CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WNCN) — UNC in Chapel Hill has a new training system to prepare for emergencies. The release of the plan comes almost one year after an active shooter situation left one faculty member dead.
“I was on campus when this happened last year, and I am thrilled to hear the university is taking safety precautions,” said UNC Resident Jason Lin.
UNC has spent the past year developing safety training for faculty and teaching assistants through the Carolina Ready Website and Emergency Preparedness 101 tools. The 25-minute video features four modules teaching faculty how to be informed, prepared, and ready to act in various emergencies, such as an active assailant, shelter in place, medical, or fire.
UNC’s Director of Emergency Management and Planning, Darrell Jeter, says, “We must ensure everyone on campus knows the fundamentals of emergency preparedness because, unfortunately, we don’t know if and when the next emergency might present itself.”
Kennon Ibbeken, who’s touring UNC with her daughters from Virginia, says she’s grateful to hear the university is taking precautions. “It’s happening everywhere, and there’s no discrimination as to what campus it happens to. It’s essential as a mother,” said Ibbeken.
UNC says the goal is to start with faculty first and expand to other campus employees.
UNC says it informed all faculty about the new expectations this week and encouraged them to complete the training before the first day of class on Monday, August 19.