When confronted with a minor emergency, DCTC normally carries out responsibilities largely independently. However, in the event of a major emergency/disaster, the actions of DCTC and the Office of the Chancellor must be closely coordinated to respond effectively. The DCTC Emergency Preparedness Plan encompasses several additional plans which support the overall All Hazards Planning Architecture. The objectives of these plans are:
The campus publishes an Emergency Procedures Reference Guide to assist the college community in common emergencies that may occur while on campus.
We strive to make the best decisions we can around weather delays and closures, balancing our need to keep students and employees safe with ensuring continuity in student learning and campus events.
In making the decision, we consider a number of factors. We consider weather factors like snow accumulation rates, wind strength, and wind chill. We consider travel factors like MnDOT travel advisories and availability of public transit. We also consider operational factors like how many classes would be disrupted, what campus events are scheduled, and the impact on our co-located partners.
Our threshold for canceling classes or closing the campus is different from that used by local school districts. We do not automatically delay classes or close if K-12 schools close.
StarAlert is our primary method of communicating weather delays/closures and emergency messages. Learn more about this system and how to keep your contact information up to date:
The college also uses these additional methods for communicating weather delays/closures and emergency messages:
We will try to make decisions about winter weather-related delays or closures the evening before. However, we often need to see how weather materializes overnight. In those circumstances, we will seek to make decisions by the following times:
StarAlert is DCTC's emergency notification system for students and employees. It delivers time-sensitive emergency notifications and updates to you from campus leaders and the Safety and Security Department, within minutes via phone calls, texts and/or emails.
All students and employees will receive StarAlert messages to their primary contact methods listed with the college.
To update or add additional contact information, create an account on the Blackboard Portal. Use your StarID to create an account for the first time.
