Southeastern Louisiana University

Program to prepare Louisiana colleges, universities for major crises

Contact: Rene Abadie

10/30/06

     HAMMOND – A program designed to help prepare personnel at colleges and universities and their communities for major crises will be offered by Louisiana Campus Compact on Wednesday, Nov. 8.

     The project, called “Ready Campus,” will be held at the Holiday Inn Select in Baton Rouge at no charge to Louisiana colleges and universities. Also invited to participate are representatives of local agencies of the American Red Cross, emergency management agencies, and first-responders such as police and fire officials.

     “This program attempts to strengthen the relationship between a college or university and its surrounding community by mutually preparing for a natural or human-caused disaster,” said Stewart Stuart, interim director of Louisiana Campus Compact, currently headquartered on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana University. “Ready Campus works to develop systems where colleges can share their physical and human resources with communities in need. It also develops specific community outreach programs that can be built into existing academic courses using a service learning model.”

     Louisiana Campus Compact is a statewide membership organization of 31 college and university chief executives who promote the education and commitment of Louisiana faculty, staff, and students to be civically engaged citizens.

     Ready Campus was developed at College Misericordia in Dallas, Pa., which served as a resource and refuge to its neighbors during the 1972 Hurricane Agnes flood. Pilot tested in Pennsylvania in 2004-2005, the project is being funded by a $500,000 grant from the federal Department of Homeland Security via the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.

     The program is designed to show campus officials how they can help their communities in a crisis by making available their facilities and telecommunications capabilities; by encouraging faculty, staff, students and alumni to volunteer with the American Red Cross and other agencies; and by creating courses that give students experience in helping others during a crisis.

     Ready Campus is endorsed by Louisiana Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, who said, “Through the leadership of Louisiana Campus Compact, our state’s colleges and universities will become important partners with local communities as we continue to strengthen our emergency preparedness and response. This innovative program ensures that institutions of higher learning across Louisiana will have a direct impact on the people and communities they serve while making a considerable contribution as we build a safer, stronger and smarter Louisiana.”