In the last 15 years, many campuses have experienced the tragedy of mass violence. From Virginia Tech to Michigan State, violence has claimed the lives of many students, faculty, and staff. Unfortunately, emergency incident preparation and crisis response are painful realities of educational institutions today. In the wake of a crisis, students, alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and members of the community contact the campus through all channels, asking questions, offering support, and sharing their concerns and sadness.



As advancement leaders, we may be the face of the university and champions of our institutions. Whether leading the communication strategy, or being the first person contacted by a parent, an alumnus, or a stakeholder, we must be prepared to respond during unimaginable circumstances. In this session, pairs of leaders from three institutions will provide examples, advice, and lessons learned from their own experiences to help your staff prepare for a tragedy on your campus.



Learning Objective 1: Understand how to respond if you are struck by tragedy on your campus and demonstrate where to turn for support.



Learning Objective 2: Learn what or how to communicate with the constituents who will reach out and those who will expect to hear from you.