When an emergency happens, seconds matter. Whether it’s a medical emergency, severe weather, a dangerous situation, or a disruption to campus operations, the effectiveness of an alert depends on one critical factor: people understanding what it means and knowing what to do next.
That’s why the University of Utah Department of Public Safety is implementing the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) as part of its broader approach to campus emergency communications. The goal is simple: create a common language for safety that helps our campus community respond quickly, confidently, and appropriately when incidents occur.
The Department of Public Safety has developed a safety training video on using the SRP in higher education settings. It explains how SRP is integrated into campus alerts, why concise protective actions matter, and how its use is adapted for a university setting. The training helps viewers understand what to expect in an campus alert and provides implementation guidance for those responsible for creating and issuing safety communications.
What Is the Standard Response Protocol?
The Standard Response Protocol was originally developed to provide clear, action-oriented guidance during emergencies for K-12 schools across the nation. Rather than beginning with a lengthy explanation of an incident, SRP starts with the most important information: the protective action people should take immediately. These protective actions include:
- HOLD – Stay in your room or area.
- SECURE – Get or stay inside and lock outside doors.
- LOCKDOWN – Locks, lights, out of sight.
- EVACUATE – Get to a safer location.
- SHELTER – Follow instructions based on the specific hazard.
Each action is designed to quickly communicate the safest response to a developing situation.
Why Higher Education Requires More Context
University campuses are unique environments. Unlike K-12 schools, higher ed campuses include residence halls, classrooms, hospitals, research facilities, libraries, athletic venues, and public spaces, with thousands of people moving throughout the day. Because of that complexity, a simple one-word directive is often not enough.
At the University of Utah, emergency alerts combine the Standard Response Protocol with principles from the Warning Lexicon, a research-based approach to crisis communication that helps answer critical questions:
- Who is sending the message?
- What is happening?
- Where is it happening?
- Who is affected?
- What action should I take?
- When will I receive another update?
Providing this additional context helps community members determine whether an alert applies to them and what steps they should take to remain safe.
Beyond Emergencies: Additional Campus Alert Types
Not every situation requires an emergency protective action. To support a wide range of safety and operational communications, the university also utilizes several additional alert categories.
- Safety Notices – Provide awareness about incidents that may affect the campus community but do not necessarily require immediate action. Examples include Clery-reportable crimes, ongoing investigations, or situations where awareness and vigilance are important.
- Campus Advisories – Communicate disruptions or conditions that may impact campus operations. Examples include weather-related concerns, road closures, utility interruptions, or access issues that may affect daily activities.
- All Clear – An All-Clear message is just as important as the original alert. It communicates that the situation has been resolved and normal operations may resume.
Building a Safer Campus Together
Emergency alerts are most effective when everyone understands them.
By combining the Standard Response Protocol with modern emergency communication practices, the University of Utah is creating a system that is clearer, more consistent, and easier to understand across our diverse campus community.
This effort is about more than changing alert language. It’s about building trust, improving preparedness, and helping every student, employee, patient, and visitor know what to do when it matters most.
As implementation continues, the Department of Public Safety will provide additional education, resources, and opportunities for the campus community to become familiar with these important safety tools.
Together, we can create a campus that is safer, more informed, and better prepared for any situation.