I. Campus Security 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 will contact Security by doing either of the following:

• Calling UST Campus Security at (713) 525-3888, twenty-four hour a day.
• Calling 911 from a campus telephone.  This will connect directly to the local police, as well as notify security that outside help has been requested.

UST Campus Security will take reports of alleged criminal activity.  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.

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 halls provide 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.  Residence halls have trained residential staff who are assisted in their efforts to maintain a secure environment in the residence hall by UST campus security.

Campus Security is on duty around the clock. Services provided in an effort to maintain a safe residence hall include regularly scheduled patrols, the locking of campus buildings, 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 and relationships with other law enforcement agencies.

1. UST Campus Security employs commissioned Peace Officers who are certified as law enforcement officers by the State of Texas under Art. 2.12 Code of Criminal Procedure and Sec. 51.212 Texas Education Code. These officers have the same powers, privileges, and immunities as any other Peace Officer, including full arrest powers. UST also 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. 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.
   
   
2. 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.
   
   
   • A hard copy of campus crime statistics is maintained in the Campus Security office, available for viewing during business hours.