Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP)

• Essential Functions – The critical activities performed by organizations, especially after a disruption of normal activities.
• Orders of Succession – Provisions for the assumption of senior university offices during an emergency in the event that any of those officials are unavailable to execute their duties.
• Delegations of Authority Identification, by position, of the authorities for making policy determinations and decisions at leadership team levels, field levels, and all other organizational levels. Generally, pre-determined delegations of authority will take effect when normal channels of direction have been disrupted and will lapse when these channels have been reestablished.
• Continuity Facilities – Locations, other than the primary facility, used to carry out essential functions, particularly in a continuity event. Continuity Facilities, or “Alternate facilities”, refers to not only other locations, but also nontraditional options such as working at home. (“Teleworking”), telecommuting, and mobile-office concepts.
• Continuity Communications– Communications that provide the capability to perform essential functions, in conjunction with other departments, under all conditions.
• Vital Records Management – the identification, protection and ready availability of electronic and hard copy documents, references, records, information systems, data management software and equipment needed to support essential functions during a continuity situation.
• Human Capital – during a continuity event, emergency employees and other special categories of employees who are activated by the university to perform assigned response duties.
• The Office of Emergency Management can assist departments throughout the campus to create their continuity plan that identify both strategies for coping with events when they occur, and preparations that can be done in advance. Call 719-255-3212 or cnorton@uccs.edu.

Resources:

Continuity of Operations Plan Overview

Request for COOP plan access