Memos

As final examination week approaches, it is useful to remember University procedures for evacuating buildings and the policies and procedures that govern administration of examinations that are disrupted by evacuations.

A building evacuation may be necessary for a variety of reasons: a fire, power failure, lack of water, bomb threat, chemical spill, structural damage, flooding, or, if there is no storm shelter available in a facility, a severe storm or tornado. An evacuation will be initiated by an alarm, by notice from a public safety officer or fire official, or by administrative decision. If an alarm sounds, or if a public safety officer or fire official gives an evacuation notice, everyone must leave the building.

The KU Office of Public Safety and the Office of the University Registrar have developed a system to identify replacement classrooms in the event that evacuation is necessary while an examination is in progress or is scheduled to be administered. Please inform your students that no final examination will be canceled or postponed to a later date because of a building evacuation. You also might let them know that there are real costs associated with each evacuation. For example, it costs taxpayers approximately $1000 to deploy the personnel and equipment necessary to respond to a false fire alarm, and the disruption of work and teaching costs tens of thousands of dollars more.

In the event that weather conditions are so severe that examinations cannot safely be held, a decision to postpone examinations will be made and announced in accordance with existing policies and procedures on inclement weather. (See Inclement Weather Policy and Procedures on the Provost Office website.)

Detailed information about the policies and procedures affecting evacuations during final examinations is available on the Provost Office website. Please review the information and contact the Provost's Office (864-4904) if you have questions.