Atlanta — April 16, 2007

On behalf of the Board of Regents and the entire University System of Georgia community, we join with millions of Americans saddened and shocked by the violence today on the Virginia Tech campus.

Campus security is a very high priority focus on each of the University System of Georgia’s 35 campuses.

Over the past year, the University System has launched a number of System-wide projects, under the overall direction of Dr. Carlton Brown, special assistant to the chancellor, designed to ensure a consistent, effective and efficient response to key issues.

One of these projects relates to campus planning and security – Emergency Preparedness. Under the leadership of Albany State University President Everette Freeman, the University System anticipated and, where appropriate, is in the process of updating its protocols to ensure a timely response for such events. These protocols and templates are currently in development, however University System campuses have existing protocols and plans.

These protocols cover a wide range of potential issues, based upon the needs and resources available to that particular campus. The protocols cover such specific events as campus shootings, invasions, suicide, hostage taking, and major natural disasters. Further, University System approved templates are designed to assure the presence of these procedures and their viability on each campus. Campuses across the state also can depend on first responder resources available in local communities, such as bomb response units, mobile command centers and other assets and expertise, in the event of a crisis.

In addition, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency has a template used by K-12 for preparing school safety plans. This template is available for colleges and technical schools to use, as well.

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