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Crisis Communication Plan

Malone University

Malone University Crisis Communication Plan

The purpose of this plan is to serve the University in CONTAINING / CONTROLLING / COUNTERACTING a crisis situation, NOT REACTING in one.  A crisis shall be considered an emergency situation brought about by:

a) a natural disaster (fire, severe weather conditions)    
b) a man-made disaster (violent crime)
c) controversial statements/actions of University-related persons
d) sudden death of key personnel or student(s)
e) pandemic/communicable disease
 
Emergency Personnel  – 911
Campus Emergency -- 8111

 

POLICE: Dean McKimm, Chief 330-489-3131
FIRE: James W. Scott, Jr. - Chief 330-489-3411
SHERIFF: Timothy Swanson- 330-430-3800
 
 
Public Officials:
 
Mayor
William J. Healy     
Office: 330-489-3291
Fax: 330-489-3282
City Council President     
Allen Schulman     
Office: 330-489-3223 
(H):330-492-5409
Safety Director:
Tom Nesbitt 
 Office: 330-489-3087
Canton City :

330-489-3231
Health Commissioner 
Bob Pattison 
330-489-3231
Health Education   
Kathy Paris  
 330-493-9904 
Stark County:  
 
 
Health Commissioner 
William Franks
 330-493-9904  
Cty Commissioners:   
 Tom Bosley
330-4717371 
 
Tom Harmon
 
 
Jane Vignos
 
State Representatives:   
Scott W. Oelslager 
614-466-8030
 

 
Fax: 330-451-7000
State Senator:
 J. Kirk Schuring                     
614-466-0626 
Governor:
Ted Strickland   
  614-466-3555
U.S. Representative: 
 Ralph Regula 
Canton Office:
800-826-9015
 D.C. Office:
202-225-3876

 
U.S. Senators:  
 Sherrod Brown    
202-224-2315
 
George Voinovich 
 202-224-3353
Web Page:
 
 

Public Officials:

Mayor     
William J. Healy     
Office: 330-489-3291
Fax: 330-489-3282
Cit y Council President     
Allen Schulman     
Office: 330-489-3223 
(H):330-492-5409
Safety Director:
Tom Nesbitt 
 Office: 330-489-3087
Canton City :

330-489-3231
Health Commissioner 
Bob Pattison 
330-489-3231
Health Education   
Kathy Paris  
 330-493-9904 
Stark County:  
 
 
Health Commissioner 
William Franks
 330-493-9904  
Cty Commissioners:   
 Tom Bosley
330-4717371 
 
Tom Harmon
 
 
Jane Vignos
 
State Representatives:   
Scott W. Oelslager 
614-466-8030
 
 
 
Fax: 330-451-7000
State Senator:
 J. Kirk Schuring                     
614-466-0626 
Governor:
Ted Strickland   
  614-466-3555
U.S. Representative: 
 Ralph Regula 
Canton Office:
800-826-9015
 D.C. Office:
202-225-3876
 
 
U.S. Senators:  
 Sherrod Brown    
202-224-2315
 
George Voinovich 
 202-224-3353

Web Page:

a) report prepared statements to the media,
b) express concern for those involved,
 
c) answer questions openly and honestly,  (Refer to written statements.)
 
  
d) report the complete story as quickly as prudent, once facts have been confirmed,  (Reporting an incomplete story only encourages the media to seek out sources other than the spokesperson and look for new angles to the story. Once a  story has been told, it is no longer news.  Our goal is for the crisis to become "yesterday's news" as soon as possible.), and
  
e) focus on what actions are being taken to correct the situation.
 
 

2. Assess the situation.   Designate an information gathering (and verifying) team to report new facts to members of crisis team as they become available.   (This team should be employees working most closely with the situation.)   Report facts to University Relations and Information Technologies for the development of a chronological fact sheet to be distributed to media and posted on website.   
 3. Appoint designated spokesperson and prepare written statements.   Make NO public announcements before facts are verified and family members have been notified.

4. Record and make arrangements to continuously update information on designated phone line: 1-330-471-8239.   Assign web page for updated assessments: malone.edu/news

 5. Notify ALL receptionists, operators, secretaries, maintenance personnel, others to direct all inquiries to designated spokesperson.   Have all inquiries logged. 6. Communication Center :  In the event of a large-scale crisis, it may become necessary to hold regular news conferences.   The Stewart Room of the Randall Campus Center , or Conference Center of the Brehme Centennial Center may serve as the designated location for news conferences and dissemination of information as it becomes available.   The director of Physical Plant will immediately equip the Communications Center with necessary sound equipment, tables, chairs, podium.  The director of University Relations will assemble press kits with fact sheets addressing the crisis, as well as coordinate and officiate at news conferences. The spokesperson, if someone other than the communications officer, will be available to the media throughout scheduled news conferences.  Provide the following to media at the Communication Center .

            

* Phones:  
Student Services

Johnson Center Offices
* Computers: 
Information Technologies
 
Computer Lab, Cattell Library
 
Johnson Center Offices
* Fax: 
Randall Campus Center
 
Cattell Library
 
Johnson Center
* Food:    
Provided by AVI 
 Alternate sites: Performing Arts Hall, Founders Hall; Brehme Centennial Center .

In the event it becomes necessary to use an alternate site, the computers, phones and faxes of these sites will be made available to the media and food brought in by AVI.       

In case of power outage, use cell phones to communicate.
Rumor control: Information updates on designated phone line: 330-471-8239 and website.  Chronological fact sheets available to the  media.  All inquiries logged and forwarded to spokesperson.  Internal dissemination of information: memo (or email) from crisis team member or spokesperson including the official statement and fact sheet information.

7. The communications officer (as media liaison) and designated spokesperson if other than the communications officer are to remain on-call 24 hours per day as long as the media is reporting the story.

8. Reconvene crisis team twice daily during crisis to update facts.

9. Monitor and save all print and broadcast coverage. If possible, have video department simultaneously record interviews.  (Edited-for-broadcast versions may be incomplete at best and misleading at worst.) If necessary, consider purchasing ad space and air time to tell our side of story.
10. Other considerations: Compile a list of ALL Malone publics affected by the crisis: board of trustees, donors, alumni, students, parents, etc.  The president should correspond directly with these publics in the form of personal letter(s) relating the facts, communicating concern, and describing what is being done to correct the situation.  In addition, space will be devoted in regularly scheduled University publications and on the University website, addressing the crisis and detailing positive actions taken.

            Additional actions to consider, depending on the crisis, may include:

            * free phone calls home for students

            * special phone lines set up to accommodate incoming calls

            * extension of academic, fee, and other deadlines

            * 24-hour escort service

            * meetings with student organizations

            * grief counseling

            * 24-hour on-site counseling in student residences

            * free housing on campus throughout the crisis

            * cancellation of social events or parties

            * greatly increased security

11. Reconvene crisis team to review and revise crisis plan.