COOP annual review and submission deadline: March 16
From: Emergency Management
Continuity of Operations Plans (COOPs) must be submitted by March 16 through the emergency planning portal. Each department has a designated COOP coordinator responsible for maintaining an updated plan.
A COOP is a business continuity plan that helps departments sustain essential functions following an emergency or disruptive incident. This is not an emergency response plan. Instead, it outlines preplanned actions that allow departments to continue operations when normal business is interrupted.
If implemented, a COOP is designed to be activated within 12 hours of an incident and provides guidance for sustaining operations for up to 30 days. COOPs address disruptions such as:
- Loss of access to a facility or part of a facility
- Loss of personnel or reduced workforce capacity
- Loss of services due to equipment or utility failures
Each department’s COOP should include team notification procedures, leadership succession, delegations of authority, essential space and equipment needs, implementation procedures, and a communications plan.
Virginia Tech Emergency Management oversees the COOP program. Annual updates are required in accordance with University Policy 1005 and University Policy 5615.
Questions about COOP requirements should be directed to Virginia Tech Emergency Management at 540-231-4873 or oem@vt.edu.