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Information from the
Department of Public
Safety
The
Department of Public Safety continues to maintain contact with and
obtain regular intelligence updates from other law enforcement
agencies to assess possible threats.
Students, Faculty and Staff can assist Public Safety by being aware of
and reporting any suspicious activity to Public Safety at extension
3311.
For more
information on this, please visit the
WCU Emergency
Preparedness site.
A Message from President Adler
4/23/2007
Resources for Responding to the Virginia Tech Tragedy Date:
As a follow up to my note last week after the tragedy at Virginia Tech, I extend a sincere thank you for the support that faculty and staff have provided to students during these difficult days. I know that many conversations are occurring both in and out of the classroom as we continue to deal with our strong feelings and emotions. Meaningful campus vigils and other commemorations are also taking place to offer condolences to the Virginia Tech community and honor the students and faculty who lost their lives.
As we approach the last few weeks of the semester, I want to share some updated information about campus resources:
CAMPUS REFERRALS
If you have concerns or questions about the mental health of a student, the following people are available for consultation to discuss a course of action:
Dr. Judy Baron, chairperson, Department of Counseling and Psychological Services, and Director of the Counseling Center 436-2301
Ms. Mary Ann Hammond, Assistant Dean of Students and Director of the Student Health and Wellness Center 436-2509
Dr. Matthew Bricketto, Vice president for Student Affairs 436-3301
Ms. Diane DeVestern, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs 436-3511
If at anytime you feel a student's behavior may be immediately threatening to himself/herself or others, please contact Public Safety at 436-3311 (the office is open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day).
Many students experiencing distress during times such as this can benefit from the suggestions offered by the American Psychological Association in their tip sheet Tips for College and University Students: Managing Your Distress in the Aftermath of the Virginia Tech Shootings, which can be found online at:
http://helping.apa.org/articles/article.php?id=151
The recommendations also provide guidance in helping students, colleagues, and ourselves.
FORUMS FOR DISCUSSION
For Faculty: As discussed in Faculty Senate last week, an open forum discussion on the Virginia Tech tragedy and its impact on faculty has been scheduled for Thursday, April 26, from noon to 1:15 p.m. in the Philips Memorial Building Lower Level Conference Room (stop by anytime during that time slot). The purpose of this session is to give faculty an opportunity to share thoughts, concerns, and reflections on the incident as it relates to the many facets of being a professor in the classroom and on campus.
For Staff: An open forum discussion for staff has been scheduled for Friday, April 27, from noon to 1:15 p.m. in the Philips Memorial Building Lower Level Conference Room (stop by anytime during that time slot) to address issues unique to the feelings that staff may be having as they work in service areas across campus.
Dr. Tina Alessandria, assistant professor in the Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology and a member of the Executive Council of the American College Counseling Association, is coordinating and facilitating these sessions.
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION/PROTOCOL REVIEW TEAM
Information about West Chester University's campus emergency preparedness and procedures is found on the Department of Public Safety Web site:
http://www.wcupa.edu/dps/Emergency%20Preparedness.asp
I urge everyone to become familiar with the content.
I have asked Dr. Mark Mixner, Vice President for Administration and Finance, to convene a campus team to review and refine the University's communication process and protocols in light of the Virginia Tech tragedy. This group will meet this week and continue to work over the summer. Then at the start of the fall semester, I will inform the campus community of the updated policies and procedures. Additionally, we will continue to seek ongoing advice from faculty and staff on the types of resources and information needed to deal with student mental health issues, campus safety, and communication.
Thank you for your help in making WCU a caring community. Your efforts and contributions are greatly appreciated. |
