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James Lee Witt Associates Recommends That Parents Learn about the Crisis Program at Institutions of Higher Education This Fall

NEW YORK-(Business Wire)-September 4, 2008 - GlobalOptions Group’s (Nasdaq: GLOI) Crisis Management and Preparedness Services Division, James Lee Witt Associates, recommends that parents going through the college and university orientation process ask questions about how they fit into the institution’s safety and security plan. The process for communicating and responding to an emergency varies greatly from institution to institution and parents should be informed about the pertinent details of each school’s plan.

Less than a week ago President Bush signed federal legislation with requirements for emergency planning and notification for all universities. The College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2008 requires colleges and universities across the country to review their emergency notification procedures. Issues around safety and security are at the forefront of administrators’ minds.

“Parents are naturally concerned about their children’s safety in a disaster, especially when they are away at school. Recent school tragedies have led the executive leadership at many colleges and universities to develop sophisticated security and crisis management programs. It is important that parents know how they fit into those plans. They should understand before the disaster strikes what types of support and communication the institution plans on providing. Parents should encourage their children to sign up for any emergency notification system that the institution provides,” Jennifer Thamer, Director, Higher Education Practice, James Lee Witt Associates.

Witt Associates has a dedicated practice working exclusively on the development and implementation of crisis preparedness, response and continuity services for higher educational institutions. Its team has worked on dozens of projects with colleges and universities, offering plan development, training, exercises, response and recovery and crisis communications expertise.

For parents partaking in the annual orientation process, Thamer recommends asking specific questions about the school’s emergency preparedness and communication plans.

Does the institution have a written plan and are staff trained and exercised on the plan?
At the start of the academic year are new students given an overview that covers what they should do or what they can expect in a crisis?
How will the college or university communicate with students in an emergency?
What channels will the college or university use to notify parents of a crisis on campus when it may or may not directly affect their child?
What types of information will the school not disclose due to federal or state privacy laws?

“The safety of students and staff is the primary goal of any emergency plan,” said James Lee Witt, Chief Executive Officer, James Lee Witt Associates. “The reputation of an institution of higher education can be built or lost on how well it has planned for an emergency. Colleges and universities have recognized this and are developing plans to protect their students, assets and reputation. They may be educating students about their plans, but it is important for parents to know what to do as well. Parents should also review this information with their children and develop a family plan to meet up or notify each other in the aftermath of a disaster.”

James Lee Witt Associates

Founded in 2001, James Lee Witt Associates (JLWA), a unit of GlobalOptions Group, is a crisis and emergency management consulting firm based in Washington, DC with offices in Atlanta, Chicago, and Sacramento. JLWA has unrivaled experience and hands-on knowledge of public safety, disaster mitigation, continuity of operations, and emergency management issues. Additional information can be found at www.wittassociates.com.

GlobalOptions Group

GlobalOptions Group, with headquarters in New York City and offices in 16 cities, is a provider of high-end risk assessment and mitigation services to Fortune 1000 corporations, governmental organizations and high-profile individuals throughout the world. GlobalOptions Group’s services currently include risk management and security, investigations and litigation support, and crisis management. These engagements take GlobalOptions Group staff around the world and are typically highly-sensitive engagements where GlobalOptions Group is interacting with senior leaders in corporations and governments. Its overall mission is to identify, evaluate, assess, prevent and correct issues that may threaten people, organizations or strategic initiatives for corporations or governments. Additional information can be found at www.globaloptionsgroup.com.

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