Higher Education
Services
NIMS/ICS Training Resources
FERPA Guidance
The Department of Education has recently released new guidance on The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the disclosure of student information related to emergencies and disasters.
Links
Havaria Information Services Alert Map
This interactive map displays data relating to severe weather conditions, epidemic alerts, and seismic incidents, and other events around the world.
Created by the National Association of Radio-Distress Signaling and Info communications (RSOE) in Budapest, Hungary, the map draws from over 200 news sources for the information it displays.
The 81st Texas Legislature (2009) amended Chapter 37 of the Texas Education Code, Chapter 37, to include public junior college districts in requirements for emergency operations planning, as well as implementation and reporting of district safety and security audits (TEC 37.108).
By statute, the Texas School Safety Center is required to serve public junior college districts by providing information, training, and technical assistance regarding emergency preparedness and related topics (TEC 37.213).
Additionally, the Texas School Safety Center is directed to develop a model safety and security audit procedure and provide each district with guidelines showing proper audit procedures
(TEC 37.207).
The audit guide has been completed and is available for download online, click here.
Key Principles for School Security in Planning For Reductions in Force
Conducting large-scale reductions in force (RIFs), or lay-offs, is never a pleasant endeavor, particularly when those positions being eliminated are close friends and colleagues. However, during difficult economic times, school districts and institutions of higher education (IHEs) are increasingly facing the possibility of RIFs in an effort to preserve funds for education. As school districts and IHEs prepare to conduct RIFs there are some key planning considerations for school safety, security and emergency management officials to ensure that the process is conducted safely and with compassion.
As of the 81st Legislative session, it is now mandated that all individuals that provide school safety or security consulting services in the state of Texas comply and submit their information to the Registry by January 1, 2010.
This online resource is provided by the Texas School Safety Center in accordance with
Texas Education Code Section 37.2091 and House Bill 1831 Section 6.17. The Registry includes information of anyone providing services to a school district, institution of higher education, district facility, or campus in the form of advice, information, recommendations, data collection, or safety and security audit services relevant to school safety and security, regardless of whether the person is paid for those services.
Campus Attacks: Targeted Violence Affecting Institutions of Higher Education
This collaborative effort of the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Dept. of Education, and the FBI investigates the issue of violence at institutions of higher education. The findings should be useful for campus safety professionals charged with identifying, assessing and managing violence risk at college and university campuses.
Tabletop Exercise Scenarios
The tabletop exercise is a meeting to discuss a simulated emergency situation. Members of the campus emergency management team review and discuss the actions they would take in a particular emergency, testing their emergency operations plan in an informal, low-stress environment.