Catastrophic Events and Continuity of Operations

Crisis and emergency management preparation is an essential function for Westminster College. Westminster College maintains and adheres to specific policies and procedures regarding crisis situations, catastrophic events, and program discontinuances in order to minimize the length of time that students’ educational activities are disrupted and, when applicable, minimize the length of time that students, faculty, and staff are displaced.

1. Continuity of Operations

Westminster College’s director of security manages the College’s crisis management plan and directs the College’s response to adverse weather, natural disasters, and other emergencies that may impact continuity of operations. Westminster College’s director of security manages the emergency operations plan and coordinates the university’s response to all-hazards incidents with internal stakeholders and external agencies (as appropriate for the situation).

Westminster College's crisis management team leverages available resources and technologies to minimize the likelihood of noticeable service interruption. Westminster College’s Information Technology Department ensures that systems are protected from vulnerabilities, adequately secured, and backed up to prevent record destruction and/or data loss.

2. Program Discontinuances

Westminster College addresses program discontinuances on a case-by-case basis due to the specific needs of each degree or program path. This allows the College to better serve the needs of individual students. In the unlikely event that Westminster College cannot deliver the instruction for which students have enrolled, the College commits to one or more of the following courses of action, depending on each individual student’s needs:

• Providing a reasonable alternative for delivering instruction and/or services for which students have paid.
• Providing a reasonable financial refund for the education students did not receive.
• Providing assistance with transferring earned credits to other institutions.

Westminster College students will be notified by the College administration and then counseled about their options by their advisors.