STLCC-Wildwood Hosts Crisis Training Workshop

As part of the College’s ongoing commitment to safety, STLCC Campus Police recently facilitated a crisis training workshop at the Wildwood campus in partnership with St. Louis County’s Office of Emergency Management.

The exercise was an opportunity for the College to evaluate its crisis response plans and discuss best practices with area first responders and supporting agencies.

Workshop participants included STLCC Campus Police commanders, STLCC-Wildwood’s Emergency Response Team (which is comprised of campus staff from Academic Affairs, Facilities, Information Technology, Marketing and Communications, and Student Affairs), and representatives from Mercy Hospital, Metro West Fire Protection District, the National Weather Service, St. Louis County Police and St. Louis County’s Office of Emergency Management.

During the tabletop exercise, the group was presented with a scenario in which severe weather caused damage to the Wildwood campus and parts of the surrounding community. Participants were challenged to evaluate the potential threats and determine the appropriate response.

S. Carol Lupardus, Ph.D., president and chief academic officer at STLCC-Wildwood, volunteered to host the training at Wildwood. She also took an active role in the workshop.

“The exercise was a great learning experience because it provided us with a better understanding of the priorities and resources connected with a crisis,” she said. “We truly appreciate the opportunity to engage in this important work with Campus Police and our local partners. We look forward to taking the information that was shared and using it to improve our crisis response.”

Benjamin Talley, captain of STLCC Campus Police, echoed Lupardus’ sentiments and acknowledged the College’s work to ensure a safe environment for students and staff.

“As a multi-campus system, it’s imperative that we continuously examine our plans from a business continuity standpoint,” Talley said. “We’re committed to safety, and this training was a positive way for us to test various components of our plan with the support of our partners.”