Jonesboro – Arkansas State University (A-State) has joined the National Intercollegiate Mutual Aid Agreement (NIMAA), a nationwide network that enables universities to share resources before, during, and after emergencies or special events. The network, established by the International Association of Emergency Managers’ Universities and Colleges Caucus in 2015, includes 154 higher education institutions across the country.
Wyatt Reed, A-State's emergency operations and occupational safety specialist, expressed pride in A-State becoming the first college or university in Arkansas to enter the agreement. "This is a major step towards continuing to build a network of relationships with outside entities that can assist A-State in a time of need, and vice versa," he said.
Through NIMAA, participants can request or provide personnel and resources during emergencies, whether virtually or in person. The agreement also supports collaboration for planned events or preparations in advance of potential incidents.
While A-State maintains strong ties with local city and county emergency agencies, Reed emphasized that these agencies often contend with wide-ranging responsibilities during major disasters. "Many disasters that affect us will also affect them, and they have a large jurisdiction to cover even excluding A-State," Reed said. "Those agencies may not always have the staffing and resources to support us to the extent or duration needed. This agreement gives us the ability to look for support outside of agencies immediately connected to us."
Reed noted that the agreement also allows for sharing personnel experienced in addressing emergencies within the unique and complex environment of higher education. "Universities are unique and complex, and an individual with experience in navigating that landscape is a great benefit in a time of need," he said.
The university views NIMAA not only as a means of accessing external resources but also as a way to contribute assistance to other universities in the network. This aligns with A-State's commitment to a community-based approach to emergency management.
“We can also utilize this agreement as part of exercises, gain experience and knowledge by supporting incident management at other institutions, and use that insight to evaluate and improve our own planning,” Reed said.
In joining NIMAA, Arkansas State University strengthens its preparedness and expands its ability to coordinate efforts with other institutions in navigating campus-specific challenges during both routine and crisis situations.