Because of recent violent crimes, natural disasters, and other emergencies or crises, colleges and universities are convening committees and task forces to reexamine or conduct a comprehensive review of policies, procedures, and systems related to campus safety and security. As with many critical areas on the agendas of administrators, campus safety requires building support and conducting a thorough and systematic process to produce a quality plan to prepare for and manage emergencies on campus. This Action Guide gives higher education institutions a useful resource in the field of emergency management. It is intended for community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, graduate schools, and research institutions associated with higher education entities, both public and private. This action guide may be used as: (1) a starting point in researching the topic of emergency management for those needing an overview of the subject; (2) a resource for an initiative to develop and implement an emergency management plan at a higher education institution; or (3) a reference and resource for colleges and universities looking to evaluate their emergency management programs to identify potential areas needing enhancement. Nine key principles serve as the foundation for the content of this action guide: (1) Effective emergency management begins with senior leadership on campus; (2) An Institution of Higher Education (IHE) emergency management initiative requires partnerships and collaboration; (3) An IHE emergency management plan must adopt an "all-hazards" approach to account for the full range of hazards that threaten or may threaten the campus; (4) An IHE emergency management plan should use the four phases of emergency management to effectively prepare and respond to emergencies; (5) The IHE emergency management plan must be based on a comprehensive design, while also providing for staff, students, faculty, and visitors with special needs; (6) Campuses should engage in a comprehensive planning process that addresses the particular circumstances and environment of their institution; (7) An IHE should conduct trainings based on the institution's prevention and preparedness efforts, prioritized threats, and issues highlighted from assessments; (8) Higher education institutions should conduct tabletop exercises prior to fully adopting and implementing the emergency management plan; and (9) After adoption, disseminate information about the plan to students, staff, faculty, community partners, and families. These key principles of emergency management are reflected throughout the four steps (Prevention-Mitigation, Preparation, Response, and Recovery) recommended in this action guide for developing and implementing a plan. (Contains 2 figures, 2 tables, and a bibliography.)