When a crime or other incident occurs that poses a threat to the campus community, Rhodes issues three types of Critical Communications:
- Emergency Notifications
- Timely Warnings
- Campus Safety Alerts
Emergency Notification. A notification required by the Clery Act that is issued immediately upon confirmation of a significant and immediate emergency or dangerous situation occurring on or near campus that poses an immediate threat to the health or safety of members of the campus community. Examples include a natural disaster like a tornado, a chemical spill or other environmental disaster, or the presence of an active shooter on campus.
Most commonly, the College will use RhodesAlert, a mass notification system capable of delivering urgent message to multiple recipients, depending upon the situation and information available. (Example: Tornado warning for Rhodes College – go to the lowest interior area of the building. Avoid windows and doors). In addition to RhodesAlert, the College also uses an addressable outdoor warning system (siren/public address) for communicating during critical incidents.
Timely Warnings. An advisory required by the Clery Act that is issued about a Clery Act crime occurring within a Clery reportable location and representing a serious or continuing threat to members of the campus community. Generally, Rhodes distributes this information by email.
Campus Safety Alerts. A discretionary alert issued about an incident that does not meet the criteria of a Clery Act crime occurring in a Clery reportable location but that may constitute a threat to members of the Rhodes community.
The College may issue a Campus Safety Alert to advise the campus community about critical incidents or situations that may or may not be crime-related. Campus Safety Alerts provide information enabling individuals to make informed decisions about their health or personal safety. The Clery Act does not require Campus Safety Alerts as defined in this policy.
The College follows national best practices by communicating incidents of which it is aware that occur within a reasonable distance from the campus. Rhodes will deliver this information either by email, RhodesAlert, or a combination of both.