Dear ETSU community,
I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your cooperation and attention during the Emergency Alert that took place earlier morning. We want to reassure everyone that there is no threat to campus. ETSU Public Safety determined the report that prompted the alert was due to construction noise near Sam Wilson Hall, and it was a false alarm. There were no shots fired and no active shooter on campus.
Upon receipt of a 9-1-1 call to ETSU Public Safety about the possibility of shots fired, the university instituted a swift plan to alert the campus. The ETSU emergency alert system was activated at 9:30 a.m., instructing students, faculty, and staff to lock doors. By 9:36 a.m., the threat was brought to a close and an “All Clear” message was given. All university operations have resumed normal schedule.
While this incident turned out to be a false alarm, I am very proud of the campus and the manner in which everyone acted swiftly in response to the alert. Today’s event was a reminder of the importance of being informed on how each of us should respond during an emergency situation. Your attention and quick response are crucial in these situations. If you have not signed up for alerts, please download the ETSU Safe app.
Counseling services for students are available at the Counseling Center on the third floor of Culp Student Center (room 326) or by calling 423-439-4841 (press 2). The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is also available for ETSU faculty and staff and can be accessed by calling (855) 437-3486.
I would like to thank the faculty and staff in Sam Wilson Hall for their deliberate action this morning to ensure that proper due diligence was exercised in the face of an apparent threat. I would also like to thank all our Public Safety staff for their rapid and immediate response. In these uncertain times, we are fortunate to have an outstanding Public Safety team at ETSU.
Everyone on campus was a part of this experience, and I welcome your insights, suggestions, and observations. Public Safety and Administration will conduct a review of the response. Please feel free to share your input and thoughts with me at president@etsu.edu.
Thank you for all you do for ETSU.
Sincerely,
Brian Noland
President
East Tennessee State University was founded in 1911 with a singular mission: to improve the quality of life for people in the region and beyond. Through its world-class health sciences programs and interprofessional approach to health care education, ETSU is a highly respected leader in rural health research and practices. The university also boasts nationally ranked programs in the arts, technology, computing, and media studies. ETSU serves approximately 14,000 students each year and is ranked among the top 10 percent of colleges in the nation for students graduating with the least amount of debt.
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