The recent tragedy at Northern Illinois University reminds us how important it is to the safety and well-being of all members of our community for each of us to respond quickly and appropriately to unpredictable circumstances or conditions.  FIT Security, along with other administrative and academic leaders, are prepared to act expeditiously in case of an emergency.

In order to respond successfully, we need all members of the community to remember and follow these simple instructions:

1.    In case of emergency, call Security:  7-7777 (212-217-7777). 

Campus security officers are strategically located at posts throughout our campus twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. In addition, officers routinely patrol all campus buildings and grounds and are in place to be dispatched immediately in response to any reported emergency.  Security will determine immediately if additional resources, such as the New York Police Department, New York Fire Department, or emergency medical responders, need to be called in. The safest and surest response to any emergency is to call 7-7777.

2.    In case of a fire alarm, evacuate the building immediately. 

Do not wait for instructions via the public address system or from any individual and do not call Security to ask if there is a real fire or if this is just a drill. Every building on the FIT campus is equipped with smoke detectors and an automatic alarm system. It is not possible to know why an alarm was triggered until there is an investigation, which takes time. For these reasons, you must evacuate the building immediately, regardless of weather conditions or time of day, when the alarm sounds. In the case of the academic buildings that are connected, evacuation includes moving to a building where the alarm is not sounding.

3.    In case of a message through the public address system, follow the instructions without exception.  

Instructions over the public address system will be brief but specific, i.e., to stay in the building, to leave the building, or to close and lock doors. The public address system will also be used to give the “all clear” to indicate that it is safe to either leave a classroom, office, or building after a lockdown or to return to a building after an evacuation. 

4.    Sign up for the FIT Alert System. 

We are implementing a system to deliver text, email, and voice messages to include instructions and additional information in the event of an emergency or incident on campus. This new system is an essential component of FIT’s strategy to contact all members of the community and provide critical information. However, it will only be successful if all faculty, staff, and students sign up. 

To sign up for this system, log in to the MyFIT Portal and click on the Emergency Messaging System link at the top of the “FIT Web Resources”

channel on the MyFIT home tab. The system will be used to deliver messages about weather-related closings as well as emergency-related information. 

5.    Use FIT sources of information.

College closing and emergency information is also delivered via the college’s website, www.fitnyc.edu, the emergency telephone line, 212 217.7792, and through FIT email.

The health and safety of our entire community are of singular importance.  Please become familiar with these instructions in order to be better prepared for any emergency that might arise.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,
Sherry F. Brabham
Vice President for Finance and Administration

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Balancing work and family…creating special family time

 According to a study reported in the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, couples who are successful at balancing work and family maintain a commitment to family as their highest priority. Through their planning and actions, both members of the couple work hard to maintain family as their highest priority in making decisions about their behavior in daily life. To do this, couples proactively create opportunities for family time, which often involve family rituals, routines, and special family time, such as “pizza night” every Friday, attending soccer games, and bedtime stories. Below are more suggestions on how to create special times for family:

Tips for creating and enjoying special family time

1. Eat together regularly. Meals are opportunities for communication and unity. Turn off the television and allow the answering machine to answer the phone and give your family your full attention. You will help your family get the most out this time by actively listening to your children and praising and encouraging each other. Active listening instills trust and self-worth in children.
    

2. Plan family outings. Go on family hikes, drives and picnics. Go to a park or watch a high school or youth sporting event. Go to local concerts, movies, the zoo or museums. Visit family and friends together. Let children plan some trips to encourage their involvement.
    

3.  3. Play games together. Turn off the television and video games at least once a week and play games one-on-one, or as a family. Play outside if weather permits.
    

4. Share hobbies and interests. Activities like cooking, collecting, crafts, fishing or biking open the door to greater involvement and family time. Hobbies are a great way to spend more time with teens and to create opportunities to listen and talk with them. Spending hobby time with children encourages learning and skill development.
    

5. Other ideas:

• Family movie night

• Walking the dogs after dinner

• Reading aloud at bedtime

• Taking a family picture for the holidays

 
Your EAP is here to help

Remember, your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available to help you or a family member, with any type of personal, family or work-related concern. If you are concerned about a particularly difficult family or parenting issue, or need help improving your work/life balance, your EAP can help you. All EAP services are FREE and strictly CONFIDENTIAL. To contact the EAP counselor, please feel free to call us directly at (212) 217-7167. (Please do not use e-mail to request your appointment as the Internet is not a confidential means of communication.)

For additional information, please check out our website at:

http://www3.fitnyc.edu/eap/

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The Fall 2007 schedule of our Lunchtime Seminars and monthly Elder Care Support Group meetings has been sent out. If you have not received a copy, you can find it on our website at these addresses:

http://www3.fitnyc.edu/eap/LunchtimeSeminarPrograms.htm and http://www3.fitnyc.edu/eap/eldercaresupportgroup.htm

Our Fall lunchtime seminars include:

• Dealing with Difficult Student Situations – September 27 or October 22, 2007
   

• Coping with Difficult People – October 11, 2007
   

• Coping with the Loss of a Loved One – November 8, 2007

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