Board of Regents Governance, Standing Orders, Chapter 1, Section 6.B.14 delegates to the President the ability to take actions necessary to protect the University’s interests and operations in response to an emergency situation.
This administrative order further establishes specific delegations of authority from the President to other University leadership to declare a state of emergency, suspend operations for a period of time, or take other actions to ensure the safety of students, faculty, staff, patients, and visitors.
Specific emergency response plans, including roles and responsibilities for units involved in emergency response, are managed by the Division of Campus and Community Safety and can be found on the Campus Community Safety website.
Definitions
Husky Network Shutdown—A declaration made in response to a severe cybersecurity event that requires immediate shutdown of the Husky Network to protect University financial and administrative assets, faculty intellectual property, and the personal financial, academic, and medical information of employees, students, and clients. This action requires activation of plans necessary to respond quickly and effectively outside of routine University policies and procedures and may require activation of state and federal assistance when needed.
State of Emergency—A declaration made in response to a severe event or incident that requires action to protect lives, property, health, and safety, and requires activation of plans necessary to respond quickly and effectively outside of routine University policies and procedures. It also facilitates activation of state and federal assistance when needed.
Suspended Operations—A delay or cancellation of planned work and activities due to an emergency incident or event. This may include classes, labs, extracurricular activities, athletics, or any other activities. A suspension of operations happens for a defined time period. In the case of suspended operations, employees identified by their units as performing an essential service are required to report to work during any period of declared suspended operation. Employees in positions not designated as essential do not report to work onsite when operations are suspended and follow applicable telework, pay, and time off policies.
Unit Leader—Administrative head of a campus, administrative, or academic unit reporting directly to the President or the Provost.
1. State of Emergency
A. Authority to Declare a State of Emergency—University as a Whole
The President of the University has sole authority to declare a state of emergency for the University as a whole and for any University campuses or locations.
B. Authority to Declare a State of Emergency—UW Bothell
The Chancellor of UW Bothell has the authority to declare a state of emergency for UW Bothell. The Chancellor will make reasonable efforts to apprise the President in advance of such a declaration, and if not possible in advance, apprise the President of the declaration, including justification and anticipated duration, as soon as possible. The Chancellor will inform concurrently the Vice President of Campus Community Safety to arrange for additional University support in response to the declaration.
C. Authority to Declare a State of Emergency—UW Tacoma
The Chancellor of UW Tacoma has the authority to declare a state of emergency for UW Tacoma. The Chancellor will make reasonable efforts to apprise the President in advance of such a declaration, and if not possible in advance, apprise the President, including justification and anticipated duration, as soon as possible. The Chancellor will inform concurrently the Vice President of Campus Community Safety to arrange for additional University support in response to the declaration.
D. Authority to Declare a State of Emergency—UW Medicine
The Chief Executive Officer of UW Medicine, Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs, and Dean of the School of Medicine (CEO/EVPMA/Dean) has the authority to declare a state of emergency for those parts of UW Medicine and for University or University affiliated hospital or other clinical service locations that are under the control of University operations or staff. The CEO/EVPMA/Dean will make reasonable efforts to apprise the President in advance of such a declaration, and if not possible in advance, apprise the President, including justification and anticipated duration, as soon as possible. The CEO/EVPMA/Dean will inform concurrently the Vice President of Campus and Community Safety to arrange for additional University support in response to the declaration.
E. Authority to Convene Emergency Policy Committee, Activate Incident Command Teams, Activate UW Seattle Emergency Operations Center, Activate the Crisis Communication Team
In the event of a declared state of emergency, the Vice President for Campus Community Safety, or the Vice President’s designee, is delegated authority to determine whether to:
- Convene the Emergency Policy Committee to advise throughout the declared emergency and recovery.
- Activate necessary Incident Command Team or teams. In the event the emergency involves units or teams outside the standing Incident Command Team’s membership, the respective vice president, vice provost, or designee will have a seat on the Incident Command Team. If the emergency may require extraordinary personnel or finance steps, the appropriate UW Human Resources, Office of Academic Personnel, and UW Finance representatives will be included.
- Activate the UW Seattle Emergency Operations Center (EOC) if the state of emergency is declared for UW Bothell, UW Seattle, UW Tacoma, UW Medicine, or another University location. It should be noted that activation of the University’s EOC does not require a declaration of emergency and may be done in anticipation of an incident or for coordination of awareness and response to events not rising to the need for a declaration of emergency.
- Activate the Crisis Communication Team to determine University wide notifications and alerts.
2. Authority to Suspend Operations
A. Suspension of Operations or Activities by the President
The President has the authority to suspend operations for the University as a whole and for any of the University’s campuses, locations, or units. The suspension could be of certain activities, and it could be of certain modes of activities (e.g., in-person or onsite activities). By definition, a suspension is time limited.
B. Suspension of Operation or Activities by the Vice President for Campus and Community Safety
The Vice President for Campus Community Safety has the authority to suspend operations for any of the University’s campuses, locations, or units. The suspension could be of certain activities, and it could be of certain modes of activities (e.g., in-person or onsite activities). The Vice President will apprise the President of the suspension, including scope, justification, and anticipated duration, as soon as possible.
C. Weather or Climate Related Suspension Concerns, UW Seattle
In the case of a weather or climate-related concern affecting UW Seattle, the Weather Status Advisory Group will convene and make a recommendation to the President for suspended operations, a late start or early release, or suspension of onsite operations for a day or more due to severe winter weather or potentially severe heat and/or smoke.
D. UW Bothell Suspension
The Chancellor of UW Bothell has the authority to suspend operations for UW Bothell. The Chancellor will apprise the President of the suspension, including scope, justification, and anticipated duration, as soon as possible.
E. UW Tacoma Suspension
The Chancellor of UW Tacoma has the authority to suspend operations for UW Tacoma. The Chancellor will apprise the President of the suspension, including scope, justification, and anticipated duration, as soon as possible.
F. UW Medicine Suspension
The UW Medicine CEO/EVPMA/Dean has the authority to suspend certain operations for hospitals or other clinical service locations that are under the control of University operations and staff. The CEO/EVPMA/Dean will apprise the President of the suspension, including scope, justification, and anticipated duration, as soon as possible.
3. Authority to Shut Down the Husky Network
The President or the Vice President for UW Information Technology (UW-IT) and Chief Information Officer (UW CIO) have the authority to order a shutdown of the Husky Network to limit or prevent loss of critical University data and assets due to a cybersecurity incident. The UW CIO will consult with the UW Medicine Chief Information Officer (UWM CIO) before taking an action that would impact any UW Medicine networks. In the event the UW CIO shuts down the Husky Network, the UW CIO will apprise the President of a shutdown, including scope, justification, and anticipated duration, as soon as possible.
4. Absence of the University President, Chancellor, UW Medicine CEO/EVPMA/Dean, or Vice President for UW-IT and CIO
A. President Unavailable
In the event of conditions requiring a declaration of a state of emergency or suspended operations for any University location at a time when the President is unavailable, the authority to take all necessary and appropriate actions on behalf of the President is hereby delegated to the following officers, in order of availability:
- The Provost, then,
- The Vice President for Campus Community Safety, then,
- A senior leader as specifically delegated by the President.
B. Chancellors of Either UW Bothell or UW Tacoma Unavailable
In the event of conditions requiring a declaration of a state of emergency or suspended operations at UW Bothell or UW Tacoma, at a time when the chancellor of the applicable campus is unavailable, the authority to take all necessary and appropriate actions to ensure safety and operations is hereby delegated to the following designees in order of availability. The notice and action requirements apply, including justification and anticipated duration.
UW Bothell
- Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, then,
- Vice Chancellor for Planning and Administration, then,
- A senior leader as specifically delegated by the Chancellor. The senior leader must be a direct report to the Chancellor.
UW Tacoma
- Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, then,
- Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, then,
- A senior leader as specifically delegated by the Chancellor. The senior leader must be a direct report to the Chancellor.
C. UW Medicine CEO/EVPMA/Dean Unavailable
In the event of conditions requiring a declaration of a state of emergency or suspended operations at a University hospital or other clinical service location at a time when the UW Medicine CEO/EVPMA/Dean is unavailable, authority to take all necessary and appropriate actions to ensure safety and operations is delegated to the following officers in order of availability. The notice requirements apply, including justification and anticipated duration.
- President, UW Hospitals and Clinics, then,
- Chief Medical Officer, then,
- A senior leader as specifically delegated by the UW Medicine CEO/EVPMA/Dean. The senior leader must be a direct report to the UW Medicine CEO/EVPMA/Dean.
D. Vice President for UW-IT and CIO Unavailable
In the event of conditions requiring a declaration of a state of emergency or suspended operations for any University campus or location at a time when the Vice President for IT and CIO is unavailable, the authority to take all necessary and appropriate actions to ensure safety and safe operations is delegated to the following officers in order of availability. The notice requirements apply, including justification and anticipated duration.
- Associate Vice President for the Office of Information Security and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), then,
- Associate Vice President for Infrastructure and Chief Technology Officer (CTO), then,
- A senior leader as specifically delegated by the Vice President for IT and CIO. The Senior leader must be a direct report to the UW CIO.
5. Emergency Conditions in a Localized Onsite Location, Offsite University Controlled Property or Remote Program in the United States, and International Locations or Programs
A. Localized, Onsite Location
In the event of conditions requiring suspended operations at a localized, onsite University location (e.g., specific building), a program leader or onsite designee with activities occurring at the location has delegated authority to:
- Take the steps necessary to safeguard the welfare of students, faculty, and staff and protect the University’s essential functions of teaching, research, and public service.
- Alert the appropriate unit leader, who will apprise the President and the Provost immediately of the situation and coordinate with the Division of Campus Community Safety on any support or coordination required.
B. Offsite University Controlled Property or Remote Program in the United States
In the event of conditions requiring a declaration of a state of emergency or suspended operations at an offsite University controlled property or a remote program in the United States, the program leader or onsite designee has delegated authority to:
- Take the steps necessary to safeguard the welfare of students, faculty, and staff and protect the University’s essential functions of teaching, research, and public service.
- Alert the appropriate unit leader, who will apprise the President and the Provost immediately of the situation and coordinate with the Division of Campus Community Safety on any support or coordination required.
C. International Location or Program
In the event of conditions requiring a declaration of a state of emergency or suspended operations at an international location or international program, the program leader, or onsite designee, has delegated authority to:
- Take the steps necessary to safeguard the welfare of students, faculty, and staff and protect the University’s essential functions of teaching, research, and public service.
- Alert the University’s Director, Global Travel Health and Safety (D-GTHS) in the Office of Global Affairs and the applicable unit leader. The GTHS unit leader will apprise the President and the Provost immediately of the situation and coordinate with the Division of Campus Community Safety on any support or coordination required.
6. Special Considerations
UW Bothell has special considerations related to co-location with Cascadia Community College. A suspension of normal operations and a declaration of a state of emergency in this case may apply only to the UW Bothell portion of the shared campus.
7. History
January 15, 2025
For additional delegations of authority, see:
- Board of Regents Governance, Bylaws, Article V, “Officers of the University”
- Board of Regents Governance, Standing Orders, Chapter 1, “Delegation of Authority”
- Board of Regents Governance, Standing Orders, Chapter 6, “Authority for Washington Administrative Code Rule Making”
- Executive Order No. 1, “The Office of the President”
- Executive Order No. 4, “The Provost”
- Executive Order No. 6, “The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), UW Medicine and Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs and Dean of the School of Medicine, University of Washington”
- Executive Order No. 7, “The Vice President for Minority Affairs”
- Executive Order No. 11, “The Vice President for External Affairs”
- Executive Order No. 12, “The Deans”
- Executive Order No. 14, “Chancellor, UW Bothell and UW Tacoma”
- Executive Order No. 18, “The University Ombud”
- Executive Order No. 62, “The Senior Vice President for University Advancement”
- Executive Order No. 63, “The Vice President for UW Information Technology and Chief Information Officer”
- Administrative Orders: Delegations of Authority