learn about becoming a Public Safety Officer and apply for a position at our July Open House! \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/forms.office.com\/Pages\/ResponsePage.aspx?id=u5ghSHuuJUuLem1_MvqggzPIdouR6wVBmeqKaXXcZjpUNUQ4UUpLRFBLVUNEVjhJVUZZSjJOVkRCVC4u\u0022\u003ETo register, click here!\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAt Georgia Tech, civilians have an important role in campus safety and security. Learn about becoming a Public Safety Officer and apply for a position at our July Open House! \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/forms.office.com\/Pages\/ResponsePage.aspx?id=u5ghSHuuJUuLem1_MvqggzPIdouR6wVBmeqKaXXcZjpUNUQ4UUpLRFBLVUNEVjhJVUZZSjJOVkRCVC4u\u0022\u003ETo register, click here!\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"GTPD is hosting an Open House for civilian safety positions!"}],"uid":"34585","created_gmt":"2021-07-22 14:53:59","changed_gmt":"2021-07-22 14:54:36","author":"ekuligowski3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","field_event_time":{"event_time_start":"2021-07-28T11:00:00-04:00","event_time_end":"2021-07-28T15:00:00-04:00","event_time_end_last":"2021-07-28T15:00:00-04:00","gmt_time_start":"2021-07-28 15:00:00","gmt_time_end":"2021-07-28 19:00:00","gmt_time_end_last":"2021-07-28 19:00:00","rrule":null,"timezone":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"2408","name":"campus safety"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[{"id":"10377","name":"Career\/Professional development"}],"invited_audience":[{"id":"78761","name":"Faculty\/Staff"},{"id":"177814","name":"Postdoc"},{"id":"78771","name":"Public"},{"id":"174045","name":"Graduate students"},{"id":"78751","name":"Undergraduate students"}],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003ESergeant Jessica Howard\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:crimeprevention@police.gatech.edu\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ecrimeprevention@police.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cdiv\u003EPhone: 404.894.2500\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"683993":{"#nid":"683993","#data":{"type":"news","title":"A Guide to Emergency Preparedness at Georgia Tech","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe first week of each semester is a time for new students, faculty, and staff to familiarize themselves with the landmark buildings, classrooms, and dining spaces on campus, but it\u2019s also an opportunity to identify the alerts, policies, and protocols issued by the Georgia Tech Office of Emergency Management (OEM).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EThe Georgia Tech Emergency Notification System (GTENS)\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/prepare.gatech.edu\/gtens\u0022\u003EGTENS\u003C\/a\u003E is a system used to share important information with the Georgia Tech community immediately. All students, faculty, and staff are automatically enrolled in email alerts, but are also encouraged to opt in to text and phone call alerts via \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/passport.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Epassport.gatech.edu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. GTENS alerts come in two forms:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGTENS Emergency! \u003C\/strong\u003E\u2013 This alert indicates an imminent threat to campus, i.e., natural disasters or an active shooter, requiring immediate action.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThese are the most prominent alerts we send out,\u201d OEM Director William Smith said. An initial alert will instruct community members to shelter in place or evacuate, if necessary, but communication does not end at that point. During an emergency, OEM will continuously send out updated information as it becomes available. When the situation is resolved, OEM will issue a \u201cGTENS All Clear\u201d notification.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGTENS Inform\u003C\/strong\u003E \u2013 These alerts do not require immediate action but are meant to inform the community that the Georgia Tech Police Department (GTPD) and OEM are monitoring a situation on or near campus. Inform messages were developed in 2023 to issue a unified and reassuring message that a situation is being actively monitored by authorities.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShould the situation escalate to become a threat to campus, a GTENS Emergency! notification will be sent out.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EClery Act Safety Alert \u2013\u003C\/strong\u003E Issued by GTPD, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/police.gatech.edu\/timely-warnings-clery-act-safety-alerts\u0022\u003Ethis alert\u003C\/a\u003E notifies the campus community of a crime that has taken place on or around campus. Alerts are typically issued if the perpetrator has not been apprehended. While not indicating an immediate threat to the entire campus, the alerts allow the community to stay informed and protect themselves from similar incidents, i.e., robberies or assaults.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGuardians of students who attend Georgia Tech can opt in to GTENS by texting GTPARENT to 67283.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EA Plan in Place\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOf the phases of emergency management \u2014 preparedness, planning, response, and recovery \u2014 the OEM team spends most of its time on preparedness and planning to ensure campus partners are ready to respond at a moment\u2019s notice, armed with the necessary resources. OEM works directly with building managers to develop emergency response plans, known as redbooks, for each of the 236 buildings on campus.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese plans provide specific details for each building, such as lab spaces that may require additional response efforts to contain unique biohazards. All plans offer a detailed map of the building to assist with shelter, evacuation, and first responder access. Building managers and occupants can request a meeting with OEM to review policies and procedures and ask questions in a session titled Emergency Preparedness 101.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo view the redbook for any building on campus, employees can use their Georgia Tech login and search the database \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/redbook.gatech.edu\/app\/home\u0022\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E. Students interested in reading the plan can contact the building manager for assistance.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EIt\u2019s All in the App\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlong with the building-specific plans, OEM offers general guidance and reporting procedures for emergency scenarios on campus.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/prepare.gatech.edu\/active-shooter\u0022\u003EActive Shooter\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/prepare.gatech.edu\/fire\u0022\u003EFire\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/prepare.gatech.edu\/hazmat\u0022\u003EHazardous Materials\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/prepare.gatech.edu\/medical-emergency\u0022\u003EMedical Emergency\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/prepare.gatech.edu\/suspicious-package\u0022\u003ESuspicious Package\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/prepare.gatech.edu\/weather-hazards\u0022\u003EWeather\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAll Institute emergency procedures can be found in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/prepare.gatech.edu\/livesafe-app\u0022\u003ELiveSafe App\u003C\/a\u003E, along with other resources like campus maps, health and well-being services, and various ways to connect with GTPD. The app allows community members to access emergency policies from anywhere on campus and message or call GTPD. Messages can include photos, videos, and audio, along with a written message, which can be sent anonymously.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOEM highly recommends familiarizing yourself with the campus and surrounding area so that, in case of an emergency, you can provide as much information as possible.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EModified Operations\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the case of severe weather, safety concerns, or other interruptions to campus operations, a GTENS Inform message may alert the community to a shift to modified operations and\/or digital learning.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.policylibrary.gatech.edu\/employment\/hazardous-weatheremergency-conditions-plan\u0022\u003EModified Operations\u003C\/a\u003E: The modified operations policy refers to \u201ctemporary changes to Georgia Tech teaching, learning, research, and business operations in response to a threat of an emergency, ongoing emergency, or any other interruption that requires Institute-level action. In extreme cases, modified operations can include up to the cancellation or temporary suspension of all in-person and digital instruction.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/policylibrary.gatech.edu\/academic-affairs\/digital-learning-days-modified-campus-operations\u0022\u003EDigital Learning Days\u003C\/a\u003E: For courses typically taught in person, a digital learning day is a day of instruction leveraging online delivery (either synchronous or asynchronous) due to the modification of campus operations.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe weather is often the cause of a shift in campus operations. When forecasts indicate potential impact to campus, OEM begins sending situational awareness emails to units to indicate how they may be affected and narrow the scope of the information shared by the National Weather Service. OEM communications inform the executive leadership team\u2019s decisions when shifting campus operations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EKeeping Campus Running\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EContinuity planning is another key aspect of the OEM\u2019s role. When an emergency affects campus life, such as the chilled water outage in 2024, OEM works with units to minimize disruptions. Communication is critical to managing a situation, but to be effective, it must begin before an emergency occurs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELaura Gustavson, OEM\u2019s assistant director, works with the 136 units on campus to develop continuity of operation (COOP) plans that can be enacted quickly. Certain actions must be taken in the early stages of an emergency, so the team prioritizes relationship building to cultivate a responsive and engaged network on campus.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe relationship building that happened before the outage was critical during that specific incident because when those phone calls started happening, we were not introducing ourselves,\u201d Gustavson said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOEM arranges COOP training sessions for individual units, where they work through a hypothetical scenario to test response efforts and coordination.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4\u003EThe Team Behind the Alerts\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESmith, Gustavson, and coordinator Gabbie Masinko make up the OEM team charged with preparing the Georgia Tech community to respond to and recover from all hazards. While each member of the team plays a different role, they all feel the same responsibility to keep people safe.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESmith, a Marine Corps veteran and 2001 Tech alumnus in international affairs, never knew he\u2019d work in emergency management, but he says, \u201cI knew this type of service is in my DNA.\u201d His grandfather was a meteorologist at the National Weather Service, and his father worked for Florida Power, routinely dealing with power losses after storms.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGustavson has always been fascinated by the field. A trip to her hometown EMA office sparked the curiosity that eventually led her to pursue a career in emergency management. Masinko is responsible for emergency planning and supports day-to-day activities for the Office of Emergency Management. She began at Georgia Tech after starting her career as a broadcast meteorologist in Louisiana.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe trio is constantly in communication with each other and often studies previous emergencies \u2014 at Tech and around the world \u2014 to learn what can be done better the next time, because, as Smith says, \u201cYou\u2019re always a phone call or a text away from dropping everything\u201d and putting plans into action.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"full_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Whether you\u2019re new to campus or need a refresher, this is your guide to Georgia Tech alerts and policies.\u00a0 "}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhether you\u2019re new to campus or need a refresher, this is your guide to Georgia Tech alerts and policies.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Whether you\u2019re new to campus or need a refresher, this is your guide to Georgia Tech alerts and policies.\u00a0 "}],"uid":"36418","created_gmt":"2025-08-20 16:39:38","changed_gmt":"2025-08-20 17:32:47","author":"sgagliano3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-08-20T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-08-20T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677749":{"id":"677749","type":"image","title":"Emergency Sign","body":null,"created":"1755708987","gmt_created":"2025-08-20 16:56:27","changed":"1755708987","gmt_changed":"2025-08-20 16:56:27","alt":"Emergency Call Box","file":{"fid":"261684","name":"IMG_8443.JPG","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/20\/IMG_8443.JPG","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/08\/20\/IMG_8443.JPG","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":3513521,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/08\/20\/IMG_8443.JPG?itok=b9oR1X2A"}}},"media_ids":["677749"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[{"id":"42901","name":"Community"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187397","name":"Emergency management and Communication"},{"id":"4470","name":"Office of Emergency Preparedness"},{"id":"2543","name":"GTPD"},{"id":"3390","name":"Georgia Tech Police Department"},{"id":"1219","name":"GTENS"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:steven.gagliano@gatech.edu\u0022\u003ESteven Gagliano\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013 Institute Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["steven.gagliano@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}