September 20, 2011

Dear Campus Community:

Washington State University Tri-Cities is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy environment for its faculty, staff, students, and guests.  We have emergency plans and procedures that are reviewed regularly and that can be implemented quickly in a crisis or emergency.  

Safety is not the exclusive responsibility of any one individual, department, or office.  Every member of the campus community has a personal role in campus safety. Leaders at all levels must foster an environment of safety awareness by providing necessary training and by setting an example for others to follow. Individual faculty, staff, and students should know the appropriate actions to take when an emergency arises.  A common understanding of campus safety and security procedures will help emergency personnel fulfill their responsibilities when emergencies do arise.  

The Campus Safety Plan, www.tricity.wsu.edu/safetyplan, contains comprehensive information relating to campus safety, emergency management, and community health. I encourage all faculty, staff, and students to visit this web site as well as the university emergency management web site at oem.wsu.edu/Emergencies.  In addition, faculty members should provide these links to students by mentioning them in class, including them in every course syllabus, and posting them on course web sites. Furthermore, I ask that all faculty discuss classroom emergency information with their students for each individual classroom or laboratory where they teach.  

Please become familiar with the WSU Tri-Cities ALERT site where information about emergencies and other issues affecting WSU Tri-Cities will be found. This site also provides information on the communication resources we use to provide warning and notification during emergencies.  Please bookmark it on your computers.

All students, faculty, and staff should register or update their emergency contact information for the Crisis Communication System by going to the zzusis portal at http://zzusis.wsu.edu and register their emergency contact information for the Crisis Communication System (CCS).  Enter your network ID and password and you will be taken to the zzusis portal page.  Look for the Tri-Cities Emergency Information box on the left side of the page and click on Update Now to be taken to the registration page where you can enter your cell, landline, and email contact information as well as arrange for emergency text messages to be sent to your cell phone..

We are fully committed to keeping our community informed of public safety issues and emergency procedures as well as providing protection, education and other services that enhance our safety and well-being.  I urge you to stay informed about the services available on campus and to remain vigilant and aware of your surroundings.  If you need help in evaluating your area in terms of safety and emergency management, or you have recommendations on how we can improve campus safety and security, please contact Lori Selby, Vice Chancellor for Finance & Administration at lselby@tricity.wsu.edu 372-7261.

While we cannot predict the extent of health related challenges during the coming academic year, it is prudent to add this item to our back-to-school planning.  I ask all faculty to review and follow Academic Regulation 73 (Absences) which can be found at www.registrar.wsu.edu/Registrar/Apps/AcadRegs.ASPX. It specifically states “as long as absences are not excessive, it is recommended that the instructor provide and document reasonable accommodation.”  It also specifies that “written excuses from health-care personnel should not be required.”  Medical professionals need to focus critical resources on responding to any increased demand for the treatment of illness. Requiring verification of illness places an unnecessary burden on our health care providers and diverts important resources from patient care.  

I encourage everyone to take the proper steps to stay safe and healthy. Doing so will make a major contribution to a productive, successful, and rewarding academic year for each and every one of us.  

Vicky L. Carwein
Chancellor


Vicky L. Carwein
Chancellor, WSU Tri-Cities
509-372-7258
chancellor@tricity.wsu.edu