Presidential Classroom Safety and Security Measures

"Presidential Classroom is committed to providing a safe and non-threatening environment for students and staff at all times. Our first priority is always the safety of the students and we will go to whatever lengths necessary to ensure that safety."

Presidential Classroom has always been concerned about student and staff safety. PC representatives meet the students at designated pick-up points at three (3) regional airports (Reagan National, Dulles International and Baltimore/Washington International) and also at the train station (Union Station). The PC representatives will be wearing red PC shirts with white letters and holding PC signs. The PC representatives will also be wearing PC nametags. The students are then transported by private buses to the Georgetown University Conference Center for registration. The same private buses are the exclusive means of transportation used to move our students to all program locations. Our staff is in direct contact with each other through the use of Nextel (cell phones/2-way radios) and can be reached at all times. (Nextel was the sole cell system that was functioning on 9/11.) Our Student Services Office is open 24 hours a day during the program schedule and is staffed at all times. We have an on-site infirmary with nurse practitioners and a doctor on-call. The students are housed in a Marriott managed hotel on the campus of Georgetown University. The university provides us with their security plus hotel security onsite. The campus is located in a residential area of Washington, D.C. It is also not located above or near the subway system, downtown Washington, Capitol Hill, or federal buildings.

How do the students travel while in DC?

Students are separated into caucus groups of 40 with two volunteer instructors who oversee the group. Each caucus group travels on chartered buses throughout the metro DC area. Presidential Classroom staff and/or interns also frequently travel on board.

Will someone be at the airport/train station to meet me?

A representative from Presidential Classroom will meet students until 5 p.m. the day of arrival (Saturday). Refer to your Student Handbook to find where to meet our representative. The representatives are easy to recognize -- they will have on red t-shirts or sweatshirts with "Presidential Classroom" on the front. They will also have a "Presidential Classroom" sign.

How do the students travel from airports?

After students arrive at the airport, they are transported onto chartered buses directly to the Georgetown University Conference Center. Presidential Classroom is always concerned about student and staff safety. PC representatives meet the students at designated pick-up points at three (3) regional airports (Reagan National, Dulles International and Baltimore/Washington International) and also at the train station (Union Station). The PC representatives will be wearing red PC shirts with white letters and holding PC signs. The PC representatives will also be wearing PC nametags. The students are then transported by private buses to the Georgetown University Conference Center for registration.

Are the students supervised at all times?

Full time staff and program faculty, including a team of instructors and the intern staff, reside at the hotel throughout the program week. Each student is assigned to a "Caucus" of approximately 40 students with two instructors acting as the chaperones, mentors, guides and program facilitators for the week.

  • Students will be accounted for via roll calls within each Caucus.
  • Presidential Classroom staff, interns, and instructors are in constant communication with one another via cell phones and walkie-talkies.
  • Presidential Classroom staff monitors hotel rooms and hallways each night after curfew and before wake up calls.
  • Students are chaperoned most of the time by Presidential Classroom staff. The only exception is the portion of their time on Capitol Hill spent visiting their congressional offices. When possible, PC staff or instructors will travel with the students to their designated appointments. PC staff will also be centrally located at all federal buildings. Students will be required to check in/out at designated times during these scheduled events.
  • Presidential Classroom staff, students, interns, and instructors are required to wear their name tags at all times.
  • The Presidential Classroom Student Services Office number is listed on the back of each name tag – 202-464-5580. This office is open 24 hours/day during our program season.

What if there is a terrorist attack?

Again, our first priority is the safety of the students. It is hard for us to determine what may happen in Washington D.C. as a result of the United States War against Terrorism. If student safety or the quality of the program is compromised, Presidential Classroom will take the appropriate steps necessary. During the Persian Gulf War, September 11th, The Iraqi and Afghanistan invasions and the last rise in terror alerts federal agencies, Congress, and other area businesses continued to remain open in Washington, as did Presidential Classroom. We use past occurrences as a guide for current preparations.

Our first course of action is to gather the students together and safely transport them to the Georgetown University Conference Center (GUCC). We feel that the GUCC is a safe and secure area that can provide proper security, health care, and nourishment in an emergency situation. We will then make arrangements (air, train, bus, etc.) for the students to return home as soon as possible.

If the need arises (and time permits) we are prepared to evacuate the students to a safe place outside of the metro DC area (to a Marriott operated facility, if available). Rest-assured that PC will go to great lengths to ensure their safety. Our first concern is to make sure the students are safe. We will then contact all parents/guardians with their location. Please make sure that we have all emergency contact information.

What happens if the airports/train stations close?

If the area airports and train stations close, we will keep students/staff in a safe place until a time that alternative routes are established so they can travel home or be released into the care of their parent/guardian.

What about the hotels and the subway?

GUCC is not widely known as a commercial hotel. Even though it is run by Marriott, it is literally on the campus of Georgetown University and is owned by the University. The hotel is not underneath or near a subway, nor near downtown Washington or federal buildings. We feel the GUCC is a safe, non-threatening area for the students to reside.

Will there be appropriate health care available in case of an emergency?

A health clinic, on-call doctor and nurse practitioner are available 24 hours a day. Presidential Classroom staff is also trained in CPR and First Aid. The GUCC is located immediately adjacent to the Georgetown University Hospital.

How and when will I be contacted if something happens in Washington, D.C.?

Presidential Classroom will contact parents as soon as possible in case of an emergency, after students are properly accounted for and brought to a safe and secure location.

How will I be able to contact my son/daughter if something happens in Washington, D.C.?

The Student Services Office should be the first place you try, at 202-464.5580. If that is not working or overwhelmed with calls, Presidential Classroom has set up an emergency toll-free number. This is for OUTGOING information only. You will not be able to leave a message. Dial 1-800-862-0718 for updates in emergency situations only.