McMaster University is reviewing its emergency response plan in the wake of the shootings at Virginia Tech last month.

Terry Sullivan, director of Security Services at McMaster, made a presentation to the Board of Governors on May 3 regarding the University's response plan in the event of an active shooter on campus and other types of emergencies.

The shootings at Virginia Tech and Montreal's Dawson College last fall “drove home the message to accelerate our work on this,” said Sullivan. “Ensuring the safety of the McMaster community is our number one priority.”

Communicating emergency messages to thousands of students, staff and faculty is one of the biggest challenges faced by any university in a crisis situation.

Sullivan said, “E-mail doesn't work for a lot of young people” who rely on text messages. Security Services is working with UTS to develop a system for delivering text messages to students during emergencies.

The University is also looking at a campus-wide alarm and installing TVs in strategic locations on campus that would broadcast emergency messages.

A building audit is also underway. Security Services is compiling blueprints of McMaster's 58 campus buildings as well as information about the number of students, staff and faculty who occupy these buildings.

Members of the McMaster community, Security Services and Hamilton Police will conduct a training exercise in August. The drill will involve a mock scenario in which police enter a classroom where an active shooter is located.

During a lockdown, students, staff and faculty are advised to leave the building if it's safe to do so. If they can't leave, they should stay in their classrooms or offices, lock the door, cover the windows and lie on the floor until it's safe to leave.

This fall, information about the University's emergency response plan will be included in orientation packages for students. Faculty and staff will also receive training on how to respond in an emergency and how to identify people who pose a threat to themselves and others.

McMaster is leading an initiative with the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities and the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services to develop emergency training packages and materials. McMaster and Mohawk College are also co-hosting the Ontario Association of College and University Security Administrators conference later this month.