UO Academic and Research Continuity Planning Initiative

The University of Oregon is defined by its mission of research, teaching and public service. The university’s ability to accomplish its mission is vulnerable to any emergency situation which results in a significant loss of vital resources such as buildings, equipment, infrastructure, technology, students or personnel. UO’s academic and research continuity planning initiative provides a systematic interdisciplinary approach to planning for ways in which the university can continue or quickly resume essential operations during and after a disaster.

In the absence of preparation through systematic, university-wide business continuity planning, a prolonged disruption of university operations will create a profound functional and financial liability for the university with effects on:

• Academic– prolonged disruption or suspension of classes during an emergency in the absence of the ability to continue instruction using other modes will immediately impact the education of students.
• Research – a prolonged disruption involving loss of resources will immediately damage the ability of faculty to continue valuable research.
• Retention– some students and faculty will leave for other institutions less affected by the emergency, including valuable researchers and scholars.
• Reputation– negative effects on education, research, and student/faculty retention could result in long-term damage to and reputation of the university.
• Enrollment– the cumulative negative effects of a prolonged emergency could result in reduced applications and enrollment at the university.
• Fiscal stability– damage to education, research, retention, reputation and enrollment would reduce revenue from all sources including tuition and grants while major expenses related to recovery are added to the continued costs of university operation.

UO’s academic and research continuity planning initiative identifies the functions or tasks that make up day-to-day operations and catalogues the resources required for a fully operational department. Continuity planning supports rapid and systematic prioritization during response and recovery to preserve those essential functions. The express goal of continuity planning is to provide a plan of action that, in the event of a major emergency or disruption, specifies the key resources and staff, as well as a process and procedures for re-establishing departmental/unit services. By regularly reviewing and testing this plan, departments can respond to disruptions in a professional, orderly, and expedient manner, which will minimize the negative effects and expedite restoration of its functions.

The decentralized nature of university decision-making and operations makes a single “one-size-fits-all” business continuity plan inadequate for the university’s needs. Involvement and input by individual departments and units will be essential for effective planning. Unique plans for each department/unit are tailored to each departments needs.  Collaborative department-based business continuity planning will enable the university to identify needs and requirements unique to the individual department as well as those shared by multiple departments or the university as a whole. By identifying critical functions and taking the actions necessary to protect, sustain and support those functions the university will greatly enhance its ability to continue or to quickly resume mission-critical functions in an emergency situation.