Brigham Young University prepares for, responds to, and recovers from emergencies through two university programs—emergency management and university continuity. Emergencies include, but are not limited to, disruptive events or other incidents—whether natural, technological, or human-caused—that require responsive action to protect life or property, or to restore university operations.

The University Policy Group has full authority to direct and coordinate the preparation for, response to, and recovery from all emergencies affecting the university. This includes the authority to activate the Emergency Operations Plan (commonly known as the EOP) and the University Continuity Leadership and Support Plan and to establish emergency policies. The University Policy Group consists of the university president, members of the President’s Council, and others as appointed by the university president. The University Policy Group delegates authority to individuals and teams to assist the university in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from emergencies. The Policy Group meets when situations arise that create a need.

BYU Emergency Management, led by the university’s emergency manager, coordinates the university’s emergency management efforts and maintains the Emergency Operations Plan. The Emergency Operations Plan is approved by the University Policy Group and provides operational guidance and an organizational framework for responding to emergencies. The Emergency Operations Plan incorporates principles of the National Incident Management System and describes BYU’s Incident Management Team (commonly known as the IMT). Led by BYU’s emergency manager, or designee, the Incident Management Team coordinates efforts to effectively respond to and recover from emergencies affecting the university. These efforts include implementing guidance and strategic direction from the University Policy Group.

University continuity is a discipline of disruptive event management addressing the restoration and recovery of critical university operations following an emergency.

The university continuity manager is responsible to provide guidance to all BYU academic and administrative units to assist them in complying with the University Continuity Leadership and Support Plan.

The Emergency Management and University Continuity Steering Committee facilitates emergency preparedness and continuity throughout the university. The committee reviews and approves department, area, and building emergency plans to be included in the Emergency Operations Plan. The committee also maintains a suite of university continuity plans for different areas of operation.

Each campus unit is responsible for emergency management and university continuity in its respective scope of operation in alignment with this policy, the Emergency Operations Plan, and the University Continuity Leadership and Support Plan.