The purpose of this policy is to implement UNCW’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) requirement that departments plan to address how critical operations will continue under a broad range of emergency circumstances.
The purpose of this policy is to implement UNCW’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) requirement that departments plan to address how critical operations will continue under a broad range of emergency circumstances.
Definitions
Division – Highest level planning group
Department – Colleges, administrative groups, offices Program – Individual academic areas or business functions
Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) – A written document that details a division’s, department’s, or program’s (collectively, “units”) capability to continue essential program functions and services
COOP manager – an individual designated by the Unit Leader as the primary point of contact within a unit covered by a COOP, who will have primary responsibility for annual review of the COOP
Critical functions – Functions or services of the university that if interrupted or unavailable within a defined time period would significantly jeopardize the university’s ability to implement strategic goals
Unit leader – An individual that has management authority to assign work to employees within that unit
Policy
Maintenance of a COOP is good business practice in part because the planning fosters recovery and survival in and after emergency situations. Creating a COOP is a guided process and a team effort which will draw on individuals’ understanding of department operations with Emergency Management’s expertise in preparing for contingencies.
UNCW maintains a COOP Template to provide direction for the process of mitigation, preparation response, and recovery from emergencies and disasters for that particular unit. The COOP template is reviewed on an annual basis (typically commencing April 1) by the COOP manager and revised as necessary following a process established and communicated by EH&S.
Unit leaders, within all divisions, are required to develop and maintain a COOP that addresses the critical functions and mission of that unit. Each COOP will be reviewed by the COOP manager and Unit leader revised as necessary, and submitted to the Environmental Health & Safety Department (Emergency Management) for review and approval on an annual basis or when the information in their COOP changes. Each unit leader will identify a COOP manager who will coordinate with departmental leadership for development and maintenance of the COOP. Any newly formed or created unit must have a COOP submitted and approved by Unit leadership within one calendar year of beginning substantial operation with final approval given by EH&S.
Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) maintains procedures to help develop and apply COOPs and will assist with the development of each Department’s or Program’s plan. EH&S will also maintain a copy. EH&S can be contacted at the following: ehs@uncw.edu or 910-962-3057.
