Emergency Preparedness Training
The Brandeis University Department of Public Safety is committed to working in partnership with students, faculty, staff, and visitors to strengthen campus safety and overall preparedness. Emergencies are rare, but being informed and prepared makes a meaningful difference in how individuals and communities respond, recover, and support one another.
Preparedness begins with understanding. Knowing what to do during an emergency, recognizing early warning signs, and taking simple steps to prepare at home and at work all help reduce risk and limit potential impacts. These actions not only protect you personally, but also contribute to the resilience of the broader Brandeis community.
Public Safety’s mission is to provide professional, coordinated services that support a safe learning and working environment. Achieving that goal depends on shared responsibility. An informed community that understands prevention, de-escalation, and response plays a critical role in keeping campus safe.
To support this effort, Public Safety offers a range of training programs designed to increase awareness, build practical skills, and promote confidence during uncertain situations. These sessions address topics such as emergency preparedness, personal safety, de-escalation, recognizing concerning behavior, and appropriate responses to critical incidents. Trainings are tailored for campus audiences and emphasize prevention, communication, and coordination.
Training opportunities are provided through both the Law Enforcement Division and the Emergency Management Division. Sessions can be scheduled for departments, student organizations, classes, or other campus groups.
Please review the training opportunities listed below. Additional information will be added as programs expand. To request a session or learn more, contact the Department of Public Safety.
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This graphic shows various types of locks on the Brandeis campus and how they work.
Here's Our Recommended Statement
Wellbeing Statement
As a student, you may experience stressors that impact your academic career and personal well-being. These can include but are not limited to, academic pressure, mental and emotional health, challenges associated with relationships, alcohol or drug misuse, identities, financial challenges, etc.
Pay attention to your personal signs that you’re overly stressed, like changes in your mood, appetite, sleep, behavior, or new physical symptoms (aches, pains, etc.) that interfere with school and daily life. If you or a friend is struggling, we strongly encourage you to seek support. Seeking help is a courageous thing to do for yourself as your well-being is important. Brandeis University offers multiple resources to promote your well-being and success as an individual. If you are struggling with this class, please visit during office hours or contact me by email.
This course was designed to educate the public on threatening or potentially concerning behaviors, inform them of the importance of reporting these behaviors, and direct them on how to properly report these concerns. Reporting behaviors that indicate targeted violence provides an opportunity for intervention to prevent targeted violence from occurring. This training was designed to help facilitate these reports by teaching community members how to recognize threats and potential indicators of targeted violence and what to do once they recognize them.
Foundations of Violence Prevention
On campus Active Threat Training
If facing an active shooter/violent intruder situation, use the below recommendations to guide your response decisions.
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Immediately evacuate if there is a safe escape path
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Evacuate yourself whether others around you agree to evacuate or not
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Leave your belongings behind
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When you are safe, call Brandeis Police or 911 to report the attacker
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Lock and/or barricade all door(s) and entrances
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Turn off lights and lower window shades
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Silence your cell phone and other electronics
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Hide behind large, thick objects
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Remain silent
Your hiding place should:
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Be out of the attacker’s view
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Provide protection from gun shots or weapons
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Not trap or restrict your options for movement
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Attempt to incapacitate the active shooter / violent intruder
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Act with physical aggression
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Use improvised weapons
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Work together with others
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Commit to your actions
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Don’t pick up the active shooter / violent intruder’s weapon
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Your exact location
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Location of the active shooter / violent intruder
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Number of attackers, if more than one
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Physical description of attacker(s)
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Number and type of weapons held by the attacker(s)
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Remain calm, and follow officers’ instructions
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Raise hands and spread fingers
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Keep hands visible at all times
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Avoid making quick movements toward officers
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Do not stop to ask officers for help
Brandies has numerous measures in place that are designed to prevent, prepare for, and respond to an active shooter / violent intruder incident:
An active shooter is defined as “one or more individuals actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area.” In most cases, active shooters use firearms and there is typically no pattern or method to their selection of victims. Active shooter situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly. All community members can help prevent and prepare for potential active shooter situations. This course offers guidance to individuals --- including supervisors, staff, and volunteers --- to help organizations and communities become better prepared to prevent, respond to, and recover from an active shooter situation. NOTE: This course is not written for law enforcement officers, but for non-law enforcement staff, employees, and volunteers. The material may provide law enforcement officers information on recommended actions for non-law enforcement staff to enhance preparedness against the active shooter threat.
Course Objectives:
- Define the active shooter threat and the characteristics of an active shooter incident.
- Describe actions to take when responding to an active shooter incident.
- Describe how to help others in a bleeding emergency.
- Describe the priorities and potential initial actions of responding law enforcement officers.
- Describe short- and long-term considerations for recovering from an incident.
- Recognize the warning signs when an individual is potentially on a pathway to violence.
- Assess the potential for violence and report what you know.
- Describe actions to prepare for, protect against, and potentially prevent an active shooter incident.
Page Updated: 1.13.2026