Campus Updates, Emergency Notifications and Communications

In the event of an emergency or real-time incident on campus, the University has a communication protocol in place and will work to keep campus constituents updated with timely information.

Please refer to this page and to the University's social media channels for the most accurate information.

University Update: Winter Storm

SJF Emergency Alert: Due to the inclement weather, all Sunday evening campus activities are canceled. In addition, the University will be closed on Monday, January 26, and all classes and activities are canceled. Faculty and staff do not need to report. Essential personnel only should report*.

Campus services available and open for limited hours include:

Health and Wellness Center

Virtual appointments may be available; please use the medical and counseling request form in the Patient Portal to request an appointment or for inquiries.

Fisher Dining Services - Sunday 

  • Ward-Haffey Dining Hall - open 4:30-8 p.m. 
  • Fisher Sub Shoppe (Murphy Hall) - open 4:45-5:30 p.m. (changed due to staffing)
  • Late Night will close early at 10 p.m.

Please note that Sono Latin Grill is closed on Sunday. 

Fisher Dining Services - Monday

  • Ward-Haffey Dining Hall
    • Breakfast: 7:30-10 a.m.
    • Lunch: 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
    • Dinner: 4:30-8 p.m.
  • Fisher Sub Shoppe (Murphy Hall)
    • Breakfast: 7:30-10:30 a.m.
    • Lunch: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
    • Dinner: 4:45-6 p.m. 

Pioch Cafe, Cyber Cafe, and Sono Latin Grill will be closed Monday, reopening on Tuesday with regular hours.

Lavery Library

  • Lavery Library will close at 3 p.m. on Sunday. The library will be closed on Monday.
  • The 24/7 Study Hall near the library entrance is open and available.
  • Virtual librarians also available.

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Athletic Center - Fitness Center, Varsity Weight Room

  • Open until 10 p.m. Sunday
  • Open 12 noon-11 p.m. on Monday 

Hermance Family Chapel of St. Basil the Great

  • 7:30 p.m. Sunday Mass - canceled

*Essential personnel includes security officers, residential life staff living in the Residence Halls, dining services staff, and facilities services staff. Essential personnel are required to report, each according to their ability to get to campus. 

Campus Update on Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement

The University is committed to providing a safe environment for all students and employees, and to educating members of the campus community about their role in providing a safe environment in compliance with applicable laws.

Emergency Notifications

The University utilizes the RAVE Alert System to notify members of the campus community with urgent messages or updates. As part of new FCC requirements relating to emergency messages and non-emergency messages, the University is now required to include the terms urgent, emergency, and critical in our alert messages.

RAVE Alert Terms

Examples of potential scenarios that would necessitate a RAVE Alert using those terms include:

  • Critical: immediate threat on campus, building or campus-wide lockdown or shelter in place
  • Emergency: weather closure, small fire on campus
  • Urgent: water main break, accident potentially blocking through traffic on campus, power outage

We encourage all members of the campus community to read and take all RAVE Alerts seriously.

Action Terms

Evacuate

Evacuate icon.

Evacuate icon.

For hazardous materials spill or release, fire, natural gas leak, or bomb threat.

  • Exit building using the nearest exit.
  • For a bomb threat, evacuate only if a suspected bomb or device is found or if you are instructed to by Safety and Security or law enforcement.

Shelter in Place

Shelter in place icon.

Shelter in place icon.

For a medical emergency, severe weather, or hazardous material release.

  • Stop all activities.
  • Remain indoors or seek indoor shelter.
  • Closer doors and windows.
  • Move to a protected interior area.

Lockdown

Lockdown icon.

Lockdown icon.

A temporary sheltering technique used to limit exposure to an apparent life-threatening, hostile, or hazardous situation or threat.

  • Stop all activities.
  • Keep the threat external.
  • All students, staff, and visitors must remain inside.
  • Avoid exterior doors and windows.
  • Deny entry. Only exit when given the all clear. 
  • Follow police commands.

Updating or Providing Your Information for our RAVE System

Fisher adds the phone number and email of all new students and employees to our RAVE database. However, to ensure that we have your most up-to-date information, please update your information at GetRAVE. You can also update your information through the RAVE Alert app in your Launchpad at mySJF (login required). If you have any questions about RAVE, please contact John LoTemple, assistant director of safety and security, at jlotemple@sjf.edu. 

Ongoing Communication During an Emergency

In the event of an ongoing or long-term incident, the University will communicate instructions to the campus community via an initial RAVE Alert and then continue to keep the community updated through a Fisher Alert email (fisheralert@sjf.edu) and on the website. 

Emergency Action Plans

The University’s emergency response plan contains instructions and action plans for several emergency scenarios. 

Other Important Communications

Weather Closing Process

In the event of a weather-related closing or emergency, announcements regarding classes or campus events will be communicated to the campus community in a variety of ways.

In the event of an overnight storm, the local media will be notified by 6:30 a.m. If evening classes shift due to midday weather conditions, the media will be notified by 3:30 p.m. In addition:

  1. Faculty, staff, and students will receive a RAVE Alert. 
  2. All local TV stations (10NBC, WROC-TV8, 13WHAM-TV, Fox, and Spectrum News) will carry this information.
  3. mySJF (Fisher's intranet) will have a message.
  4. The University’s Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts will also share the message.

Please note that most of the local media outlets have automated systems for reporting school closings. Unfortunately, the status codes that are available to us are general and do not allow for much specificity or personalization. Some status codes will indicate that the University is “closed.” Other messages will only allow us to indicate that “essential personnel” are to report to work. We will work to be as specific as possible in each system.

Essential personnel may still be required to report to campus, including security officers, residential life staff living in the Residence Halls, dining service staff, and facilities services staff; each according to their ability to get to campus.