Southern Utah University released updated emergency management procedures on Sept. 2, 2026, detailing specific protocols for responding to active shooter incidents and bomb threats on campus. The guidelines provide instructions for students, faculty, and staff to ensure preparedness during unpredictable life-safety events.
Active Shooter Response Protocols
In the event of an active shooter, the university recommends the immediate actions of running, hiding, or fighting. If an individual is in the immediate area of a shooter, they are advised to run if possible, avoiding carrying any items while fleeing and staying low to the ground. If running is not an option, the guidelines suggest locking oneself in a room, turning off lights, and remaining quiet. As a last resort, the university instructs individuals to fight aggressively if their life is in imminent danger.
Handling Bomb Threats
The university's emergency plan also outlines specific procedures for bomb threats, which are categorized by how the threat is received. For threats received by mail, the university instructs individuals to notify university police immediately. For phone threats, the guidelines advise recipients to remain calm and attempt to gather specific details, such as the time and location of the device, the caller's identity, and the number and type of weapons involved.
Emergency Code Words
The university uses specific code words to communicate threat levels during bomb investigations. Under 'Condition Amber,' a bomb threat has been received and sufficient information has been gathered to allow for a visual search of the building while an evacuation takes place. Conversely, 'Condition Red' signifies a bomb threat has been received with no information available regarding the location or timing of an explosion, requiring an immediate evacuation of the building.
Campus Safety and Preparedness
Southern Utah University noted that active shooter incidents on university campuses are a serious and pressing concern, with an average occurrence of every three weeks. The university's policy emphasizes that while most incidents end before law enforcement arrives, preparedness is vital. Employees are responsible for knowing building-specific emergency action plans, which include evacuation routes, life safety equipment locations, and reunification areas.
Law Enforcement Role
During an active shooter event, the university mandates a lockdown if the shooter is not in the immediate area, requiring all exterior doors to be secured and silence to be maintained until an 'All Clear' message is issued. In both active shooter and bomb threat scenarios, the university police department remains responsible for determining the validity of a threat and directing the necessary response actions.
Post-Incident Guidelines
The university advises that when law enforcement arrives at an active shooter scene, individuals should keep their hands visible and follow all instructions. For bomb threats, the police department is responsible for determining if a threat is a hoax or a real event and deciding when it is safe for occupants to re-enter a building following an evacuation.
