V916 Campus Security Policy
1. PURPOSE
The purpose of this document is to create a single policy dealing with the issues involved with security on the campus of VCSU. This policy will be in accordance with the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education policy section 916 Campus Security.
2. SCOPE
This policy will address responsibilities, procedures, and documentation of incidents involving campus security. The specific administrative divisions involved are: Facilities Services, Student Services, Auxiliary Services, Academic Affairs, and Business
Affairs. Students should be aware of this policy and how it affects them. The policy is intended to satisfy the conditions of reasonable security, balancing the concern for our open academic environment with the need for campus safety and security.
3. PROCEDURES
A. Physical Security
Physical security involves safeguarding personal and university property against theft or damage. The major method of accomplishing this is to ensure that storage spaces are locked. Building Security will check each academic building, to ensure that they
are locked by 10:00 p.m. on weekdays. Residence halls will be checked at 11:00 p.m. Buildings will remain locked, except during published operating hours, unless prior coordination is made with the Facilities Services Department. As examples, such
exceptions may be for programs, special activities, or extended hours for lab use. Written requests for opening buildings should be submitted to the Facilities Services Department at least one week in advance. Building Security will patrol the campus,
both on foot and vehicle. He/she will also patrol inside the buildings to check interior security and HVAC systems. Only the exterior doors and mechanical rooms will be checked in the residence halls. Any problems inside the residence halls will be
handled by the housing staff. If assistance is required, Building Security will be available. If any unusual conditions are noted, Building Security while checking the residence halls, will notify the on-duty RA. If an RA is not available, either
the head resident or an individual listed in Section 4 of this policy will be notified.
B. After Hours Entry
Access to facilities during other than operating hours will be controlled by Building Security and the Heating Plant staff. Each division will determine whether or not it wants its area opened for use after hours, and notify the Facilities Services office
of its policy. The divisions may also specify guidelines or exceptions to the policy. Examples of these may include a 'buddy system' in the labs, or only opening the facility for special programs. Students who wish to have after-hours access must
obtain an after-hours building entry permit, which will be filled out and signed by a faculty member. The students will report to the Heating Plant and present a Student ID card to the person on duty. The student's name will be compared to an approved
entry list sent by the department chair or course instructor. The student ID may later be checked by Building Security to verify that the student has permission to be in the building after hours. Students in a building at the time it is locked up
will be asked to leave if they do not have permission to be in the building after hours. It will be up to the discretion of Building Security as to whether or not a student will be allowed to use the facilities. Any violations of posted rules or improper
behavior will be grounds for Building Security to have the student leave, or to deny access to buildings. Once a student has been admitted, he/she may not let others into the building. Before leaving, all lights and equipment will be turned off, and
the area will be left as it was found.
C. Safety
After-hours campus safety is another area Building Security will monitor. This can be broken down into two basic categories: unsafe conditions and unsafe acts. Unsafe conditions would include any condition that could possibly result in damage to property
or injury to individuals. Examples of these conditions include, but are not limited to: fires, loss of electricity/heat, steam leaks inside buildings, downed power lines/trees, etc. Building Security will report these conditions, or any others that
he/she deems unsafe, to the appropriate person responsible. Emergencies will be reported to the local authorities immediately. Unsafe acts are acts perpetrated by students or other individuals on campus that could possibly result in damage to property
or injury to individuals. These acts include, but are not limited to, acts which are in violation of campus policy or any law. Building Security will have the authority to require any students involved to produce a student ID card, and/or disperse.
If Building Security deems it necessary, a university official or the police will be contacted.
D. Parking
Building Security will be responsible for issuing after-hours parking tickets to those vehicles in violation of campus parking regulations.
E. Incidents Involving Students
When students are involved in any incidents on campus, they must produce a student ID card when asked by Building Security . Building Security will record the student's name and student ID number, along with an explanation of the incident. If no student
ID is available, another form of identification may be used. This information will be given to the Safety Coordinator daily. Students are required to comply with all lawful instructions given them by Building Security . These include instructing students
to leave an area or disperse, and to confiscate any alcoholic beverages and/or contraband materials. The general policy at VCSU is that the police will be called only if there exists an immediate threat to the safety of individuals or for he protection
of property. This means that problems will be dealt with by campus officials if at all possible. If the situation warrants it, one of the individuals listed in Section 4 of this policy will be contacted. It will be up to the judgment of Building Security
, based on the situation, whether the police, a campus official, or a staff member should be contacted.
F. Emergencies
Building Security will immediately report any emergencies encountered by the Heating Plant staff, via two-way radio. The individual on duty will relay this information to the local police or fire department. Other individuals will be notified in accordance
with emergency policies. Building Security will be responsible for immediately investigating all priority-1 alarms received on the Heating Plant monitoring system. He/she will report back to the plant on what was found. Following are some general
guidelines
FIRES: If alarms have not sounded, the nearest alarm box will be activated. The plant will be contacted via 2-way radio, and the operator on duty will call the fire department. If possible, the building should be searched for trapped individuals. First
aid should be rendered if needed, and ambulance contacted. The building doors should be unlocked for fire department access. Facilities Services staff may attempt to fight the fire if possible, but personal safety takes precedence.
MEDICAL EMERGENCIES: Contact the plant by radio or call the ambulance if a phone or another individual is nearby. Render first aid as necessary.
UNLAWFUL ACTS/CRIMES: Report by radio to the Heating Plant and the operator on duty will call the police. If the incident has already occurred, Building Security will assist any injured person, and protect the crime scene. If the incident is in progress,
the following things will apply:
1. Call the police if injury to persons or damage to property is involved.
2. Write down descriptions of assailants, witnesses, time, vehicle, etc.
3. Verbally confront the assailants, attempting to stop them.
4. DO NOT physically intervene, unless an individual is in peril of bodily harm.
5. Assist the police as needed.
4. RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Building Security: responsible for all things previously in this policy. Additionally, a nightly log will be kept of all activities/incidents.
B. Safety Coordinator: supervise Building Security and oversee all security related activities. Report all security incidents to the appropriate campus official. Maintain a record of all security incidents. Investigate all incidents of theft, vandalism,
etc. that are not handled by the police. Submit a yearly report of campus security incidents to the Vice President for Business Affairs on or about July 1. Respond to all emergencies as required.
C. Vice President for Student Affairs: review reports and provide disciplinary action or counseling to students involved in campus incidents. Keep students informed of the campus security policy and how it affects them. Respond to emergencies/incidents
involving students as required.
D. Director of Facilities Services: review reports dealing with facilities damage and breakdowns, taking appropriate action. Respond to emergencies involving facilities as required.
E. Valley City Police Department: reports to the Vice President for Student Affairs all criminal activity occurring on the campus grounds, adjacent areas and at off-campus university sponsored events. Reports criminal activity involving college students
in the community that may have an effect on the safety and well-being of the campus community.
5. TIMELY WARNINGS
In order to keep the campus informed about safety and security issues, VCSU will alert the entire community in a manner that is timely and will aid in the prevention of specific crimes. Timely warnings may be issued for threats to property as well as
for threats to persons. Timely warnings will typically be issued by the Office of the President, the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs or the Office of Facilities Services. The VCSU campus-wide e-mail system has been declared as an
official means of campus communications (Computer and Network Usage Policy 3.2.1) and will be used as the primary tool for dissemination of timely warnings. In addition, timely warnings may be delivered by the campus Emergency Notification System.
Sponsored by: Vice President for Student Affairs
Reviewed: Winter 1996
Reviewed: February 2005
Reviewed: Summer 2007
Revised: Summer 2015