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ITHACA COLLEGE
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VOLUME II
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2.8 Health and Safety PoliciesOffice of Public Safety -- Security Awareness and Crime Prevention Programs -- Sexual Offenses -- Hate Crimes -- Campus Crime Statistics -- Campus Disciplinary Actions and Arrests -- Hate Crime Statistics -- Drug and Alcohol Policies -- College AIDS Policy -- Smoking Policy -- Occupational Safety Policies
The Office of Public Safety is responsible for law enforcement, security, environmental health and safety, and emergency response at Ithaca College. The office is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and is staffed by professional law enforcement officers and other professional and trained staff. The Office of Public Safety conducts investigations involving violations of criminal law and of the student conduct code and educates the Ithaca College community in the many aspects of safety and security. The office is divided into environmental health and safety, patrol and security services, and parking and traffic services.
Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S), staffed by full-time professionals, is responsible for fire and emergency response and prevention, fire alarm and sprinkler systems, safety code enforcement, and building safety inspections for the College. This group also addresses a number of other areas, including environmental compliance issues, chemical hazard communication, employee and student safety training, and hazardous materials use, disposal, and reduction. The staff includes a certified code enforcement officer, a certified fire service instructor, two certified hazardous materials managers, and a certified chemical hygiene officer. The College employs sworn peace officers. The patrol officers, who wear police uniforms, are responsible for patrolling the campus 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in patrol vehicles, on bicycles, and on foot. These officers have full law enforcement authority on the Ithaca campus: they are authorized to carry weapons, investigate violations or suspected violations of law, make arrests, conduct searches, and carry out any other activity expected of a peace officer in the state of New York.
Uniformed security officers patrol the campus from 11:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m. every night of the year. Security officers maintain radio contact with the Office of Public Safety Dispatch Center and are responsible for reporting violations of law and campus rules and regulations, as well as emergencies. Security officers patrol the residence halls and academic buildings to ensure building security and check fire safety systems. Although they are not police officers and do not have police powers, they work closely with patrol officers in maintaining the security of the College community.
In addition to the peace officers and security officers, the safety program includes the Student Auxiliary Safety Patrol (SASP) -- 35 to 40 students who patrol the campus nightly from 9:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. whenever classes are in session. SASP members are trained to be alert to the safety needs of the Ithaca College community as they patrol the residence halls, parking lots, and other areas of campus. SASP members maintain radio contact with the Office of Public Safety communications center and can request officer assistance whenever needed.
Parking and Traffic Services (PTS) is responsible for registering cars and administering parking regulations at the College. Parking areas are patrolled regularly by parking enforcement staff, student patrol, and patrol and security officers to enforce regulations and respond to or prevent crime. Appropriate lighting and strategically placed blue-light telephones in parking areas assist in deterring crime.
Office of Public Safety patrol officers receive their law enforcement authority from their deputization through the Tompkins County Sheriff's Department. They are certified peace officers, having received their training in the same manner as all other public law enforcement officers in the State of New York. The Office of Public Safety maintains a close working relationship with the Tompkins County Sheriff's Department, Ithaca Police Department, New York State Police, federal law enforcement agencies, and other criminal justice agencies. Regular meetings with these agencies are held on both a formal and an informal basis, and crime-related reports and statistics are routinely shared. Ithaca College is proud of its dedicated public safety staff and of the high standards set by the Office of Public Safety. An ongoing training program of in-service courses, seminars, weekly staff meetings, and conferences is maintained to ensure that the College's public safety program remains state-of-the-art.
Report all on-campus emergencies, suspicious activities, and/or criminal offenses by calling the Office of Public Safety 9-1-1 from any Ithaca College phone or 274-3333, approaching any member of the public safety staff, or using a blue-light telephone. Public safety is responsible for responding to and/or investigating such situations. In addition, students, faculty, and staff can make timely reports to any of the staff listed below when a criminal offense occurs on campus. Once a criminal offense is reported, the staff member will contact public safety so that the crime can be investigated. Although we encourage any victim of a rape or other sexual offense to report the crime and have it investigated, an investigation will occur only if the victim so chooses. The victim of a crime on campus can make a voluntary, confidential report to public safety about the crime and choose not to have it investigated. The counseling center staff and chaplains are encouraged, if and when they deem it appropriate, to inform the students they are counseling that the opportunity exists to make a confidential report of a crime to public safety if they so choose.
If you report an emergency or crime by using one of the College's emergency telephones, the public safety dispatcher will gather specific information from you while an officer is sent to assist you. If you contact an officer in person, he or she will assist you directly. The Office of Public Safety maintains both direct telephone and two-way radio contact with the Ithaca Police Department, Tompkins County Sheriff's Department, Ithaca Fire Department, emergency medical services, and the College's Office of Facilities. The Office of Public Safety can obtain assistance and support from these agencies when necessary. There are two kinds of emergency telephones available to the campus community
for the reporting of crimes or emergencies:
There are over 90 blue-light telephones at strategic locations near roadways, sidewalks, and pathways on the Ithaca College campus. (See map at http://www.ithaca.edu/map/safety.php). These telephones are mounted on poles that have a bright blue light at the top so that they can be seen from a distance. Blue-light telephones provide, with the touch of a button, direct and immediate voice contact with the Office of Public Safety. While the dispatcher is receiving information from the caller, a computer identifies the location of the telephone from which the call is being made, and an officer is sent to assist the caller.
Ithaca College also has a system of emergency telephones located in the residence halls and selected campus buildings such as the library. As with blue-light telephones, these emergency telephones put the caller in direct and immediate voice contact with the Office of Public Safety, and an officer is sent immediately to assist the caller.
--entering an office or lab with no apparent business to transact --loitering in a parking area or near your home, residence hall, or work area --trying to force open a car window Any of the above incidents or any other activity you feel is unusual may be the sign of a criminal act. Don't hesitate to activate a blue-light or indoor emergency phone or call 911 whenever you see or hear something suspicious. Always call the Office of Public Safety immediately; the longer you wait, the harder it will be to find the offender.
The Office of Public Safety monitors the crime reports it receives from the campus community and local police agencies and makes reports to the campus community on crimes committed that are considered to be a threat to students and employees. As required by the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990 and subsequent amendments, the crimes reported are in the categories of aggravated assault, arson, burglary, murder and non-negligent homicide, robbery, sexual offenses (forcible and nonforcible), and motor vehicle theft. The manner of reporting can include media releases to the campus radio and television stations, student newspapers, and posted alert fliers. The Office of Public Safety also makes available to the campus community a "Daily Crime Log," which lists crimes reported to public safety. This information can be accessed at: http://www.ithaca.edu/sacl/safety/
Ithaca College is a diverse community committed to learning and an open exchange of ideas. Unfortunately, bias-related incidents sometimes occur on campus. These actions, motivated by hate, ignorance, insensitivity, and fear, have no place in our educational community. If you are ever a victim of a bias-related incident or become aware of such a violation of College policy, call the Office of Public Safety immediately. Responding in a timely manner will increase the likelihood that the investigation will be successful. (See section 2.8.4, Hate Crimes)
Once an incident is reported to the Office of Public Safety, it will be investigated. Alleged violations of the student conduct code will be referred directly to the Office of Judicial Affairs. Any serious criminal matters will also be referred to the Tompkins County District Attorney's Office for criminal prosecution.
One of the goals of the Office of Public Safety is the prevention of crimes. The College's comprehensive crime prevention programs are designed to eliminate or minimize opportunities for crime whenever possible and to encourage students and employees to be responsible for their own security and the security of others acting in partnership with the Office of Public Safety.
Members of the campus community, as well as guests and visitors, have access to most campus buildings and facilities during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, and for limited hours on Saturdays and Sundays when the College is in session (excluding most holidays). Ithaca College's residence halls are locked 24 hours a day. Students living in each residence hall will access their building using their combined room/exterior door key. Students will carry their ID card and key at all times. Guests will use the access phone located at the entry to each building to call the person they are visiting and meet them at the entry to gain access to the building.
Security access telephones are located outside each residence hall and allow guests, visitors, or delivery persons to call students. Residents are responsible for meeting these people and escorting them while they are in the building. The College prohibits students from propping open residence hall exit doors. Such violations of College policy are referred to the Office of Judicial Affairs for action.
The Office of Residential Life has a director, associate director, assistant director for operations, coordinator of residential facilities, and a coordinator of housing services. The campus is divided into two residential areas, each managed by an area coordinator. The area coordinators supervise full-time, professional residence directors who live in each residence hall area and supervise trained undergraduate resident assistants who live on each residence hall floor and in each apartment area. Residential life staff are on duty each evening and are available to respond to any problems or emergencies that may arise.
Exterior lighting is an important part of the College's commitment to safety and security. Parking lots, pedestrian walkways, and building exteriors are lighted. A survey of all exterior lighting is conducted at least once each year to assess problems and plan for the future. Members of the campus community are encouraged to report any exterior lighting problems to the Office of Public Safety at 274-3333. Exterior doors on campus buildings are locked and secured each evening by security officers. Security officers also report door and security hardware problems. Members of the College community are encouraged to report such problems to the Office of Public Safety. Shrubbery, trees, and other vegetation are trimmed on a regular basis to ensure unobstructed lighting on campus.
Student Auxiliary Safety Patrol (SASP) members, security officers, and patrol officers are available to accompany any member of the campus community to and from any campus location. To obtain an escort, call the Office of Public Safety (274-3333) from any regular campus telephone or by activating any bluelight or indoor emergency telephone.
Both exterior (blue-light) and interior emergency telephones link a caller directly with the Office of Public Safety. Their use is discussed in detail in section 2.8.1.5.1.1.
The Office of Public Safety sponsors a variety of programs and presentations throughout the year to inform students and employees of campus security procedures and practices and to encourage students and employees to be responsible for their own security and that of others.
A crime prevention presentation is made to all new students during orientation. Brochures and other printed materials are distributed to students at this time.
Crime prevention and fire safety presentations are made regularly to students in the residence halls. Brochures and other materials are distributed at such programs for students' future reference.
A number of crime prevention presentations are available to campus groups or organizations through the Office of Public Safety, including
The Safety Awareness Committee is a staff, faculty, and student group committed to educating the campus community on various safety issues/topics. This committee also encourages crime prevention through programming and a variety of publicity strategies. |
Last Updated: June 1, 2008 |
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This document is maintained by the Office of the College Attorney. Send comments to: Deb Emnett |
