Vassar College

Emergency Response Information

IN ANY EMERGENCY, call ext. 7333 from any campus telephone.

Emergency blue phones are also located throughout the campus.

The college prepares for a variety of emergency situations under the leadership of the Crisis Response Planning Group. The group meets regularly throughout the year, organizes teams to study resources and procedures, conducts table top exercises with public safety agencies, and develops the College’s Crisis Management Plan.

Emergency Notification and Campus Communication Systems

The college has developed multiple means of communicating emergency information, including the Vassar College web site (http://www.vassar.edu/emergency/), automated telephone and text messaging, an emergency siren, and other means.

Automated Telecommunications/Email/Text Message Systems

Computing and Information Services, in collaboration with College Relations and Security, has installed, maintains and tests emergency communications systems capable of sending automated telephone calls, emails and text messages to the entire student body and workforce.

Twice a year the college tests the automated telephone and text systems by sending a text message to cell phones (students and employees) and recorded voice messages to cell phones (students and employees) and home phones (employees only) who have registered their contact information. These tests are always announced in advance. All students and employees are encouraged to provide contact information which can be used in the event of an emergency.

Emergency Siren

The emergency siren is an all-campus notification device mounted on the top of Thompson Library and the Athletics and Fitness Center that will be used when there is an imminent, campus-wide, life-threatening situation (for example, a shooter on campus). It has the capability to be heard within a half-mile radius outdoors.

When the siren is activated, it means “Shelter in place and await further instructions.” ‘Shelter in Place’ means to stay indoors in a secure location, preferably in a locked room and away from windows, and if outdoors, get indoors immediately. As further information becomes known, text, email, and phone messages as appropriate will be sent to the campus community.

In a situation where the siren is activated, the College Response Center (CRC) will contact appropriate public safety authorities for assistance, and also initiate the college’s response protocol involving senior officers and other members of the college’s crisis response teams.

Fire Safety and Evacuation Instructions

Vassar students must become familiar with the policies and procedures outlined by the Office of Residential Life to prepare and respond properly whenever a fire alarm sounds.

Evacuation Procedures: When the fire alarm rings in a building, the following procedures should be followed:

Evacuation of Persons with Disabilities

The safe evacuation of all members of the Vassar College community in the event of a fire or emergency is of the utmost importance. We strongly recommend that all students and employees who have disabilities or impairments that might interfere with their safe emergency evacuation from campus buildings contact the Office of Disability and Support Services, ext. 7584. A list of persons needing evacuation assistance, as well as their room/office location, is made available to Safety and Security and the Arlington Fire Department at the site of an evacuation, in the event of an emergency.

Any individual who cannot evacuate a building in an emergency independently or safely with little assistance from others should shelter in place within a room or office, or move to an area of refuge.  If forced to stay in place during an emergency or if you need evacuation assistance:

Any individual requiring evacuation assistance is encouraged to update his/her self-identification information semi-annually, no later than August 30 and January 30 of each calendar year, or whenever circumstances warrant an update (e.g., changes in his/her condition that would require a change in assistance).  A list of persons needing evacuation assistance will be distributed to Safety and Security as well as the Arlington Fire Department.

Academic Calendar

  • August 31: Classes begin
  • September 5: Labor Day - no classes
  • September 7: Fall Convocation
  • September 13: Add period ends
  • September 24-25: Freshmen Families Weekend
  • October 14: Drop period ends
  • October 15-23: October break
  • November 7-18: Preregistration for spring
  • November 23-27: Thanksgiving recess
  • December 12: Classes end
  • December 13-14: Study period
  • December 15-21: Examinations

View Academic Calendar

124 Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12604
845.437.7000