Frequently Asked Questions
Table of Contents
Introduction to the Campus Incident Management System (CIMS)
Introduction to FEMA’s National Incident Management System (NIMS)
Community Oriented Policing
What is the Campus Incident Management System (CIMS)?
CIMS is a Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) software platform used to build risk-resistant infrastructure (RRI) according to a customizable blueprint -- across an enterprise’s physical and virtual domains. Campuses set timeboxed goals, and become eligible to be recognized as Certified Reasonable Care Campuses™, based on their efforts to reduce the number and severity of incidents. The CIMS is fashioned after the National Incident Management System (NIMS) enacted by the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
How does CIMS work?
The system standardizes campus safety by providing a flexible Model Resilient Campus Blueprint, as well as a repeatable and scalable methodology to facilitate conformance with the model. Platform users create a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) and have access to tools necessary to prioritize threats and the application of protective measures, and to assign accountability.
Who is involved?
CIMS is implemented by a broad base of volunteer stakeholders from the campus and the surrounding community, referred to as RRI Ambassadors. These resources are trained to adopt a preventative, “Lifestyle Approach to Incident Management” and to build risk-resistant infrastructure. RRI Ambassadors report to program managers who are members of the Buck Stop Assurance Team (BSAT), which is led by an RRI Engineer. The RRI Engineer is the system administrator and a liaison between the BSAT and Campus Administrators, particularly those who are involved with Incident Command. The system allows assignment of full and partial, temporary and permanent permissions should the pool of human resource roles expand. A Scientific Advisory Board provides external review of campuses that apply for certification; this body is part of Campus Risk Solutions®’ nonprofit division.
Why should campuses seek certification?
Enhancing safety and security are the primary reasons to seek certification. Families shop for campuses based on publicly disclosed crime reports, their health services and emergency plans. Protecting and distinguishing brand, are essential, as is minimizing legal exposure. Many campuses are faced with dwindling enrollment and must keep skyrocketing compliance costs in check as regulations continue to mount; they need a way to distribute the compliance burden and document the provision of reasonable care. CIMS is designed to optimize resource conservation and allocation, and to prioritize threats. Finally, there’s evidence that campuses with improved safety records may be able to reduce their insurance premiums.
What results can be expected from implementing the CIMS?
The CIMS generates "preparedness capital". This form of currency is earned by:
Maintaining situational awareness
Closing safety and security gaps
Reaching compliance
Building in-house capabilities, and…
Meeting mission area objectives.
What is FEMA’s National Incident Management System (NIMS)?
An emergency management framework developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that is used by Federal, State, local, and tribal governments, the private sector, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). NIMS provides guidance for coordinating emergency response. This scalable system helps partners to more efficiently prepare for, prevent, respond to, and recover from domestic incidents -- regardless of cause, size, or complexity. NIMS must be adapted to the particular conditions, set of resources, location, and demographics to be effective and to meet regulatory requirements. NIMS is implemented by human resources that are organized according to the Incident Command System (ICS). The system is maintained and managed by the National Integration Center (NIC).
What is FEMA’s Incident Command System (ICS)?
The ICS is a hierarchical and scalable emergency management framework designed to provide effective and efficient control over incidents. There is a distinct chain-of-command, including defined roles and responsibilities that are coordinated to conduct preparedness, mitigation, and recovery activities. The functional areas, each with its section chief or officer, include: Command, Public Information, Safety, Operations, Logistics, Planning (Intelligence & Investigations, and cybersecurity responsibilities included), Finance/ Administration. Some, or all of the system, including branch and unit extensions, can be mobilized depending on the type and scope of an emergency or natural disaster. ICS personnel rely on National Incident Management System (NIMS) guidelines developed to provide domestic protection of people, the environment, facilities and property. Templates are provided by DHS/FEMA to coordinate and document mission activities. Information and organizational charts are provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Department of Homeland Security/FEMA Incident Command
What is an Emergency Operations Center (EOC)?
The EOC is the location where information and resources are coordinated to support Emergency Management activities. Regardless of size or level of incidents, EOCs collect and analyze data; disseminate information, and are the settings from which decisions that protect life, property and the environment are made. EOCs can be used to help maintain business continuity within the scope of applicable laws; and to give direction to responders and stakeholders. The purpose of the EOC (sometimes an Operations Control Center in the corporate world) is to make sure an organization functions as intended, and is able to perform day-to-day operations irrespective of current circumstances. The EOC is a protected facility and may be a temporary or permanent installation. It should be centrally located, but can be a virtual or mobile hub. EOCs can be organized by functional discipline (i.e., fire, law enforcement, or medical services), by jurisdiction (i.e., federal, regional, state, county, city, tribal or territory), or by some combination thereof. The EOC and any of its nodes may be hot (always at the ready) or cold (opened on demand). The Incident Commander -- responsible for Command, Control and Communications (C3) -- is in charge of the EOC. EOC activities can be delegated to Command Post nodes, or shifted to a Staging or Default Area to facilitate and efficient response at the local level.
What is FEMA’s National Preparedness Goal (NPG)?
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the NPG is to have “a secure and resilient nation with the capabilities required across the whole community to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk”. The NPG is a joint responsibility of public and private sectors.
What is FEMA’s National Response Framework (NRF)?
The NRF enables all response partners to prepare for, and provide a unified national response to disasters and emergencies through establishment of a comprehensive, all-hazards approach. The NRF defines the principles, roles, and structures that organize how the United States responds, and how it works with partners. Elements of the NRF can be implemented at any time to save lives, protect property and the environment, meet basic human needs, stabilize incidents, restore services and community functionality, and/or to help the transition to a safe and secure state of recovery. Response areas include: planning, public information and warning, operational coordination, critical transportation, environmental response, fatality management, infrastructure system protection, mass care services, search and rescue, on-scene security, operational communications, public and private services and resources, public health and medical services, and situational assessment. Fundamental principles include collaborating with partners; providing multi-tiered responses; using scalable, flexible operational structures; unifying command; and promoting Readiness to Act.
What is Community-Oriented Policing (COP)?
The Campus Incident Management System (CIMS) is a tool that institutions can use to reinforce COP initiatives. Rather than simply responding to crimes once they have been committed, COP creates a relationship between officers and citizens to prevent crime and eliminate fear. Earning the trust of organizations and individuals, and empowering stakeholders to contribute to their own safety, increases situational awareness and has a force multiplying effect on law enforcement capacity. Officers can better address crime and serve the campus community more productively across the board. The CIMS can be used to fortify the capabilities COP seeks to develop:
“Community collaboration” - informing, confidence building, taking civic responsibility
“Organizational transformation” - aligning resources with partners, improving coordination and outcomes
“Proactive problem solving” - systematic examination of threats, preventing incidents, more efficient response
