Training and Resources

All new employees are mandated to attend face-to-face active threat training within the first two months of employment. If unable to attend one of the scheduled trainings, approval will be needed for alternative instruction. Additionally, all employees are required to take active threat training every two years. The refresher course can either be online or face-to-face. 

Training Sessions:

• In-Person trainings
  • Faculty and staff
  • Students
• On demand active threat training invitation is sent to all employees and students. Please contact Emergency Management with any questions.

Departments and/or colleges are encouraged to schedule one hour of training time each year at their departmental or college meetings. 

Students are encouraged to take a scheduled face-to-face training or online version of the training provided by Human Resources annually.

Off-Brookings Campus Employees are encouraged to register to attend in-person sessions in Brookings or view the online training modules. Local jurisdictions have protocols that supplement the University Management Plan. Please contact Emergency Management for details regarding appropriate local emergency management details.

Resources:

• Surviving an Active Shooter Event (Video Copyright © 2012 City of Houston)
• Tips to survive an active shooter (Dept. of Homeland Security)
• Active Shooter: What You Can Do (FEMA)

SDSU is committed to promoting integrated emergency management principles and practices through the application of NIMS, ICS, and an all-hazards approach. NIMS provides a consistent nationwide approach for government, the private sector and non-governmental organizations to work effectively and efficiently together to prepare for, respond to and recover from domestic incidents regardless of cause, size or complexity. ICS is a management system designed to enable effective and efficient incident management activities that operate within a common organizational structure. All EMT members and backups identified to support the university's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) are required to undergo this training.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers online training for NIMS and ICS free of charge.

Prior to completing the ICS courses, you must register for a FEMA Student Identification Number (SID).

• Environmental Health and Safety offers training including Chemical Hygiene and Laboratory Safety, Radiation Safety, and Golf Cart and UTV Safety.
• The Wellness Center offers First Aid and CPR/AED training during the year. Interested participants can register online, in person at the Wellness Center customer service desk, or over the phone at 605-697-9355. 
• Department of Homeland Security - If you see something, say something^(R): Take the Challenge
• The STOP THE BLEED^® Interactive Course guides individuals through the three methods of bleeding control using video demonstrations, interactive learning and spontaneous quizzes. This STOP THE BLEED^® Interactive Course is free to all students and can be taken multiple times to learn and refresh knowledge of the STOP THE BLEED^® Course. Please visit STOP THE BLEED® to find a course near you. (Note: This course is not a certification. To receive a certificate you are required to complete an additional hands-on session that covers all the bleeding control skills, direct pressure, wound packing and tourniquet application taught by STOP THE BLEED® instructors.)

The Emergency Action Flip Guide is not designed to be a comprehensive plan, but a reference for responding to an incident. Click on a topic for the information specific to that incident.

The University’s Emergency Management Plan is a guide for emergency management and coordination of all phases of emergency response in order to minimize the impacts of disasters and incidents, to protect people and property, and to restore any interruptions to University operations. 

SDSU Emergency Management Newsletters:

• May 2024
• Fall 2023
• December 2022

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report provides information so members of the SDSU community can make informed decisions about their own safety. Additionally, the Report provides statistical information about crimes occurring on SDSU Clery geography, educational programs, and other resources and information regarding the rights and responsibilities for both victims of crimes and those accused of committing crimes.

When severe or winter weather affects South Dakota State University, it pays to be prepared. The National Weather Service provides a variety of safety tips depending on the type of weather situation. Please take the time to review these tips to ensure that you can stay safe during a weather event. 

Please review University Policy 10:7 regarding emergency closings. Unless an emergency closing is announced, all SDSU employees including faculty are expected to report to work. However, during inclement weather, all employees are urged to use their own discretion in deciding whether they can safely commute to work. 

The university will use its campus alert system to notify employees of a closing or class cancellation. Additionally, the closing or cancellation will be announced to local radio stations and/or other media. The campus alert system can notify you via email, phone call and/or text message. You will need to ensure your information is correct in the system for how you want to be contacted in an emergency.

When an emergency closing has not been declared, employees who do not report to work or wish to leave early have the option of taking appropriate leave, accrued compensatory time, leave without pay or adjusting the work week. Employees who feel they cannot safely reach the worksite must take appropriate action to notify their supervisor that they will be absent from work. In the event offices at a campus are closed, employees not required to perform essential functions during the emergency will be granted paid administrative leave. Essential employees are determined by the supervisor and the applicable Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP).

For questions regarding appropriate leave usage during inclement weather or emergency closure, please contact Human Resources at 605-688-4128.

SDSU employees, including those at the extension, research and teaching centers around the state, need to stay alert and should confirm any closures or cancellations with their immediate supervisor. Those employees with a different BOR institution in their local area may opt in to receive the alerts from that institution as well.

SDSU policy requires immediate evacuation when any fire alarm sounds within a building. All faculty, staff, students and any other individuals within the building must promptly evacuate the building using the nearest designated exit routes.

Building Evacuation

• Building wardens and area wardens are responsible to ensure all people in their building are aware of exit routes and location of their building emergency assembly area.
• Personnel may briefly delay evacuating if they need time to shut down electrical and other equipment, especially any that involve flame, explosive vapor or hazardous materials.
• All building occupants will follow instructions relevant to public safety issued by the building warden or fire and police personnel.
• After exiting the building, occupants are to go directly to their designated Emergency Assembly Area (EAA) and follow guidance provided by the building warden (or designated safety representative) and emergency responders.
• Do not re-enter the building until authorized fire or police department personnel give the “All Clear” instruction.

General Evacuation Procedures: If you hear the fire alarm or are instructed to leave the building:

• Immediately obey evacuation alarms and orders. Tell others to evacuate.
• No one may remain inside a building when an evacuation is in progress.
• Classes in session must evacuate.
• If involved with hazardous research or doing a dangerous procedure, immediately shut down operations that could create additional hazards if left unattended. Notify the building warden and evacuate as soon as possible.
• If immediately shutting down hazardous research would cause additional risks or hazards, notify the building warden and emergency personnel of location and hazards.
• When you evacuate, take keys, coat, medication, purse and any other critical personal items with you to the EAA. REMEMBER, IN CASE OF A FIRE, IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOT DELAY EVACUATION.
• Close doors as rooms are vacated.
• Assist those who need help, but do not put yourself at risk attempting to rescue trapped or injured victims.
• Note location of trapped and injured victims and notify your building warden or emergency responders.
• Walk calmly but quickly to the nearest emergency exit.
• Use stairways only. Do not use elevators.
• Keep to the right side of corridors and stairwells as you exit.
• Proceed directly to your designated EAA. Stay away from the immediate area near the building you evacuated.
• Remain in EAA until accountability is taken and instructions are given.
• Do not re-enter the building until authorized fire or police department personnel give the “All Clear” instruction.

Campus Evacuation

• An emergency requiring the evacuation of the campus is likely to be part of a larger evacuation. It is important to follow evacuation instructions.

When evacuating in a vehicle the primary egress routes for those leaving the campus in a vehicle are:

• Medary Ave, north to the Hwy 14 bypass or south to the City of Brookings.
• University Boulevard to 22nd Ave and then north to the Hwy 14 bypass or south to the City of Brookings.
• 8th Street west to Medary or east to 20th Ave. and then south to 6th Street.

Section 10 of the University Policy and Procedure Manual contains several important policies related to emergency management and preparedness. Please take the time to review them.