[CM] [SIT] [E3] [PB] [CS] [2] During-Crisis for Closure of Campus

Campus Closure Crisis Scenario – Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)

This chapter details specific actions to take before, during, and after a Campus Closure Crisis Scenario by the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)

This playbook is a training aid for Module 2 participants in the CM-300/5000 Implementer/Expert Implementer Course to attempt the CM plan development assignment.

Detailed Steps During the Crisis

Response, Recovery and Resume

Introduction

The “During the Crisis” phase represents the active response period of the Campus Closure Crisis Scenario at the Singapore Institute of Technology, during which planned procedures and crisis management capabilities are executed under time-sensitive, high-pressure conditions.

During this phase, SIT must rapidly assess the evolving situation, activate crisis governance structures, protect students and staff, coordinate with emergency responders and authorities, and maintain timely communications with stakeholders.

Decisions made during this critical period can significantly influence the safety of individuals, continuity of academic activities, institutional reputation, and the speed of eventual recovery.

Effective crisis response requires clear leadership, coordinated actions, accurate information, and disciplined execution across multiple teams.

The following steps provide SIT with a structured operational guide to manage campus closure incidents while maintaining safety, continuity, and stakeholder confidence.

Phase Objective

Protect lives, stabilise the situation, maintain critical academic and operational services, coordinate with authorities, provide timely communications, and manage the orderly closure of SIT campus operations.

During the crisis phase, SIT must execute a coordinated response that prioritises safety, accountability, continuity of education, and stakeholder confidence while minimising operational and reputational impacts.

Step 1: Detect Incident and Conduct Initial Situation Assessment

Objective

Rapidly understand the nature and severity of the incident and determine whether campus closure procedures should be activated.

Actions

Incident reporting sources may include:

• Security personnel
• Students
• Faculty
• Facilities teams
• IT monitoring systems
• Government advisories
• Emergency services
• External agencies

Assess:

• Type of incident
• Immediate threat level
• Location of impact
• Number of people affected
• Casualties or injuries
• Impact on teaching activities
• Impact on campus accessibility
• Potential escalation

Classify incident severity:

Deliverables

• Initial Incident Report
• Situation Assessment Report
• Crisis severity classification

Step 2: Activate Crisis Management Structure

Objective

Mobilise SIT leadership and establish command and control.

Actions

Crisis Management Team (CMT) shall:

• Activate crisis management procedures
• Notify crisis team members
• Activate Emergency Operations Centre (EOC)
• Assign roles and responsibilities
• Initiate incident logging
• Establish communication channels
• Determine meeting frequency

Activate supporting teams:

• Incident Management Team
• Communications Team
• Student Support Team
• Facilities Team
• IT Team
• Human Resources Team

Deliverables

• CMT activation notice
• Crisis team deployment roster
• Incident action log

Step 3: Determine Campus Closure Requirements

Objective

Assess whether partial or full campus closure is required.

Actions

Evaluate:

• Safety risks
• Facility accessibility
• Infrastructure condition
• Security risks
• Public health concerns
• Technology availability

Determine:

• Full campus closure
• Partial closure
• Building-specific closure
• Temporary closure
• Shelter-in-place arrangements

Coordinate decisions with:

• University leadership
• Facilities management
• Security teams
• Emergency agencies
• Government authorities

Deliverables

• Campus closure decision notice
• Closure implementation order

Step 4: Initiate Immediate Safety Measures

Objective

Protect students, staff, visitors, and contractors.

Actions

Depending on the scenario:

Possible protective actions:

Evacuation

• Initiate evacuation procedures
• Guide movement to assembly areas
• Deploy wardens
• Restrict entry

Lockdown

• Secure facilities
• Restrict movement
• Issue protective instructions

Shelter-in-Place

• Direct occupants to safe areas
• Control access

Deliverables

• Safety action implementation log

Step 5: Account for Students, Staff, and Visitors

Objective

Determine the location and safety status of all affected individuals.

Actions

Conduct accountability processes:

• Verify class attendance
• Review access control records
• Contact faculty representatives
• Verify assembly area attendance
• Identify missing persons
• Activate search procedures if necessary

Special populations:

• International students
• exchange students
• students with disabilities
• visitors
• contractors
• students on attachment or internships

Deliverables

• Accountability status report
• Missing persons list

Step 6: Coordinate Emergency Response and Casualty Management

Objective

Support emergency response and provide care for affected individuals.

Actions

Coordinate with:

• Singapore Civil Defence Force
• Singapore Police Force
• Hospitals
• Medical responders

Activities:

• Provide access routes
• Support rescue operations
• Track injured individuals
• Establish casualty collection points
• Maintain casualty records

For severe incidents:

• Establish Family Assistance Centre
• Deploy liaison officers

Deliverables

• Casualty status report
• Emergency coordination log

Step 7: Activate Stakeholder Communications

Objective

Provide timely, accurate, and coordinated communications.

Internal communications

Notify:

• Students
• Faculty
• Staff
• Researchers
• Student leaders

Information to communicate:

• Nature of incident
• Campus status
• Safety instructions
• Closure duration
• Academic arrangements

External communications

Notify:

• Parents
• Next of kin
• Authorities
• Partner institutions
• Vendors
• Media

Communication channels:

• SMS
• Email
• SIT portal
• Social media
• emergency hotlines
• virtual briefings

Communication principles

• Timely
• Accurate
• Consistent
• Empathetic
• Approved messaging only

Deliverables

• Communication logs
• Stakeholder notification records

Step 8: Manage Next-of-Kin and Family Communications

Objective

Provide sensitive, coordinated communication to affected families.

Actions

Establish:

• Family Assistance Team
• Dedicated hotline
• Family Information Centre
• Liaison officers

Guidelines:

• Confirm facts before notification
• Communicate through designated personnel
• Avoid speculation
• Maintain privacy

Information may include:

• Injury status
• Hospital locations
• support arrangements
• transport assistance

Deliverables

• Family liaison records
• Next-of-kin communication log

Step 9: Activate Academic Continuity Measures

Objective

Maintain continuity of teaching and learning.

Actions

Implement:

• Temporary online learning
• Alternative class arrangements
• Revised examination schedules
• Virtual student services

Review:

• laboratory access requirements
• internships
• practical sessions
• field activities

Communicate:

• revised schedules
• online learning instructions
• assessment changes

Deliverables

• Academic continuity activation notice
• Revised academic schedules

Step 10: Manage Technology and Infrastructure Continuity

Objective

Maintain critical operational systems.

IT Teams to monitor:

• Learning systems
• student portals
• network availability
• cybersecurity risks
• communication systems

Facilities Teams:

• assess infrastructure damage
• maintain utilities
• coordinate repairs

Deliverables

• IT operational status reports
• Facilities situation reports

Step 11: Conduct Media and Reputation Management

Objective

Protect SIT’s reputation and maintain public confidence.

Actions

Communications Team to:

• Issue approved media statements
• Monitor social media
• Track misinformation
• Conduct media briefings
• Prepare leadership talking points

Only authorised spokespersons may speak publicly.

Monitor:

• public sentiment
• student concerns
• rumours
• misinformation trends

Deliverables

• Media monitoring reports
• Press releases
• Reputation status updates

Step 12: Conduct Ongoing Monitoring and Crisis Review

Objective

Maintain situational awareness and adjust response activities.

Crisis Management Team to continuously review:

• Safety conditions
• Casualty updates
• operational impacts
• stakeholder concerns
• resource availability
• academic impacts

Review cycle:

• Hourly (acute phase)
• Daily (stabilisation phase)

Update:

• Incident Action Plans
• Situation reports
• recovery considerations

Deliverables

• Situation reports
• Incident action updates
• Crisis dashboard

Crisis Response End-State

The response phase concludes when SIT has:

• Protected students, staff, and visitors

• Stabilised the incident

• Accounted for affected individuals

• Activated communications and stakeholder support

• Transitioned academic activities where necessary

• Coordinated with emergency authorities

• Established conditions for recovery transition

This ensures SIT can move systematically from crisis response to restoration and recovery while preserving safety, continuity, and institutional resilience.

Managing a campus closure crisis requires SIT to respond decisively, communicate effectively, and coordinate actions across internal teams and external stakeholders under rapidly changing conditions.

The “During the Crisis” phase is not solely about responding to the immediate incident; it is also about stabilising operations, protecting the university community, preserving trust, and laying the foundation for recovery.

Through disciplined execution of crisis management procedures, SIT can minimise disruption, support affected individuals, maintain essential academic functions, and ensure a coordinated institutional response.

By following these structured response steps, SIT strengthens its ability to manage uncertainty and demonstrates resilience during one of the most critical stages of the crisis lifecycle

Click the icon for the crisis management playbook for the three stages: Pre-, During-, and Post-crisis for the Closure of Campus

Introduction	Pre-Crisis	During Crisis	Post-Crisis
Closure of Campus	Preparedness and Prevention/ Reduction	Response, Recovery and Resume	Recovery, Restore and Return Home

Reference Guide

Goh, M. H. (2016). A Manager’s Guide to Implement Your Crisis Management Plan. Business Continuity Management Specialist Series (1st ed., p. 192). Singapore: GMH Pte Ltd.

More Information About Crisis Management Blended/ Hybrid Learning Courses

To learn more about the course and schedule, click the buttons below for the  CM-300 Crisis Management Implementer [CM-3] and the CM-5000 Crisis Management Expert Implementer [CM-5].

	Please feel free to send us a note if you have any questions.