Higher Education Opportunity Act
Mock medical disaster
Much of Messiah University’s crisis management planning and protocols have been guided by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA). The HEOA is a broadly encompassing piece of federal legislation that, in addition to including the Clery Act and other requirements, mandates that all colleges and universities must have crisis management and evacuation plans that are reviewed/updated on an annual basis. The HEOA also requires that colleges and universities conduct an emergency preparedness exercise at least once a year.
Annually, the Crisis Management Team participates in table top and mock incidents to be better prepared. This often involves outside emergency agencies and meets our compliance standards required in the Higher Education Opportunity Act.