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Safety and Security Information
Public Safety Department
INTRODUCTION:
The University of Scranton is an independent, coeducational liberal arts institution with an urban campus abutting both residential and business districts of the city. In the fall of 2002, The University of Scranton enrolled 4060 (FTE) undergraduates and 668 (FTE) graduate students. There are 849 (FTE) members of faculty , staff, and administration of the University.
SECURITY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES:
The continuing emphasis of safety and security on campus is the responsibility of everyone to help ensure his or her own safety and that of others by taking reasonable precautions and using a common sense approach to personal security. Students, faculty and employees of The University of Scranton have access to academic, recreational, and administrative facilities on campus. Access to the residence halls, however, is limited to students and their guests, according to University procedure (described in this brochure in the section University Housing). Access to the residence halls by University employees is on an ·as neededº basis and incorporates strict key control procedures. The general public may attend cultural and recreational events on campus with their access limited only to the facilities in which these events are held.
THE PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT:
THE OFFICIAL UNIVERSITY AUTHORITY FOR REPORTING INCIDENTS OR ACQUIRING INFORMATION CONCERNING CRIME PREVENTION AND CAMPUS SAFETY AND SECURITY IS THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY. THE OFFICE TELEPHONE NUMBER IS (570) 941-7888, AND THE EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBER IS (570) 941-7777.
The University of Scranton Department of Public Safety advises and encourages all students, employees and visitors to report all incidents, emergencies, or crimes occurring on campus to the Department of Public Safety. Letters are sent by the University Public Safety Department to all University department's chairs/heads and local police requesting that they provide crime statistic information. All crimes reported to the Department of Public Safety are recorded in the official University crime statistics.
Timely Warnings: Depending on the particular circumstances of the crime, especially in all situations that could pose an immediate threat to the University community and individuals, the Department of Public Safety may post a notice via electronic mailing to every student, staff and faculty member, providing the university community with more immediate notification. In such instances, a copy of the notice is posted in each residence hall.
The electronic mailing is immediately accessible via computer by all students, staff and faculty. Anyone with information warranting a timely warning should report the circumstances to the Department of Public Safety, by phone (941-7888) or in person at the dispatch center within Public Safety in the Parking Pavilion, 820 Mulberry Street.
Missing Student: If a member of the University Community has reason to believe that a student is missing, whether or not the student resides on campus, all possible efforts are made to locate the student to determine his or her state of health and well-being through the collaboration of the Department of Public Safety the Office of Student Affairs. If the student is an on-campus resident, Public Safety will secure authorization from Student Affairs officials to make a welfare entry into the student's room. If an off-campus student resident, Public Safety will informally enlist the aid of the neighboring police agency having jurisdiction.
The Associate Vice President for Administrative Services is responsible for the Public Safety Department. The University's Public Safety Department is organized and staffed in accordance with guidelines of the Campus Association of Law Enforcement Administrators to provide essential service and to respond to critical situations on campus when possible. Several University Public Safety personnel are sworn police officers with the same powers as municipal and state police officers. University police officers receive the same training as municipal police officers and are capable of handling and investigating incidents of crime on campus. When the situation warrants, criminal incidents may be referred to City of Scranton police for investigation. The Department of Public Safety will inform University community members that the department recommends that the City of Scranton police be notified and will assist community members in the notification process.
The Department of Public Safety is responsible for: providing a safe campus environment; protecting University students, personnel, and property; detecting and reporting fire and safety hazards; regulating and enforcing parking and traffic on campus; conducting monthly life support inspections of all facilities and quarterly inspections of campus security lights; encouraging and participating in the Student Government Safety/Crime Prevention Council program; providing education and training on security and safety for the University community; assisting in the operation of the University Safety Board; conducting investigations; coordinating with city, state, and federal law enforcement officials; maintaining a 24-hour, 365 days/year, emergency/facilities radio-telecommunications and notification system; coordinating an emergency medical/first aid transportation system to local hospitals; and implementing snow and other contingency alert plans when conditions warrant.
The Public Safety Department staff includes the director, assistant directors, one captain, 17 officers, 4 dispatchers, and student officer cadre. The Public Safety Department has four divisions: Security, Environmental Health and Safety, Parking, and Crime Prevention/Support Services.
When first hired all full-time officers are required to participate in 4-8 weeks of training with a departmental Field Training Officer and successfully complete all of the full-time officer training modules in the departmental Field Training Manual. All student officers are required to participate in at least 3 weeks of training with a departmental Field Training Officer and successfully complete all of the student officer training modules in the departmental Field Training Manual. All officers annually attend specialized training sessions. Training and education qualifications for department officers may include associate, bachelor or master degrees; Act 120 Police; Act 235 Security; military police or prior military service depending upon each officer's prior experience or background.
Public Safety patrols operate on a 24-hour basis and the Public Safety telephone (dispatcher) is always in operation. There are emergency telephones at strategic points around campus that provide a direct line to the Public Safety dispatcher. There are also emergency telephones that provide a direct line to the Public Safety dispatcher outside the main entrances of all residence halls/houses. Hourly motor patrols to student houses and walking patrols on campus are performed 24-hours/day, 365 days/year. The Public Safety Department operates a 24-hour walking escort service for students and other members of the University community.
Safety is a major consideration in landscaping and exterior lighting on campus. Maintenance personnel keep a daily Maintenance Log of needed repairs and replacements. Public Safety patrols report unlighted or obscured areas and other safety hazards as part of their daily patrol. Every three months Public Safety officers perform a complete survey of the entire campus to detect lighting deficiencies and monthly perform a complete survey of other safety deficiencies.
Crimes on campus are reported to the Pennsylvania State Police as provided by Act 73. The Scranton Police Department has jurisdiction over and reports all incidents of criminal activity by University of Scranton students at off-campus locations. The University of Scranton's Office of Commuter and Off-Campus Affairs, which is responsible for the non-resident population at the University, seeks to foster a sense of community and belonging among all university students.
Safety pamphlets are distributed to all students during the year, and posters are maintained on bulletin boards throughout the campus. In addition, the University's monthly newspaper, The Scranton Record, and the weekly student newspaper, The Aquinas, are used to provide safety and security information to the University community.
The Department of Public Safety conducts annual safety training for Resident Assistants in the residences and fire drills in all buildings. Safety films are scheduled in freshman residence halls.
Upon request, the Public Safety Department conducts the following programs:
Personal Safety: Crime prevention and safety tips relating to personal safety for both men and women.
Self-Defense Against Rape for Women Only: Communication in relationships, crime prevention and safety tips relating to sexual assaults, demonstration of self-defense tactics, (2.5 Hours).
Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) for Women Only: Communication in relationships, crime prevention and safety tips relating to sexual assaults, demonstration of self-defense tactics, students practice skills through simulation training by striking an officer in protective padding (12 Hours).
Rape Prevention for Men Only: Communication in relationships, consent, responsibility, attitudes, The University of Scranton Sexual Offense Policy, Pennsylvania Crimes Code Laws pertaining to sex offenses.
Date Rape for Men and Women: Communication in relationships, myths, consent, The University of Scranton Sexual Offense Policy, Pennsylvania Crimes Code Laws pertaining to sex offenses.
Theft Prevention: Theft prevention tips, role playing, and Pennsylvania Crimes Codes Laws pertaining to theft.
Alcohol Awareness: University Alcohol Policy and Pennsylvania Crimes Code Laws pertaining to alcohol.
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