VA. COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO EVALUATE SAFETY

The Virginia Community College system has created a statewide task force to evaluate emergency-preparedness procedures in light of the April 16 massacre on the Blacksburg campus of Virginia Tech.

“The apparent randomness of the Virginia Tech tragedy is among its most troubling aspects,” says Glenn DuBois, chancellor of Virginia's Community Colleges. “Through our 23 colleges, we serve more than 230,000 people. It is only prudent that we examine our emergency response capabilities and ensure that our campuses are as safe as they can be.”

The task force says it will review emergency preparedness, communication technologies, policies and the current response plans for each of the system's 40 campus locations. It will report its findings to the Virginia Community College State Board in January 2008.