The following message is from the UMW Office of Emergency Management and Safety:

The University will conduct quarterly testing of UMW Emergency Alert Network (EAN’s) on Thursday, Oct. 16, at 10:16 a.m. on the Fredericksburg and Stafford campuses. The test is in conjunction with in the second annual Great SouthEast ShakeOut, a multi-state simultaneous earthquake drill.

This will include the Area Warning System outside speakers, the Alertus Desktop for University Computers, the UMW Alerts emergency notification system, and Eagle Vision.

In August 2011, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck the commonwealth, centered in the town of Mineral in Louisa County.  The historic quake was felt strongly in most of Virginia and throughout much of the East Coast.  The quake and its hundreds of aftershocks damaged more than 1,400 homes and businesses in Virginia.

In the event of an earthquake, practice these easy-to-remember steps during the ShakeOut:

• Drop!
• Cover!
• Hold on!

For more safety tips, please visit: http://www.earthquakecountry.info/downloads/ShakeOut_Recommended_Earthquake_Safety_Actions.pdf.

For more information about any of the Emergency Alert Networks (EAN’s) contact Christopher D. Cash, emergency systems integrator, at ccash@umw.edu or (540)654-1579.

Dear Colleagues,

In light of this period of cost cutting and fiscal constraint, our annual fall staff event will be different this year. Please plan to gather in Dodd Auditorium on  Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 9:30 a.m. to hear important university updates from President Rick Hurley and then connect with each other over refreshments.

New this year, senior leadership will answer YOUR questions.   

You may visit Ask the Leadership to submit your questions in advance. Questions are being reviewed to make the most of the limited time available. It is unlikely that there will be enough time to respond to all questions. Submissions  received by noon on Wednesday , Oct. 8, would be greatly appreciated. All submissions will be treated anonymously.