Catastrophic Event and Continuity of Operations Policy

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance for a safe, coordinated, and efficient response to disruptive events that affect students, faculty, staff, visitors, and institutional operations while preserving instructional continuity and institutional integrity.

Scope

This policy applies to all institutional divisions, locations, programs, and employees. It covers academic, administrative, technological, residential, and student-support operations during and after catastrophic events.

Policy

Crisis and emergency management preparation is an essential institutional function. Lindenwood University mitigates the impact of crisis situations and operational disruptions through policies and procedures designed to ensure continuity of operations in the event of a catastrophic incident affecting campus facilities, personnel, technology, or academic delivery.

1. Definition of Catastrophic Event

For purposes of this policy, a catastrophic event is any incident that disrupts the institution’s ability to safely maintain instruction and operations for an extended period of time.

Examples include but are not limited to:

• Natural disasters (e.g., tornado, flood, earthquake)
• Public health emergencies
• Major infrastructure failures
• Major cybersecurity incidents
• Civil unrest or violence
• Loss of facilities or critical utilities
• Government-mandated closures

2. Guiding Principles

During a catastrophic event, institutional actions shall be guided by the following priorities:

1. Protection of life and safety
2. Continuity of academic instruction and student support
3. Preservation of institutional records and data
4. Clear and timely communication
5. Compliance with legal, accreditation, and regulatory requirements
6. Adherence to local, state, and federal government mandates

3. Continuity of Operations Framework

4. Academic Continuity

If normal instructional delivery is disrupted, the University will implement alternative methods such as:

• Remote or online instruction
• Hybrid delivery models
• Modified academic calendars
• Alternative instructional sites

These measures are intended to minimize disruption to student learning and maintain academic progress.

5. Program Discontinuance and Student Protections

In the unlikely event the University cannot continue instruction for a program or course on a permanent basis, the institution will take reasonable steps to support affected students, which may include:

• Providing alternative option(s) for instruction or services for which students have paid
• Potentially issuing reasonable financial refunds for undelivered education if alternative delivery options are entirely unavailable
• Assisting students with transfer of earned credits to other institutions
• Implementing teach-out plans consistent with Higher Learning Commission requirements

Students will be notified by administration and advised on available options.

6. Activation and Implementation

This policy may be activated when institutional leadership determines that a catastrophic event threatens or disrupts normal operations. Activation may occur based on:

• Incident severity
• Duration of disruption
• Impact on safety or infrastructure
• Government or emergency management directives