Guidance on Instructor Preparedness for Classroom Disruptions and Emergencies

• DROP, COVER, and HOLD ON

DROP to the ground,

Take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture and

HOLD ON until the shaking stops.

• If there isn't a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in a doorway or an inside corner of the building.
• Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could shatter or fall on you, such as lighting fixtures or furniture.
• Do not use a doorway unless you know it is a strongly supported, load-bearing doorway. Many inside doorways are lightly constructed and do not offer protection.
• Do not leave a building during the shaking. Stay inside until the shaking stops, and it is safe to go outside. Most injuries occur when people inside buildings attempt to leave/get outside.
• DO NOT use the elevators – if the electricity goes out, you could be trapped.
• Be aware that the electricity may go out, or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on.
• Seek additional information. Information may be provided via WarnMe, Berkeley News, emergency.berkeley.edu, and other official news sources.

Additional guidance on earthquake safety is available from the state of California and from UC Berkeley.

• Call 911 and pull the alarm.
• If you pull the alarm, be sure to pull both the tamper cover alarm and the fire alarm lever. Some fire alarm stations are protected with tamper covers. Lifting the tamper cover to gain access to the fire alarm will activate the tamper alarm. This is a local alarm only, and will not report the alarm condition to anyone. You must proceed to pull the lever on the fire alarm. By doing so, the building alarm will sound, enabling the entire facility to be evacuated and will alert UC Berkeley Police (UCPD) and the Berkeley Fire Department of the activated alarm.
• Use an extinguisher with caution and always stay between the fire and the exit.
• If the fire becomes too large, close your door and leave the building at once.
• Be sure to wear shoes to avoid cutting your feet during the evacuation.
• Take your keys with you.
• Be familiar with evacuation exits. Evacuate the building immediately. Walk, do not run.
• Do not use the elevator. Use the stairs.
• When smoke or heat is encountered, keep low or crawl to avoid inhaling toxic fumes.
• When the fire alarm sounds, feel your room door to see if it is hot before opening it.
• If the door feels hot or smoke prevents exit, keep your door closed and open a window until rescued.
• Do not reenter the building until authorized by the Fire Department.
• Monitor your silenced electronic devices (email and/or text messages) for UC Berkeley WarnMe alerts.

Additional guidance regarding fire safety and prevention.

UC Berkeley has adopted the “Run-Hide-Fight” model as the standard protocol for active threat awareness and training:

1. RUN - If you can safely evacuate yourself, do so quickly in a zig-zag pattern. Grab only your cell phone and GO. Encourage others to also evacuate but do not lag behind. Once you are in a safe location, dial or text 911.
2. HIDE - If you are unable to safely evacuate, lock doors, barricade entryways, turn off all lights and electronics, silence cell phones (you can still text 911) and all other electronic devices, and seek cover.
3. FIGHT - As a last resort, if you can't run or hide, make a plan to fight for your life with every means available. Grab any object within reach to distract and incapacitate the shooter/attacker.
4. Monitor your silenced electronic devices (email and/or text messages) for UC Berkeley WarnMe alerts.
5. Once you are able, call or text 911, call UC Berkeley Police at 510.642.3333, or notify law enforcement if they are in the area.

To learn more about the Run-Hide-Flight Model please review UC Berkeley’s Office of Emergency Management webpage. The page has a link to a helpful 9-minute training video that was developed by UC San Diego.

Please abide by any secure-in-place orders issued by university officials or law enforcement. Follow the following 7 steps:

1. Turn off lights and electronics, close blinds, and remain silent.
2. Silence all cell phones; please note that you can text 911 if necessary.
3. Make advance self-defense and evacuation plans with others if you can do so safely.
4. Barricade doors with heavy objects.
5. Hide behind solid objects (e.g., heavy furniture, concrete, or brick).
6. Monitor your silenced electronic devices (email and/or text messages) for UC Berkeley WarnMe alerts.
7. You should remain hidden and silent until law enforcement instructs you to evacuate.

If evacuating or escaping: follow instructions, leave belongings behind, and keep both hands raised, empty, and visible.

If you discover a suspicious package, please follow the following advice:

• Do NOT touch a suspicious package.
• Do NOT interact with a suspicious package in any way.
• Leave the area, close doors, and warn others to avoid the area.
• Call 911 (or UC Berkeley Police at 510.642.3333 via cell phone).
• Wash any exposed skin with soap and water.
• Monitor your silenced electronic devices (email and/or text messages) for UC Berkeley WarnMe alerts.

If there's a bomb threat, please follow the following advice:

• Always treat a bomb threat like it's real.
• Evacuate the area (remain calm and exit the building as directed).
• Leave your doors and windows open and the lights on.
• Scan your area for unfamiliar items as you leave.
• Do NOT handle any suspicious items you find.
• Do NOT activate the building's fire alarm. Monitor your silenced electronic devices (email and/or text messages) for UC Berkeley WarnMe alerts.

See Suspicious Packages / Bomb Threats from the Office of Emergency Management for more information.

As outlined in the UC AQI Decision-Making Matrix:

If the AQI is below 150:

• No action is anticipated in relation to scheduled classes.

If the AQI is between 150-200:

• Consider academic accommodations for students and faculty with pre‐existing health conditions.
• Consider canceling or moving outdoor classes indoors.
• Monitor your email for campus announcements on classes.

If the AQI is over 200:

• Per local procedures and in consultation with the divisional Academic Senate Chair or designee, the administration may decide to cancel or restructure classes if current AQI levels have stabilized in this range and are expected to continue (academic activities that support clinical operations or research may be excluded from cancellation).
• Follow recommendations for AQI between 150-200 as well.

If the AQI is over 500 (off the scale):

• Suspend outdoor work and activities. If outdoor work is absolutely necessary, N95 respirators are mandatory and require training and fit testing.
• Follow recommendations for AQI between 150-200 and AQI over 200 as well.

Further information about air quality and wildfire smoke is available from UHS.

All UC employees must take Heat Illness Prevention Training available in the UC Learning Management System.

If classroom temperatures reach or exceed 82°F for more than 15 minutes:

1. Ensure instructors have taken the Heat Illness Prevention Training in the UC Learning Management System.
2. Ensure access to reasonably cool drinking water is available near the classroom. This could be drinking fountains or hydration stations located in the building.
3. Determine where a cool-down area is located that is less than 82°F that students and employees can access. Check with the building manager to determine if the building has an assigned space. A shaded outdoor area may suffice if it is less than 82°F.
4. Be aware of the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and have a readily available means to summon emergency personnel.
5. If there are any health & safety concerns, contact the Office of Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) of the room conditions by calling 510-642-3073, or email ehs@berkeley.edu.

If classroom temperatures reach or exceed 87°F for more than 15 minutes:

1. Consider cancelling or restructuring the class (e.g., pivot to online instruction or work with Classroom Scheduling to arrange an alternate classroom location).
2. If class must be held in the room, ensure access to cool drinking water and a cool-down area that is less than 87°F.
3. If feasible, provide portable fans or coolers in the classroom.
4. If feasible, limit the class duration and/or take frequent breaks.
5. Notify the Office of Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) of the room conditions by calling 510-642-3073, or email ehs@berkeley.edu.

If the classroom temperature is less than 60°F:

1. Dress accordingly to keep warm.
2. Avoid the use of portable space heaters that create fire hazards and electrical outages.
3. If the temperature is cold enough to create health or safety concerns, cancel or restructure the class (e.g., pivot to online instruction or work with Classroom Scheduling to arrange an alternate classroom location).
4. Notify the Office of Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) of the room conditions by calling 510-642-3073, or email ehs@berkeley.edu.

If the classroom temperature seems too high or too low for safe teaching, but you’re not sure what the exact temperature is:

1. If it is a general assignment classroom, call the Classroom Hotline: 510-642-2800. If it is not a general assignment classroom, contact the unit that manages the space in which the class is being held.
2. If there is a safety concern, notify the Office of Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S) of the room conditions by calling 510-642-3073, or email ehs@berkeley.edu. This applies to both general assignment classrooms and other classrooms.
3. Follow guidance above for high or low temperatures as appropriate.

If the disruption poses a direct or imminent threat to health, life, or safety, immediately dial 911.

Otherwise,

• Remain calm.
• Do not physically engage with individuals causing the disruption.
• Pause teaching.
• Ask the students in the classroom not to engage with the disruptors.
• If the disruptors are not students in the class, then

a. Calmly inform the individuals that they are disrupting the class and should leave immediately because

- Classrooms are not spaces open to the public

- They are trespassing and may be subject to arrest

- If they do not leave, then UCPD will be called.

• If the disruptors are students in the class, then

a. Calmly inform the students that their conduct is not acceptable and they are not allowed to disrupt the class.

b. Consider inviting the students to talk to you after the class is over.

c. If the disruption continues, inform the students that they will be reported to the Student Conduct Office.

• If the disruptions persist after these measures, then consider

a. Ending the class early and informing the class that you will communicate with them later electronically.

b. Calling UCPD for assistance in dealing with the disruptors.

c. If you seek UCPD's help in resolving a disruption, then please call UC Berkeley Police’s non-emergency line at 510.642.6760; if the situation is escalating towards a physical threat, then call UC Berkeley Police emergency line 510.642.3333 or dial 911.

You may need to coordinate with your Department Chair or Dean after the incident to report incidents of a crime, acts of discrimination or harassment based on a protected class, or misconduct by a member of the campus community.