Basic Continuity of Operations Plan
University of North Dakota
Version 2016
Instructions
To be better prepared, all University of North Dakota (UND) units and components may use this
template to complete a Basic Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP). A COOP is intended to
describe how your unit will operate during an emergency and recover afterwards to be fully
operational. The intent is to help you plan not only for major disasters (e.g. total loss of a
building, extended campus evacuation) but also lesser interruptions to service (e.g., the network
or your computers are down). It puts planning in perspective and makes it more likely that crisis
response will operate smoothly. This is your Plan so feel free to augment this template to meet
your needs.
The goals of a COOP and recovery are:
 To ensure that maximum possible service levels are maintained during an event, and
 To ensure that units recover from interruptions as quickly as possible
For a more comprehensive plan template, see the Emergency Management website under
Campus Safety, Comprehensive Guide to Continuity of Operations Planning.
1. Name of Unit: Department of Sciences
2. Unit Head of Operations: James Dressler, Department Chair
Examples: AVP, Dean, Director, or Manager.
 Phone: XXXX
 Cell: XXXX
 E-mail: james.dressler@und.edu
3. Plan Developer/Coordinator:
 Phone: Wanda Schmidt
 Cell: XXXX
 E-mail: xxxxx.xxxxxxx@und.edu
4. Unit Leadership Succession (head of operations, first successor, second successor, third
successor):
Example: Head: Dean/Director. 1st-Associate Dean/ Director. 2nd--Office Mgr. 3rd
Assistant to Dean/Director.
Head
1st Successor
2nd Successor
3rd Successor
Name
James Dressler
Jane Doe
John Smith
Wanda Schmidt
Phone number
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
Alternate phone number
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
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5. Emergency Communication (phone, email or website where faculty and staff can
communicate):
 Phone: (place James Dressler’s contact information here)
 E-mail: james.dressler@und.edu
 Website: XXXX
6. Describe the priority operations of your unit:
Examples: a. Provide central information technology for UND.
b. Assist students with resumes/cover letter critiques, job search and practice
interviews.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Teaching Sciences
Research Sciences
Service to UND/Department/Community
Administration of Sciences department\Community
(These can also be your Essential Functions)
7. Briefly describe your unit’s work at home plan:
Example: Essential Personnel, or those responsible for essential functions vital to the
continuity of University operation, have been identified. They can work from home in certain
emergencies and will provide daily updates and track hours worked.
Certain personnel have been identified as Essential Personnel. They can work from home
in certain situations and will provide daily updates and track hours worked if required.
Certain events will require a different set of personnel to be classified as Essential
Personnel.
Essential Personnel will report to work as directed or work from home depending upon
the situation.
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8. List Essential Personnel who must be prepared to sustain essential functions. You may have a
core group of Essential Personnel but this group can be expanded in certain situations.
Name
James Dressler
Jane Doe
John Smith
Wanda Schmidt
Title
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
Phone number
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
9. Unit IT Support Contact Information (examples: college, department, ITSS, CILT):
 Name: College IT Director, Kevin Miller
 Phone: XXXX
 E-mail: kevin.miller@und.edu
10. Essential Functions (defined as those whose loss would cause adverse effects on students,
faculty or clients) Note: Each unit generally has 3-4 essential functions (Attach additional
sheets if necessary).
Example: Essential Function: UND Enterprise Applications
Primary: Jane Doe.
Alternate: John Smith
Continuity Strategy: backup systems, cross-training and documentation
Essential Function:
Teaching Sciences
Persons Responsible (primary):
James Dressler
Persons Responsible (alternate):
Jane Doe
Continuity Strategy:
Coordinate with Provost’s Office on continuity of campus-wide instruction. Provide for
classroom instruction using other locations or through online learning systems such as
Blackboard. Collaborate with Core Technology Services and CILT to ensure instruction
can occur via networks.
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Essential Function:
Research
Persons Responsible (primary):
James Dressler
Persons Responsible (alternate):
John Smith
Continuity Strategy:
Perform research remotely if possible. Coordinate with Provost, College, and Office of
Emergency Management to help prioritize continued operations and services.
Essential Function:
Service
Persons Responsible (primary):
James Dressler
Persons Responsible (alternate):
John Smith
Continuity Strategy:
Work remotely when possible.
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Essential Function:
Administration
Persons Responsible (primary):
James Dressler
Persons Responsible (alternate):
Wanda Schmidt
Continuity Strategy:
Work remotely when possible.
11. Relocation Site
Examples: Remote network/Blackboard access for all full-time faculty and staff (Essential
Functions 1-3). Off-campus alternate sites at Job Service ND or Mayville State University
(Essential Functions 1 and 4).
Location:
Merrifield Hall
Blackboard
Essential functions operational from this site:
Functions 1-4 (with some limitations) and no lab space.
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Alternate Location if applicable:
School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Essential functions operational from this site:
Functions 1-4 (with some limitations). Some lab space may be available.
12. Vital data systems or equipment necessary to continue operations:
Examples: Communication system, PeopleSoft, internal drives, network, data files and
Blackboard.
Computers
Phones
Network (data storage, files, email, Blackboard and other learning management systems)
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13. Special considerations that your unit may face in an emergency:
Example: Essential functions #1 and #2 have a recovery time objective (RTO) of 2 hours to
prevent a significant impact on service responsibilities. Thus additional resources may be
needed.
1. Classes and labs occur in at least three different buildings.
2. Labs are highly specialized, and complex to relocate or to repurpose alternate site
space.
3. One lab is a vivarium. Animals will need to be relocated immediately to a proper and
secure environment.
14. Attach emergency contact information of all the staff in your unit.
15. Share your completed plan with your staff.
16. Send a paper copy and an electronic copy in a CD to Emergency Management Office
(Safety Building, Stop 9031).
17. Review plan at least annually.
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