Boston College is committed to providing a safe and healthy campus environment. Among its highest priorities are the health and safety of all students. This page offers an overview of campus response to incidents as well as guidelines your son or daughter may follow to prepare for emergencies themselves.
More information about specific safety concerns or procedures can be found here
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AN INCIDENT OCCURS
Boston College maintains fully trained police officers who provide the first response to any emergency incidents on campus.
Whenever a significant incident occurs on campus, the BC Police officers who report to the scene are then instructed to notify BC's Senior Administrator On-Call. Based on the seriousness of the situation, the administrator may alert the Emergency Preparedness Team, whose members have created a comprehensive set of emergency response procedures to deal with crisis situations, and a number have undertaken National Incident Management System training by the Dept. of Homeland Security.
More information about emergency response can be found here
COMMUNICATION DURING AN EMERGENCY
Messages will be distributed through this website, campus-wide broadcast e-mail and voice mail, cell phone and text messaging, and the emergency hotline at 617-552-INFO.
During major emergencies, a toll-free number will be established so that family members across the globe can obtain more information.
SERVICES FOR STUDENTS
Boston College has a full complement of resources available to help students with any physical or emotional needs. Medical attention is available 24/7 at University Health Services or, if needed, at area hospitals. Counselors and Campus Ministers also are available at all times. BC's emergency response team will work to provide food and housing during an emergency.
HELP STUDENTS PREPARE
1) ASSEMBLE AN EMERGENCY KIT
Every student should keep a supply of essential items - snacks, water, medicine, eyeglasses or contact lenses - in his or her residence hall or apartment in case of an incident where it may be unsafe to go outside for a period of time (Shelter-in-Place).
More on assembling a kit and other tips can be found here.
2) LEARN ABOUT CAMPUS SAFETY PROCEDURES
Instruct your son or daughter to become familiar with BC's campus safety and emergency preparedness web site BC/Prepared. This site contains valuable information on individual preparedness, important safety tips, and an overview of how BC will respond to and recover from emergency situations.
3) CELL PHONE NOTICES
Students should provide the University with their cell phone numbers so that they may be contacted in the event of an emergency. Please ask your son or daughter to log on to Agora, select the "Update your Addresses and Phone Numbers" service, then submit or update the cell phone number in the space provided. The number will not be used for any other purpose than emergency notification.
Cell phones should be on vibrate while they are in classes to be contacted in the event of an emergency.
Also, students should program in emergency phone numbers for BC Police 617-552-4444, and, for off-campus emergencies, 911, so that they can call for help quickly from any location.
4) THE "ICE" PLAN FOR EMERGENCY CONTACTS
Students should add the entry ICE ("in case of emergency") to their cell's phonebook with the number of the person to be contacted in the event of an emergency.
5) MAKE A FAMILY COMMUNICATION PLAN
Remind your son or daughter how important it is to check in with you and say that he or she is safe -- regularly, but especially in an emergency situation.
