Rowan Alert (Emergency Notification), Rowan Timely Warning, & Rowan Advisory:

Rowan Alerts and Rowan Timely Warnings are designed to alert our campus community (students, employees, and often guests) to potential threats or other concerning situations that are occurring on campus. The main focuses are safety and transparency. Within these notifications, the University will often include information so that individuals can take safety precautions for themselves.

We recognize that the content of these messages can often increase someone's stress or anxiety, or potentially remind them of past situations they may have experienced or witnessed. The below identified resources are available should a member of our campus community need them:

• The Wellness Center, Winans Hall: 856-256-4333
• Office of Student Equity and Compliance: 856-256-5830
• Employee Advisory Service: 1-866-327-9133
• Dean of Students Office: 856-256-4283
• Rowan University Police Department: 856-256-4922 or 4911

 

Rowan Alert 

The University immediately notifies the campus community upon confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation occurring on the campus and is considered by the University, in the judgment of the Lieutenant(s) or the Officer in Charge (OIC), to involve an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees of the University. This decision is made on a case-by-case basis and may be made in consultation with the Lieutenant Commander for the Rowan University Police Department and the General Counsel. While Rowan Alerts are issued through the Rowan University Police Department, the University Relations Office may supply message content. All Rowan Alerts using Rowan’s mass notification system, are prefaced with "ROWAN ALERT" to clearly identify the message.  “Immediate”threat includes an imminent or impending threat, such as an approaching serious weather event or a fire currently burning in a campus building.

Rowan Alert examples:

• outbreak of meningitis, norovirus or other serious illness;
• approaching hurricane or other extreme weather conditions;
• earthquake;
• gas leak;
• terrorist incident;
• armed intruder; active shooter
• bomb threat;
• civil unrest or rioting;
• explosion; 
• nearby chemical or hazardous waste spill

If there is an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees occurring on campus, an institution must follow its emergency notification procedures. An institution that follows its emergency notification procedures is not required to issue a timely warning based on the same circumstances; however, the institution must provide adequate follow-up information to the community as needed.  

Rowan Alert Summary:

• Broader Focus-any significant emergency or dangerous situation
• For anywhere on campus
• Issued to entire campus or segment(s) depending on incident
• Alert immediately issued upon confirmation
• Usually sent via text and email through mass notification system

 

Rowan Timely Warning

The Rowan University Police Department will issue a Rowan Timely Warning in the event that it receives notice of a “Clery Act” reportable crime that occurred on Rowan University’s “Clery Act” geography (on campus, non-campus property or adjacent public property and is considered by the University, in the judgment of the Lieutenant(s) or the Officer in Charge (OIC), “represents a serious or continuing threat or danger to the students and employees” of the University. This decision is made on a case-by-case basis and may be made in consultation with the Lieutenant Commander for the Rowan University Police Department and the General Counsel. While Rowan Timely Warnings are issued through the Rowan University Police Department, the University Relations Office may supply message content. All Rowan Timely Warnings using Rowan’s mass notification system, are prefaced with "ROWAN TIMELY WARNING" to clearly identify the message.  

Although the Clery Act does not define “timely,” the intent of a warning is to enable the university community to protect themselves. This means that an effort will be made to distribute a warning as soon as pertinent information is available after an incident has been reported to the Rowan University Police Department. Information reported in a Rowan Timely Warning may not have been investigated or confirmed at the time it was issued. Rowan Timely Warnings are typically issued for the following Clery Act and Uniformed Crime Reporting Program (UCR)/National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS) crime classifications: 

Rowan Timely Warning examples:

• Murder/Non-negligent manslaughter;
• Sex offenses (rape, fondling, incest, and statutory rape);
• Robbery;
• Aggravated assault;
• Burglary;
• Motor vehicle theft;
• Major incidents of Arson,
• Or other Clery-reportable incidents if the crime represents a serious or continuing threat to the University

Cases of aggravated assault and sex offenses are considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on the facts of the case and the information known by the Rowan University Police Department. For example, if an alleged assault occurs between two students who have a disagreement, there may be no on-going threat to other Rowan University community members and a Timely Warning would not be distributed. Cases involving sexual assault are often reported long after the incident occurred, in which case there is no ability to distribute a “timely” warning notice to the community. Thus, whether to issue a Rowan Timely Warning based on a reported sex offense will be determined on a case-by-case basis depending on when and where the incident occurred, when it was reported, and the amount of information known by the Rowan University Police Department. Additionally, any hate crimes involving bodily injury or any of the previously listed crimes that represent a continuing threat to the university community require a Rowan Timely Warning.

Rowan University is not required to provide a Timely Warning for non-Clery Act crimes, for crimes that are reported to have occurred off campus (outside of the Rowan Clery geography), or for crimes reported to a pastoral or professional counselor. Typically, a Rowan Timely Warning is not issued for any incidents that are older than ten (10) days from the date of occurrence, as such a delay in reporting has not afforded the University an opportunity to respond in a timely manner.

Rowan Timely Warning Summary:

• Narrower Focus-Clery Act crimes
• For Clery Act geographic area
• Issued to reach entire campus community
• Warning issued as soon as pertinent information is available
• Usually sent via email through the mass notification system

Rowan Advisory

This advisory covers situations that do not meet the criteria of required Rowan Timely Warning Notices or Rowan Alerts. These messages are sent through the University's mass notification system, using the text and or email feature (as appropriate) or the Daily Announcer. Rowan Advisory messages are typically prefaced with "ROWAN ADVISORY" to distinguish them. 

Rowan Advisory examples include but are not limited to: 

• Power outage, traffic advisory, snow closure, building closure, string of campus thefts, police activity in area