Glossary of Common Terms and Definitions

A distinct signal or message provided by emergency officials that indicates a threat or dangerous situation has ended. An all-clear message may be provided by Public Safety and/or campus officials through the College of Charleston’s Emergency Management website.

Any individual armed with a weapon, vehicle, or device that poses an immediate threat to the life and safety of the university community, including students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

In an active aggressor situation, the AVOID–DENY–DEFEND protocol provides potentially life-saving guidance. If there is an active aggressor on campus, Public Safety will issue a Cougar Alert that includes AVOID–DENY–DEFEND. All members of campus should be familiar with this protocol. AVOID-DENY-DEFEND guidelines and a video can be found on the College of Charleston’s Public Safety website.

An explosion of a device or a credible report of the existence of a bomb can create an environment that threatens the life and safety of the campus community. Response guidelines and a video can be found on the College of Charleston’s Public Safety website.

A Campus Advisory is intended to make members of campus aware of potentially disruptive situations. Advisories are not issued in compliance with the Clery Act. Campus Advisories will be issued to students and employees through the College’s email system. An explanation of each type of notification, including examples, can be found on the College’s Emergency Management website.

Cougar Alerts are issued to notify the campus community of major emergencies taking place on campus. The initial alert in an emergency (for example, during an active aggressor situation) will be brief and may not contain specifics. Alerts may include instructions to shelter in place or to evacuate a particular building or area of campus. Regular follow-up notifications will be issued as more information becomes available to campus officials and law enforcement. Alerts may also be used for emergencies or major events taking place in the greater Charleston area that could impact campus operations. An explanation of each type of notification, including examples, can be found on the College’s Emergency Management website.

Any human-caused or natural incident that requires urgent attention and action to protect life or property. These events are defined as:

1. Any incident that involves serious injury or death to a university affiliate (faculty, staff, or student) or any person on university property, or
2. Any incident that has legitimate potential for causing serious injury or death to an affiliate or any person on university property, or
3. Serious crime(s) involving university affiliates or guests as the perpetrator or victim, such as sexual assaults, bias-motivated crimes, armed robberies, or other felony offenses.

Emergency notifications provide information pertaining to life and safety in an immediate manner and/or provide instructions that require immediate action. These can include information related to Clery crimes/Timely Warnings. An explanation of each type of notification, including examples, can be found on the College’s Emergency Management website.

The movement of individuals from a specific, potentially dangerous or threatened area to a safer location. You will be notified of the need to evacuate by Public Safety officials and others via a Cougar Alert, which may be sent through text, phone call, and email, as well as shared on the Emergency Management website. Notice to evacuate may come with little to no warning. Therefore, it is important to be prepared ahead of time to ensure a safe evacuation. Emergency exit routes are posted in each building on campus.

Any individual or organization who performs an operational role in responding to an incident.

Charleston is prone to flooding in low-lying areas due to precipitation and high tides. The National Weather Service issues Flood Watches and/or Flood Warnings as appropriate. A Flood Watch indicates the probability of flooding. A Flood Warning indicates flooding is occurring or will occur soon. Heed warnings from the National Weather Service and those shared by the College of Charleston via email and on the Emergency Management website. If driving, do not drive through water of unknown depth. Turn around, don’t drown. If advised to evacuate the area, do so immediately.

A condition or phenomenon with the potential to cause injury, illness or death of university affiliates or damage to or loss of property.

A major criminal, traffic, or other incident or event with the actual or potential significance to impact a large number of university affiliates, access to one or more buildings, transportation or other vital campus operational services.

A system providing automatic emergency telephone notification to a defined event area.

Any atmospheric condition that is potentially destructive or hazardous to university students, faculty, staff or visitors or their property. These events may include severe thunderstorms, flooding, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, etc., and coincide with storms of freezing precipitation.

Staying or moving indoors to a safe location until an all-clear notification is issued. If you are outdoors, move inside immediately. If indoors, remain where you are or follow your building’s specific instructions on where to go once inside (to an internal room, below ground, upper level, etc.). Shelter in place orders may be given for occurrences such as an active aggressor. If asked to evacuate, follow instructions from Public Safety. Emergency exit routes are posted inside each campus building. If sheltering in place from an active aggressor, remember to lock the door and barricade with any available items.

The potential cause of an unwanted incident that may result in harm to university affiliates, the university organization, the environment, or the community.