Office of the Dean of Student Life

The Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) is coordinated by the Office of the Dean of Student Life to promote the development of a healthy campus community at OSU. CIRT works closely with the Sexual Assault Response Network (SARN) and the Bias Response Team (BRT) ensuring a comprehensive response to campus situations and events.

CRITICAL INCIDENT RESPONSE TEAM

Mission of the Critical Response Team:

The purpose of the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) is to assess and coordinate the response to significant campus situations and events, which require intervention in order to assist the community and its members to return to a more homeostatic state of functioning. These events may include: student death or significant trauma, problematic student situations involving medical or psychological concerns, and campus emergency situations that directly affect the well-being of students. Issues of inappropriate student conduct are referred to the Office of Student Conduct. CIRT reports to the Vice Provost for Student Affairs.

CIRT works collaboratively with the Sexual Assault Response and Prevention Alliance (SARPA) and the Bias Response Team (BRT).

Critical Incident Response Leadership Team Members:

• Counseling and Psychological Services
• Dean of Student Life
• Disability Access Services
• Oregon State Police
• Public Safety
• Student Health Services
• Student Conduct & Community Standards

A larger group of response personnel collaborates with CIRT. They include representatives from the following departments and agencies:

Method of Operation:

CIRT will meet regularly to foster good working relationships, to share information, to engage in training, and to debrief events/situations. Each team member is also responsible for the development and maintenance of liaison relationships with the offices and agencies assigned to them.

A call list and protocols for dealing with particular types of incidences is maintained by the Office of the Dean of Student Life and communicated to the larger community by members of CIRT.

Types of Incidents:

• Student death or significant trauma
• Problematic student situations involving medical or psychological concerns
• Campus emergency situations that directly affect the well-being of students

GENERAL PROCEDURES

If a person is involved with a student emergency situation, that person should contact the Department of Public Safety (DPS) at 737-7000 (emergency only). DPS will notify CIRT.

If a member of CIRT learns of a student emergency, that person notifies members of CIRT. CIRT members also notify Public Safety and Oregon State Patrol and follow established CIRT protocol.

If a member of CIRT wants to notify the CIRT members regarding a person or situation of interest, that person notifies members of CIRT. CIRT members also notify Public Safety and Oregon State Patrol and follow established CIRT protocol

If a member of the OSU community learns of a student incident (non emergency), that person should notify the Dean of Student Life or any CIRT member. CIRT members will notify Public Safety and Oregon State.

When an incident occurs, The Department of Public Safety and CIRT follow these basic procedures:

• Assess the situation in order to understand and be able to communicate the nature of and extent of the emergency.
• Notify other members of CIRT. If the student is a member of an organization (ROTC, Athletics) that has additional protocol procedures, CIRT and that organization will collaborate on procedures.
• Identify those who may be affected and need support, including friends, roommates, spouse, family, faculty, etc.
• Notify appropriate offices according to protocols.
• Assure that appropriate services are provided (direct and indirect)
• Follow-up to evaluate what services have taken place and the impact of those services in allowing closure to the emergency
• Initiate further actions if needed.
• Provides follow up and outreach as needed.
• Conduct a post-emergency review with key participants of the emergency team to assess the situation and the adequacy of current procedures. Be cognizant of possible post-emergency types of academic and personal support that might be needed. Issues of confidentiality should be identified.

CONFIDENTIALITY

The members of CIRT, as administrative agents in an educational institution, adhere to the laws and standards governing the disclosure of information to third party both within and external to the University. Such information is only disclosed on an administrative need to know basis and only according to the relevant statutes that govern such disclosure.

The Student Health Services and the Counseling and Psychological Services are governed by additional laws and ethical codes regarding the disclosure of information (medical and psychological records) to third parties of clients or patients under their care.

USE OF EMAIL

Email will be used by CIRT to communicate information and actions taken in situations that are being responded to and dealt with by CIRT. Efforts are made to protect the identity of students involved by using discretion in the use of personally identifying information, especially on updates and follow-up messages. It is acknowledged that e-mail is not considered a secure or confidential means of communication but will be utilized by CIRT for timely notification.

In relevant correspondence CIRT team members use the following statement on all e-mails:

"This email contains confidential student information. Further disclosure may be a violation of FERPA. Do not forward or copy the message."

For additional information please contact the Office of the Dean of Student Life at 737-8748

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

OSU Emergency Procedures information

www.ulifeline.com

View CIRT Manual (requires password)

NASPA Presentation-OSU Healthy Campus

Critical Incident Management Teams-Presentation at City University, Hong Kong