Message from Chancellor Dubois: Update on Recovery Efforts
Dear UNC Charlotte Community:
I want to update you on the progress we have made on many of the initiatives I shared with you in my July 25 community update as well as some new projects we are undertaking.
REMEMBRANCE COMMISSION
Survey and listening sessions
Thank you to the thousands of community members who completed the remembrance survey and to those who attended the listening sessions both on main campus and at Center City. The Commission expects to make its recommendations to me in early December, so your input is instrumental in ensuring that we memorialize the victims and the events of April 30 in ways that are meaningful and lasting.
A Day of Remembrance on April 30
We have started planning a Day of Remembrance on April 30, 2020, to unite students, faculty, staff, and the Charlotte community together by thoughtfully remembering that tragic day in our history and continuing the recovery process.
We plan to host a Remembrance Concert for students, employees, and the community at the Belk Theater, Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, at 7:30 p.m. The evening will feature the Charlotte Symphony as well as UNC Charlotte students and alumni participating in music, dance, spoken word, and multimedia performances. UNC Charlotte alumnus and CBS national correspondent Don Dahler ’91 will serve as the master of ceremonies. Tickets will go on sale in early January 2020 and proceeds will benefit the April 30th Remembrance Fund.
In addition, students have started planning an on-campus event earlier that same day. More details will be shared about both events in early 2020.
SAFETY & SECURITY STEPS
We’ve also taken additional steps to enhance our safety measures on campus and evaluate our response efforts.
External review
The independent external review of our response to April 30 is underway. The first round of interviews of key personnel took place the week of October 14. The reviewers will be back on campus during the week of January 13 to host listening sessions for the campus community. More information about these opportunities will be shared as we get closer to the date, and I hope you will participate. As the external reviewers seek to assess our preparation for, response to, and recovery from the events of April 30, it is important that they understand your perspectives and benefit from your experience on that day.
Classroom lockdown kits
The Department of Safety and Security has assessed all non-locking classroom and laboratory doors on campus. By the end of the current semester, each non-locking space will be equipped with a kit to secure the door in the event of a lockdown. Doors that open inwardly will have a wedge that will slide underneath the door to prevent it from opening. Doors that open outwardly will have a piece of cut fire hose that will slip over the door closer to secure it. Please watch the new lockdown video for a demonstration on how to use these devices. Safety and Security is also assessing longer-term solutions for non-locking doors.
Safety videos
To ensure safety training is accessible to all members of our community, the Department of Safety and Security has created an instructional video for each of our three primary NinerAlert directives: lockdown, seek shelter, and evacuation. Visit the Emergency Management website to review this important information.
Classroom posters
Safety posters have been installed in all classrooms on campus and are being added to all laboratory spaces. The laboratory installations should be complete by the end of the fall semester. Each poster lists the room number for the space, emergency contact information, and how to execute the three primary action directives given in a NinerAlert: lockdown, seek shelter, and evacuation.
UNC Charlotte Center City security changes
Beginning December 2, 2019, new security procedures will be in place at Center City. All faculty, staff, and students will be required to wear their 49er ID cards while in the building. Visitors will be required to check in and receive a badge to wear. The changes were made following a security assessment of the building.
RECOVERY PULSE SURVEY
As we move through our recovery efforts and approach the one-year anniversary of April 30, we want to ensure we are meeting the needs of our community. Next week, you will receive a survey to ask for your feedback on our recovery communication efforts to date.
I ask that you take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us. Your feedback is critical in helping us plan our next steps and will be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Philip L. Dubois
Chancellor