Bard College at Simon's Rock: the Early College
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  2. Student Life
  3. Living on Campus
  4. Campus Safety
  5. Emergency Procedures
  6. Power Outage Procedures and Safety

Power Outages

For any on-campus emergency, dial ‘0’ or x7291 for the Campus Safety Department. From a cell phone dial 413-528-7291.

Emergency Lighting

  • Campus buildings are equipped with battery powered emergency lighting that will provide some light in most common spaces and along pathways to exit the building.
  • Campus Safety will assess the extent of the power outage and it's estimated duration. This information will be distributed to the residence directors.
  • Information about the outage can be attained from the residence directors, peer advocates, and proctors.
  • Stay away from downed power lines, trees, or any structure damaged in a storm.
  • As always, all community members are encouraged to report safety concerns to Campus Safety or residence directors as soon as possible. Land-line, corded telephones will function normally in a power outage. Use a hall or common phone if you have a cordless phone in your room or office.
  • Internet and Email: The campus computer network will not be available during a power outage. The College server is backed up by a generator to protect data and to avoid problems with a system restart. However, on campus connections to the server are backed up by battery and may lose power within 20 minutes.
  • Telephones: Corded telephones, office phones, and all residence hall common area phones are backed up by generator in a power failure and will continue to function normally. Cordless telephones need full power to work and will not function during a power outage.
  • The College’s Emergency Alert System is hosted off campus, will remain fully functional, and will be used if necessary.

Buildings and areas immediately closed in a power outage:

  • The DAC Shop building
  • The McConnell Theater
  • All laboratory rooms in the Fisher Science and Academic Center

Buildings immediately closed during power outages after sunset:

  • The Kilpatrick Athletic Center
  • Daniel Arts Center
  • Fisher Science
  • Academic Center

Other nonresidential buildings may be closed as necessary.

Classes will proceed as normal unless otherwise posted on the exterior doors of the Alumni Library, Academic Affairs Office, and the Dining Hall. Evening classes may be relocated or canceled.
  • If it is determined that the power will be out for an extended period of time, the College generator will provide power for lower campus.
  • If necessary, students living on upper campus will be temporarily relocated until full power is restored.