Executive-Level Support
Follow-up message from John Applegate
A Message From John Applegate Executive Vice President for University Regional Affairs, Planning and Policy Nearly one year ago, I wrote to the IU senior leadership asking that they actively support development of business continuity plans in schools and departments at IU Bloomington and the IU regional campuses, so that these units are prepared in advance for incidents that could threaten or halt the normal operations of the university. This broad initiative is supported by an Emergency Management and Higher Education (EMHE) grant from the U.S. Department of Education. IUPUI has nearly completed this activity, supported by a previous EMHE grant.
I am writing to thank you for your hard work and support of this essential activity. Some of you have finished your plans; others [of you] are working toward completion. As we move into the final weeks before the July 31 deadline, members of the Business Continuity Planning team will continue to follow up with departments to offer information, answer questions, and provide support as you as you develop your business continuity plans. You also may refer to http://protect.iu.edu/emergency/bcp for additional assistance.
Your efforts, along with those of your fellow staff, are making IU a better- prepared institution in the face of potential emergencies.
A Message from John Applegate
Executive Vice President for University Regional Affairs, Planning, & Policy
Dear Colleagues -
In recent years, each of us has witnessed other colleges and universities experience catastrophic events, natural and manmade, large and small. Likewise, many IU campuses have had first-hand experience with natural, technological, and human incidents ranging from floods and ice storms, to fires and pandemic influenza. IU, through an Emergency Management and Higher Education (EMHE) grant from the U.S. Department of Education, has the opportunity to engage in planning initiatives that will attempt to answer the “What if’s….” that occur in all such incidents.
Business continuity planning is an important aspect of emergency preparedness, and each department or unit on all IU campuses will be asked to develop a business continuity plan to address the challenges to conducting their department's or unit’s business during or after an emergency. (“Business” is a universal term that includes all operations, whether they are academic, research, or the business of the university.) That is, working in advance to answer questions like “If my current office areas are decimated by fire, where and how will I resume my operations?”
The USDOE grant covers the Bloomington and regional campuses; IUPUI received a previous grant, and continuity planning at IUPUI is already well underway.
In the next few weeks, members of the Business Continuity Planning (BCP) team will be contacting departments and units on your campuses or in your offices, with detailed information about what is needed and what the activity entails. If you are interested in a preview, a description of IU’s process can be found within these Business Continuity pages.
I am writing to make sure you know about this initiative, and to request that you support this important activity by encouraging your staff to work with the BCP team. Your support is essential to the success of the BCP initiative, and IU will be a better-prepared institution when the plans are completed and are being maintained.
Please feel free to contact Mark Bruhn or me with any questions or concerns.
John S. Applegate
Executive Vice President for University
Regional Affairs, Planning, and Policy