[CM] [SIT] [E3] [PB] [CS] [2] Post-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)

Detailed Steps After the Crisis

Restore and Return Home

Introduction

The “After the Crisis” phase marks the transition from immediate response activities to recovery, restoration, and continuous improvement following a Campus Closure Crisis Scenario at the Singapore Institute of Technology.

While the immediate threat may have subsided, the impact of a campus closure can continue to affect students, staff, academic activities, infrastructure, and institutional confidence long after the crisis event itself.

This phase focuses on restoring normal operations in a structured and safe manner while supporting the well-being of affected stakeholders and addressing residual operational challenges.

SIT must conduct comprehensive assessments, coordinate recovery efforts, support students and families, restore academic continuity, and determine readiness for campus reopening.

Equally important is capturing lessons learned and identifying opportunities to strengthen future preparedness and resilience capabilities.

Phase Objective

Restore SIT’s campus operations safely and systematically while supporting affected students, staff, and stakeholders.

The recovery phase should focus not only on returning to normal operations but also on ensuring stakeholder well-being, rebuilding confidence, identifying lessons learned, and strengthening future crisis readiness.

Step 1: Confirm Incident Stabilisation and Transition to Recovery

Objective

Formally transition from emergency response mode into recovery operations.

Actions

Crisis Management Team (CMT) shall:

• Confirm immediate threats have ceased
• Verify no ongoing safety hazards exist
• Receive status reports from emergency agencies
• Confirm evacuation activities are completed
• Establish recovery priorities
• Determine recovery governance structure
• Appoint Recovery Team Leader

Recovery considerations

Assess:

• Remaining safety concerns
• Infrastructure integrity
• Accessibility limitations
• Ongoing disruptions
• Community concerns

Deliverables

• Incident Stabilisation Report
• Recovery Activation Notice
• Recovery governance structure

Step 2: Conduct Comprehensive Damage and Impact Assessment

Objective

Determine the operational, academic, physical, technological, and reputational impacts.

Actions

Facilities Team:

Assess:

• Buildings
• Classrooms
• Laboratories
• Research facilities
• Campus equipment
• Utilities

IT Team:

Assess:

• Learning systems
• Network infrastructure
• Student systems
• Cyber integrity
• Data availability

Academic Team:

Assess:

• Teaching disruptions
• Examination impact
• Student progression impact
• Academic calendar disruption

Student Affairs:

Assess:

• Student wellbeing impact
• Accommodation impact
• International student impact

Deliverables

Step 3: Coordinate with External Authorities

Objective

Ensure all legal, regulatory, and safety requirements are fulfilled before reopening.

Actions

Coordinate with relevant authorities and agencies:

• Safety inspectors
• Emergency services
• Government agencies
• Public health authorities
• Security agencies
• Campus landlords and infrastructure partners

Possible coordination topics:

• Building safety certification
• Public health clearance
• Security clearance
• Infrastructure inspections
• Environmental testing

Deliverables

• Authority approval documentation
• Campus safety certification

Step 4: Establish Student, Staff, and Family Support Services

Objective

Provide physical, emotional, and psychological support.

Actions

Student Affairs and Human Resources shall establish:

Student Support Services

• Counselling sessions
• Trauma support
• Academic advisory support
• Welfare assistance
• Financial support guidance

Staff Support Services

• Employee assistance programmes
• Counselling support
• Leave flexibility
• Wellness services

Family Support Services

For affected students and families:

• Family assistance hotline
• Dedicated liaison officers
• Information briefings
• Support coordination

Special attention:

• Casualties
• injured individuals
• vulnerable students
• international students

Deliverables

• Support programme activation
• Family assistance logs

Step 5: Restore Academic Operations and Learning Continuity

Objective

Minimise educational disruption and resume teaching activities.

Actions

Academic leadership to:

Review:

• Cancelled classes
• Deferred examinations
• laboratory disruptions
• internship interruptions
• project delays

Recovery measures:

• Transition to temporary online learning back to campus
• Adjust semester schedules
• Reschedule examinations
• Extend assignment deadlines
• Develop make-up sessions
• Communicate revised academic timelines

Deliverables

• Academic recovery plan
• Revised academic calendar

Step 6: Develop Reopening Readiness Assessment

Objective

Determine whether the campus can safely reopen.

Assessment Criteria

Deliverables

• Campus reopening readiness report

Step 7: Develop Phased Campus Reopening Strategy

Objective

Ensure controlled return of campus operations.

Example reopening phases

Phase 1

Limited reopening

Activities:

• Essential staff only
• Restricted access
• Critical operations

Phase 2

Partial reopening

Activities:

• Limited teaching activities
• Controlled student access
• Essential facilities

Phase 3

Full reopening

Activities:

• Full academic operations
• Student activities resume
• Campus events restored

Deliverables

• Campus reopening roadmap

Step 8: Communicate Recovery and Reopening Plans

Objective

Provide timely and consistent communication.

Stakeholders

Internal:

• Students
• Faculty
• Staff
• Student leaders

External:

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

Communication topics:

• Incident status
• Campus reopening dates
• Academic arrangements
• Student support services
• Safety assurances

Channels:

• Email
• SMS
• SIT portal
• Social media
• Press releases
• Virtual town halls

Deliverables

• Recovery communication schedule

Step 9: Conduct Media and Reputation Recovery Activities

Objective

Restore confidence and institutional trust.

Actions

Communications Team to:

• Monitor media coverage
• Track public sentiment
• Correct misinformation
• Provide leadership updates
• Highlight recovery milestones

Deliverables

• Reputation recovery report

Step 10: Conduct Lessons Learned and After-Action Review

Objective

Capture improvement opportunities.

Review participants:

• Crisis Management Team
• Faculty representatives
• Student Affairs
• IT
• Facilities
• External agencies

Review areas:

• Crisis activation effectiveness
• Communication effectiveness
• Coordination effectiveness
• Technology adequacy
• Stakeholder response
• Escalation process

Sample questions:

• What worked well?
• What failed?
• What delayed response?
• What should change?

Deliverables

• After Action Review report
• Lessons learned register

Step 11: Update Crisis Plans and Improve Organisational Readiness

Objective

Integrate findings into future preparedness.

Actions

Update:

• Crisis management plans
• Contact directories
• Escalation procedures
• Campus closure criteria
• Recovery procedures
• training programmes
• exercise scenarios

Enhance:

• technologies
• communication systems
• staff awareness
• crisis capabilities

Deliverables

• Updated Crisis Management Plan
• Improvement Action Register

Step 12: Continue Long-Term Monitoring

Objective

Track ongoing impacts after reopening.

Monitor:

• Student wellbeing
• Staff wellbeing
• Academic performance
• Media sentiment
• Operational stability

Deliverables

• Post-recovery monitoring reports

End-State of Post-Crisis Phase

The recovery phase concludes only when SIT has:

• Restored safe campus operations

• Supported affected stakeholders

• Resumed academic activities

• Closed outstanding recovery actions

• Captured lessons learned

• Updated crisis preparedness measures

This ensures that SIT emerges stronger and more resilient following a campus-closure crisis.

The successful conclusion of a campus closure crisis extends beyond reopening facilities and resuming classes; it involves ensuring that SIT has fully restored operational effectiveness, supported affected individuals, and strengthened its preparedness for future disruptions.

The “After the Crisis” phase provides an opportunity to transform crisis experiences into institutional learning and to improve long-term resilience.

By conducting structured recovery activities, engaging stakeholders, evaluating performance, and implementing lessons learned, SIT can enhance its crisis management capabilities and build greater confidence across its university community.

Ultimately, a well-managed recovery process enables SIT not only to return to normal operations but also to emerge stronger, more adaptive, and better prepared for future challenges.

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

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].