Facilities Administration

Planning Design & Construction

Campus Business Continuity Planning

Overview of Business Continuity Planning
Business continuity planning is an integral part of a comprehensive emergency management paradigm that encompasses mitigation, response, and recovery. Conventional corporate continuity planning employs both business and operational impact analyses to focus primarily on avoiding financial losses. Business impact analysis identifies all vital business functions and systems within the organization. The impact of loss or disruption of each of these functions is then identified, evaluated, and categorized according to the time frames required for recovery of each function. The purpose of the impact analysis is to identify the consequences of disruption in terms of financial loss, additional expenses, political, and other intangible factors, and to determine the maximum time period that the organization can tolerate disruption. Recovery priorities for business systems and functions are based on this comprehensive impact analysis.

Campus Application
Although the University's mission is research, teaching, and public service, rather than corporate earnings, standard business continuity principles and processes can be applied to a campus "business" environment. The overall goal should be to reduce risk and minimize disruption of campus research and academic programs. The focus should be on discrete campus building or system failure, rather than trying to deal with the overwhelming aftermath of a catastrophic disaster. In order for campus continuity planning to be both manageable and meaningful, efforts must be tailored to specifically identified reasonable risks.

Management Context
Senior campus executives should consider business continuity planning a risk assessment and management process. Emphasis should be placed on dealing with hazards with the greatest likelihood and consequences. Each possible threat is analyzed according to its probability, rapidity of onset and duration, and potential impact. For example, an unexpected power outage of long duration poses a more significant threat than a well-publicized El Nino storm event. Mitigation measures and contingency plans developed in response to the most significant identified threats must then be evaluated for their cost-effectiveness, and risk management decisions regarding implementation of mitigation and contingency measures can then be made by senior management.

Operational Focus
The focus of campus recovery efforts should be on re-establishing operational capability in support of the University's mission. The three primary functional components of campus operations are: 1) faculty/researchers, students/patients, essential personnel, and other staff; 2) physical plant (access, buildings, and infrastructure [water, sewer, power, and communications systems]); and 3) financial/IT/data processing systems. The campus impact analysis should identify and prioritize mission-critical processes and administrative functions for business resumption. This must include contingencies for alternate or backup computer information systems, and vital records management. Operationally, impact analysis should identify and prioritize restoration for essential campus facilities and infrastructure. Critical facilities and systems must consider contingencies for backup power supply.

Business Continuity Planning Team
The scope of campus business continuity planning is beyond both the authority and capability of campus emergency planners. Campus wide continuity planning requires the support of senior campus management, and the formation of a campus "Business Continuity Planning Team." The team should include senior management personnel from the following campus wide functional areas:

Administrative Vice Chancellor - Business & Finance

Academic Vice Chancellor/Provost

Finance

Budget

Audit/Controller

Risk Management

Information Technology

Facilities/Physical Plant

Architects & Engineers

Telecommunications

Human Resources

Registrar

Purchasing/Contracts

Records Management

Auxiliary Enterprises/Housing & Dining Services

Vendors (especially sole/single source and primary suppliers)

Campus Emergency Planner

Academic departments and research units/institutes participate in continuity planning by identifying critical assets (e.g. collections/specimens/data), facilities/infrastructure support systems, and computer information systems that support their respective research and academic programs. Departmental analyses can be coordinated through the Provost.

Business Continuity Planning Process
The following widely accepted generalized process is recommended for implementation of campuswide continuity planning efforts:

Revised 11/98 - UC Council of Emergency Planners
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