13.8 INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT

The institution takes reasonable steps to provide a healthy, safe, and secure environment for all members of the campus community.

JUDGEMENT

Compliance Non-Compliance Partial Compliance

NARRATIVE

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University prides itself in taking responsible steps to provide a safe, and secure environment for all members of the campus community. The safe and secure environment is provided collaboratively by its Police and Public Safety Department, the Office of Environmental Health and Safety, and the university community.

Campus Safety

University Police Department (UPD) staff and the Office of Emergency Management have developed University Policy 6-1 Critical Incidents (All Hazard Plan) to efficiently execute during unusual security threats to ensure the safety of faculty, staff, students and guests. All department personnel strive to maintain excellence and integrity in respecting the rights and dignity of all persons with whom they make contact. These offices consist of dedicated professionals who are committed to a team environment and creative problem solving.

The university has an emergency alert system named RAVE that is managed by University Relations. University Police has the ability to send out emergency notifications, timely warnings and safety notifications from the communications center. Emergency alerts, safety messages and weather alerts can be sent to our campus community via text, email, and all social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. The university website and student newspaper or other publications and news releases to local media are also available communication resources. University Police can use audible sirens that alert the campus community and the surrounding neighborhood of an immediate threat or danger. In addition, LiveSafe is a safety app that is provided to students, faculty and staff at no cost. This app allows users to contact police directly, dial 911, record video, take pictures, and type and send text messages directly to the police communications. Users can request someone to assist with “Go Safe Walk,” another feature of the app that allows users to watch the requestors’ movements and communicate with that person at the same time.

The University Police Department has a mutual assistance agreement on file with the UNC System that includes all System university campuses. This agreement allows each campus to request assistance from the Department via a letter, email or verbal request. The N.C. A&T Chief of Police has established relationships with each campus Chief of Police. He also shares a similar relationship with Greensboro Police, Guilford County Sheriff’s Office, and other state and federal partners. The Department also has a mutual aid agreement with the Greensboro Police Department and requests are made via a letter, email or a verbal request.

Police and Public Safety Department

Mission and Vision

The University Police & Public Safety Department or University Police Department (UPD) mission is “In order to provide a safe environment in which our students, faculty and staff may live, work and learn, it is the mission of the North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University Police Department: “We as a Team” will provide safety and security for our students, faculty and staff. This is done through selfless dedication to one another as well as this noble profession. We will serve our community with vigilance and integrity; never compromising our values, nor betraying the trust of those dependent upon us. We will lead with pride instilled within us by the sacrifices of those who came before us and the relentless pursuit of equality.”

The police department's primary vision elements are:

· Integrity: steadfastly adhering to high moral principles and professional standards

· Dedication: the quality of being devoted or committed to a cause

· Selflessness: putting other people’s needs, interests, or wishes before your own

· Willingness: cooperative and enthusiastic, ready to perform a duty without being forced

The police department is charged to abide and fulfill its mission, which has been established in written directives, General Order 2-4 R2: Departmental Goals and Objectives.

Police Administration

The University Police Department employs certified and licensed police officers in accordance with rules established by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission. All NCATPD commissioned police officers have successfully completed the Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards licensing exam. They all are in compliance with Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards mandated in-service training that is required on an annual basis. The North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission monitors all training to ensure that the department remains in compliance. The N.C. General Statute 116-40.5 defines the authority and jurisdiction of campus police officers. The jurisdiction of NCA&TPD is further defined in the department's written directive General Order 1-7 R1: Departmental Authority.

The Office of the Associate Vice Chancellor for Police and Public Safety is responsible for the management of all activities, duties, responsibilities and authorities of the Department of Police and Public Safety. The Office consists of the Asst. VC for Police and Public Safety at the rank of Chief, an Administrative Secretary, and a Payroll Clerk, as shown on the organization chart. These are in addition to the operational and support units designated by the Asst. VC for Police and Public Safety to achieve the Department's objectives. Department personnel and resources are organized in a manner that ensures maximum efficiency and effectiveness. A continuing program of evaluation is established to ensure that the needs of the university population are met. Assessment Reports are provided for 2018—2019 and 2019—2020. The Asst. VC for Police and Public Safety is responsible for ensuring that the employees of the department work in partnership with the community to deliver the finest possible services available through active problem solving.

Community Policing

Uniform patrol is considered to be a primary police function, and embraces much more than the act of patrolling. It includes a wide variety of activities, such as preventive patrol, preliminary investigations, field interrogation, and identification of hazards, and contact with the public.

Crime preventions involves maintaining an open line of communication with the university community as well as the general public in order to recognize areas where crime prevention programs can be utilized to reduce incidents of crime or loss of property. The unit also maintains records of incidents, such as arrests and citations.

The police department operates emergency communications 24 hours per day, 365 days per year to provide information and assistance to the public via telephone, including services related to parking and Shuttle services.

Jeanne Clery Act Reporting and Crisis Communication

The university follows the mandates of the Clery Act. The Act that institutions of higher learning that receive federal funding must report all Clery crimes that occur within Clery geography no later than October 1st of each year. A notice of availability must be sent to the students, faculty, staff and any other potential students and families that the Annual Fire Safety and Security Report (ASR) has been published. Those crimes include Murder and Non-Negligent Manslaughter, Negligent Manslaughter, Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Burglary, Motor Vehicle Theft, Arson; Sex Offenses including Rape, Fondling, Incest, Statutory Rape; VAWA offenses include Dating Violence, Domestic Violence and Stalking. Also, other offenses include liquor law violations, drug abuse violations and illegal weapons possession.

The Clery Act mandates that the community must be notified in a timely manner of any Clery crimes that may pose a serious or ongoing threat to members of the community. UPD staff will generally issue “Crime Alerts” of the above-mentioned crimes as deemed appropriate. Options for notification include the emergency notification system “RAVE” and call emergency alerts “Aggie Alert!” Those options include email, text messaging, social media (Twitter and Facebook), voicemail, the University website and student newspaper or other publications and news releases to local media. University Relations is responsible for University emergency communications and is stated as such in EOP Emergency Staff Function 2 (ESF).

The university, in compliance with Federal law, has designated certain positions as Campus Security Authorities that are responsible for reporting to the University Police Department Clery identified acts.

The UPD also requests crime statistics from local law enforcement agencies and others with jurisdiction over property owned or controlled by the institution during trips to off campus locations involving students.

Emergency Operating Procedures (EOP) for the university are detailed in the Public Safety Emergency Operations Plan (EOP).

Office of Environmental Health and Safety

The mission of the N.C. A&T Office of Environmental Health and Safety is to provide for risk identification, management techniques as well as to provide for the prevention of injury and the protection of property, life and the environment, in the support of the mission and goals of the university. The responsibilities include Fire and Life Safety, Laboratory Safety, Environmental Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Occupational Safety and Health, and Risk Management as related to insurance matters.

The N.C. A&T Office of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) is staffed with personnel assigned specifically to fire and life safety issues, laboratory and environmental safety issues and insurance matters. Staff knowledge is continuously enhanced through field experience, presentations and training, group problem-solving sessions and collaboration with other EHS departments within and outside of the university system.

Fire and Life Safety. The Life Safety Officer conducts and monitors testing and servicing of all life safety equipment such as fire alarm systems including their devices, sprinkler systems, fire suppression systems, fire pumps and fire extinguishers. EHS staff conducts monthly fire safety inspections of University facilities. The staff also conducts fire drills and fire extinguisher training for University personnel. Staff also consults on the planning of events to assure the safety of the campus community. Staff members rotate being on-call for emergency response and maintains communication with the University Police Department as needed. The Public Safety Emergency Operation Plan and the EHS Building Inspection Sheet for Williams Dining Hall are provide.

Laboratory Safety. Laboratory Safety is monitored by the Environmental Safety Officer. Regularly scheduled inspections are conducted of all laboratory facilities, including the farm and off campus locations to maintain compliance with local, state and federal regulations. The EHS Assistant Director is the University's Radiation Safety Officer. The Radiation Safety Committee, IACUC, and BioSafety Committee consists of members with diverse expertise in order to assess the hazards associated with research protocols conducted on campus and in off-site facilities and is managed by DORED. EHS Staff members serve on each of those committees. The EHS Lab Inspection Sheet for Carver Hall is provided.

Environmental Safety: The Environmental Safety Officer assists with compliance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality and city/county environmental regulations. Specific activities involve: air quality permitting; and hazardous and universal waste management.

Industrial Hygiene. Industrial Hygiene Services involve monitoring of air, soil and water discharges for biohazards, chemicals and contaminants found in academic settings. As reference resources the staff uses the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards; the Environmental Protection Agency and N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, N.C. Fire Codes and Building Codes to advise faculty, staff and students on potential health risks and to minimize workplace exposures. Staff services include areas such as ergonomics, chemical safety, hazard communication, blood borne pathogens, respiratory protection, audiometric monitoring and hearing conservation. The staff uses the services of private sector vendors for some specialized services requiring the use of equipment and/or training beyond their expertise.

Occupational and General Safety. Assistance is provided in the area of Occupational and General Safety to provide and facilitate various university safety programs by initiating preventive measures to control hazards associated with activities of members of the University family. These include hazard assessment and mitigation. Inspections of University facilities are used to identify existing and potential hazards, and inappropriate worker behavior. Safety Awareness Programs are used to inform staff as well as students of hazards and safe work practices. The staff serves as mentors providing guidance and information to students in the Environmental Health and Safety curriculum who intern within the department. These students accompany staff during inspections, drills and presentations thereby exposing them to aspects of safety awareness that can best be obtained through actual experience and onsite observation.

Risk Management: The Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Office is the unit responsible for assessing and managing risks associated with the university. All university insurance is handled within this department. Insurance of university buildings and their contents is managed by a program specialist in this unit. This requires cooperation from the university Facilities and Engineering sections which manage construction, renovation and repair of university buildings; the occupants and building managers who provide values and inventories of contents.

All self-propelled motor vehicles owned by the university are insured against liability with a portion of those insured against physical damage. University staff members are covered by professional liability. University students are required to have health insurance Students and faculty who participate in study-abroad programs are insured as well as those students interning outside of the university. The EHS Office is the university's point-of-contact with the North Carolina Department of Insurance and is also the Agent of Record.

The Office of Environmental Health and Safety strives to minimize risks and ensure the safety of students, faculty, staff and university property. Emphasis is placed on building fire alarm and fire control systems, occupant safety and hazardous waste control.

The Accreditation Department is responsible for the maintenance of nearly 200 professional standards of the Commission on the Accreditation for Law Enforcement Administrators. The Department has been accredited by CALEA (The Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies) since 2006. Recently, the department completed its fourth onsite assessment for re-accreditation. The most recent award was received in July 2018.

University Police does not have a designated computer service division or person. UPD is supported by the University Information Technology Division that provides data base and networking support to all sections of the Department. Duties include maintaining the network used by the Operations Division, the Administrative Services Division, and the Administration Division. They are also responsible for software, trouble shooting and solving computer problems and long-range planning for computer and automation needs.

Supporting Documents

1. Public Safety, General Order 6-1 R1 All Hazard Plan

2. Mutual Assistance Agreement with UNC System Police Departments

3. Mutual Assistance Agreement with Greensboro Police Department

4. Public Safety, General Order 2-4, Dept. Goals and Objectives

5. Public Safety, Commissioned Sworn Police Officers

6. North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission

7. North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards-In Service Training

8. NC General Statute 116-40.5

9. Public Safety, General Order 1-7 R1 Departmental Authority

10. Organization Chart

11. Assessment Reports for 2018—2019 and 2019—2020