Policies and Procedures
A. Procedures and facilities for students and others to report criminal actions or other emergencies occurring on campus and the institutional response to such reports.
Individuals wishing to report criminal activity or other emergencies on the UST campus may avail themselves of the following methods of reporting:
-
Calling UST Campus Security at (713) 525-3888, twenty-four hour a day.(The campus pay phones no longer call security and the only way to reach us is the (713) 525-3888)
-
Emergency Call boxes are located all over campus. Pushing the call button on one of these boxes provides an immediate connection to the Security Office and officers on-duty.
-
Calling 911 from any telephone for direct access to the local police.
UST Campus Security will take reports of alleged criminal activity and an officer will either come to the scene immediately, or the case will be referred for investigation, depending upon the nature and seriousness of the alleged offense. All criminal incidents are investigated by UST Campus Security, and if deemed necessary, by the appropriate outside law enforcement agency. Campus Security responses include, but are not limited to:
-
Immediate response to the scene of the criminal activity by one or more Campus Security personnel.
-
Investigations of alleged criminal activity in accordance with UST policy.
-
Detaining suspects and filing the appropriate charges against them, dependent upon the circumstances of the offense.
-
Referring alleged offenders to the appropriate UST officials for disciplinary action.
Security and access to campus facilities, including campus residences, and security considerations used in the maintenance of campus facilities.
The campus and properties of the University are maintained for the use of students, faculty, staff, and authorized visitors. As a private university, access to the campus facilities may be restricted as necessary to comply with UST rules and regulations and to meet the safety and security standards set forth by University officials.
The University has instituted safety and security procedures and services, but each individual who enters the campus must also assume the responsibility for his or her own personal safety. The University will continue to promulgate new safety and security procedures, but no measure can succeed without the support of the students, faculty, staff, and visitors of the University community.
The residence hall provides a range of services and security procedures to ensure the reasonable comfort of residents and their invited guests. Residents are provided information concerning these programs and services, but are advised that each person's safety and security is his or her own responsibility trained residential staff who are assisted in their efforts to maintain a secure environment in the residence hall by UST.
Campus Security and the UST Physical Plant are on duty around the clock. Services provided in an effort to maintain a safe residence hall include attention to lighting issues (including emergency lighting during power outages), locking of the main entrance to the residence hall on a regular schedule, crime prevention programs sponsored by UST Campus Security (including sexual assault awareness and campus safety), and the Security Escort Program.
B. Authority of Campus Security personnel, relationships with other law enforcement agencies, and programs that encourage the prompt and accurate reporting of all crimes to campus police and local law enforcement agencies.
-
UST Campus Security employs non-commissioned Security Officers who have no law enforcement authority. The proprietary UST Security personnel are supplemented by off-duty peace officers employed by other local law enforcement agencies who patrol the campus at various intervals. These officers, who are employed on a contract basis, have full peace officer status, including arrest authority. The UST Campus Security Department maintains a cooperative relationship with all other Federal, State, and Local law enforcement agencies.
-
The University of St. Thomas Campus Security Department speaks to all incoming students at orientation on a semi-annual basis, making them aware of how to contact Campus Security and of the importance of reporting criminal activity. Additionally, UST Campus Security personnel also give verbal crime prevention tips to students on an informal basis, encouraging them to approach Security with information about crime on campus. Stickers with the Campus Security phone number are placed on all telephones, and a booklet with emergency procedures and numbers is available.
-
Programs designed to inform students and employees about campus security procedures and to encourage students and employees to be responsible for their own safety and the safety of others. Security bulletins are also posted on campus bulletin boards concerning criminal activity in the area and other security matters in which the community has a vested interest. Additionally, a hard copy of this crime log is maintained in the Campus Security office available for viewing during business hours.
-
Programs designed to inform students and employees about the prevention of crime. There are numerous programs that are available at the request of the various groups or individuals on campus including Sexual Assault Protocol, Drug Awareness, and Theft Prevention. A variety of literature is also available to any student upon request, as well as one on one discussions.
|
