Section 3: Comprehensive Standards

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

Judgment of Compliance:
Compliance

Narrative/Justification for Judgment of Compliance:
Christopher Newport University is in compliance with this comprehensive standard. The University is committed to ensuring a healthy, safe and secure environment for the entire campus community. Two entities carry primary responsibility for maintaining safety and security: University Police and the Department of University Services.

University Police
Christopher Newport University has authorized the operation of a full-time, professionally trained police department, responsible for the safety and welfare of all members of the University community and their guests. The University Police are committed to providing a safe and secure environment.

Authority
The University Police enforce all state laws and University regulations and prevent, detect and investigate criminal activity on the campus. Officers have the same authority and obligation to exercise police power as other state and municipal police officers. University officers may exercise the powers and duties conferred by law (i) upon any property owned or controlled by Christopher Newport University, or by request, upon any property owned or controlled by another public or private institution of higher education and upon the streets, sidewalks and highways immediately adjacent thereto; (ii) pursuant to the mutual aide agreement with the City of Newport News; and (iii) in close pursuit of a person as provided in §19.2-77.

University Police also maintain a mutual aid agreement with the City of Newport News Police and are currently pursuing an agreement of concurrent jurisdiction. University Police utilize the Newport News Police Department and the Virginia State Police in the event additional police resources are needed.

Administration
The University Police Department is established by law, Code of Virginia , §23-232 through §23-238, and consists of a chief of police, a lieutenant, four sergeants and thirteen officers. The Police Department is under the general supervision of the University President or designee. The chief of police is the chief executive officer of the Police Department, enforcing rules and regulations as prescribed by the President. The chief of police reports directly to the Vice President of Student Services (see University Police organizational chart).

The chief of police manages the Emergency Communication Center (ECC), which maintains intra-agency communication between several university departments, including Plant Operations, Building and Grounds, Ferguson Center for the Performing Arts, Freeman Center, as well as inter-agency communications with the City of Newport News Police, Fire and Emergency Management Center. The ECC employs six communication officers, who receive over 80 hours of training at the Hampton Roads Regional Criminal Justice Training Center and are certified by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Virginia Criminal Information Network/National Criminal Information Center (VCIN/NCIC) of the Virginia State Police.

The chief of police determines the security needs of the campus and coordinates the effort to perform those duties. To effectively accomplish security tasks, the University Police established the Student Police Aide Program in 2002. This program was awarded the STEPS Award for the best community policing program in Virginia in 2004 from the Virginia Community Policing Institute.

Student Police Aides are trained by the University Police and the Office of Residence Life to provide a variety of security functions in the residence halls and other academic buildings and to assist in the safe movement of vehicles and pedestrians on campus. The assignments of the Aides may include:

The Student Police Aides are supervised by four student police aide supervisors. These supervisors report to the Police Aide Coordinator. The Coordinator reports directly to the uniform midnight shift sergeant, who oversees all security functions. Police aides are responsible to understand and comply with the Police Aide Policy and Procedure Manual. The Student Police Aide Program provides over 15,000 hours of security patrol to the campus.

The University Police utilize contract security all of whom are certified by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, to perform additional security patrols on the East Campus and in the Ferguson Center for the Performing Arts. Contract security officers perform more than 5,000 hours of patrol to the campus grounds and buildings annually.

The University Police maintains regular business hours, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Headquarters at 340 Prince Drew Road. Copies of police reports are available and recovered property can be collected there. After business hours University Police may be contacted through the Emergency Communication Center or by activating an emergency call box.

Training
University Police officers are sworn and certified by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (VDCJS). All officers complete 540 hours of law enforcement training from a state criminal justice training academy and an additional 40 hours of in-service training biennially. The academy training includes proficiency with firearms. Officers carry the department-issued firearm and maintain expertise and certification through semi-annual classroom training and firing range qualification. Police officers must also complete an eight week field training program with a certified field training officer.

Emergency Communication Center communication officers, also certified by VDCJS, complete 80 hours of emergency communication training from a state criminal justice training academy and 40 hours of field training with an experienced communication officer.

Student Police Aides are trained by the University Police and the Office of Residence Life. Each aide completes 40 hours of classroom training and 16 hours of field training.

Building Security
All University buildings are checked on a regular basis and are secured by the University Police after normal hours. Access to secure University buildings or other University facilities is restricted to individuals authorized to have keys and to those with valid passes. Aides lock down and clear buildings and secure exterior doors.

Vehicle Security
All faculty, staff and students are required to purchase and display a campus decal on their vehicle. Guests must display a temporary decal or special event placard. Vehicles on campus without decals may be cited.

Housing Security
Nearly 3,000 undergraduate students reside in four residence halls, three apartment complexes and University owned houses. All residential facilities are managed by Hall Directors, who maintain a staff of student resident assistants (RAs) and front desk assistants (FDAs). James River Hall, York River Hall (East and West), Potomac River Hall (North and South) and Santoro Hall maintain reception desks and staff them with FDAs and RAs from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. Student Police Aides, supervised by the University Police, manage the desks at other hours. All residence hall exterior doors, including the lobby entrance, are locked at 10:00 p.m. University Police conduct routine security checks of the halls and all exit doors.

Members of the residence life staff are chosen through a process established by the Director of Residence Life and approved by the Dean of Students. The residence life staff has the skills, knowledge, and information to help residents learn about and adjust to the University and the community living environment. Training for resident assistants and front desk assistants is conducted by the Office of Residence Life in conjunction with various agencies on and off campus and includes a safety component taught by the police.

Timely Warnings
A timely warning is information published and distributed by the University Police alerting the public to a crime or serious threat. In the event that a criminal action occurs that could pose an immediate threat to the University community or other individuals, the University Police post a notice of the incident (CNU Crime Alerts). Anyone with information warranting a timely warning should report the circumstance to the Police.

Security Awareness and Crime Prevention
Crime prevention lectures and programs are scheduled each semester for all students, faculty, and staff, and crime prevention materials are available in the Office of the University Police. Crime prevention material is also made available at orientation programs.

The University provides a series of "Campus Watch" programs for students, faculty and staff. "Campus Watch" programs include:

University Police officers document security and safety violations found during their routine patrols of buildings and grounds on a Safety Notice form. This form is sent to the person responsible for the violation and correction of the problem is required.

Reporting Crimes or Emergencies
It is the policy of the University to require that all criminal acts be reported to the University Police. All crimes, traffic collisions, medical and fire incidents should be immediately reported. The University Police investigate every report of suspicious and criminal activity. Information on crimes that may impact or relate to the surrounding community is shared with appropriate law enforcement agencies. If a murder, sex offense, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, or motor vehicle theft occurs and there is a potential for continuation of the crime, a notice of "timely warning" is posted.

In an emergency, University Police may be contacted by telephone or by using any one of the call boxes located on campus. Non-emergency reporting of crimes and other incidents may be made by calling the University Police non-emergency telephone number, by visiting the Office of the University Police during regular business hours or by activating one of the emergency call boxes on campus.

Crime Log
The University Police make available a crime log of incidents for the most recent 60-day period open to public inspection. The log may be viewed from the University Police website, or at the University Police Office. Any portion of the log older than 60 days, if not immediately available, is made accessible within two business days of a request.

Disciplinary Actions
In cases where probable cause exists to believe that a student may be involved in a violation of the laws of the Commonwealth, the University Police may initiate charges through the City of Newport News criminal court system and/or through the University's judicial system. Violations of University policy may result in a charge filed through the University judicial system. The Dean of Students, or designee, may initiate disciplinary action for violations committed by members of the University community.

Local police report off-campus crimes by University students to University Police. Moreover, established procedures permit the Newport News Police Department to relay crime statistics and other relevant information.

Sexual Assault Policies
University Police, in conjunction with the Center for Counseling, Coaching and Consulting (CCCC), provides several programs during the school year to promote the awareness of rape, acquaintance rape and all other sexual offenses. Any student involved in a sexual assault will be offered counseling services through CCCC and other resources available in the community. The Office of the Dean of Students maintains a Sexual Assault Prevention web site, which provides assault prevention tips and RAD class information, and www.cnu.edu/police relates local and national resources, including ways to relate a rape.

Victims of sexual assault are encouraged to file a police report with the University Police Department or the Newport News Police Department. The victim may, with or without the assistance of the University, notify law enforcement. Victims have the option of keeping their report of sexual assault in complete confidence, protecting their right to anonymity, when making a report through CCCC. The victim will be provided assistance to change academic and living situations, as necessary. Anonymous reports to CCCC that are not investigated by University or local officials are not included in the annual crime statistics.

University judicial action, criminal prosecution and civil litigation are options to victims of sexual assault, with the process detailed in the 2005-2006 Christopher Newport University Student Handbook. Sanctions may include suspension or dismissal from the University.

Possession, Use, and Sale of Illegal Drugs and Alcoholic Beverages
Christopher Newport University is an alcohol free campus and thus committed to working against the illicit use of drugs and alcohol among students and employees. University Police enforce Virginia laws and University policies concerning the purchase, possession, consumption, sale and storage of alcoholic beverages and drugs. Anyone in violation of any state or federal drug law may be summoned to appear before the appropriate court of law and/or given a charge notice to appear before the Dean of Students or designee. Convictions for violations of these laws could result in fines, loss of driver's license and imprisonment. University sanctions include penalties ranging from reprimand to dismissal from the University.

Department of University Services
The Office of University Services is responsible for managing the safety and security of all persons (i.e., faculty and staff) employed by Christopher Newport University as well as all University property. This office oversees the comprehensive safety and security plan designed to coordinate safety and security activities.

The Safety Officer is responsible to develop the plan and assists other departments to develop policies and procedures to protect both people and property. Specifically, the office

• develops policies and procedures related to workplace safety and environmental health;
• collects and analyzes data and prepares reports on workplace incidents and accidents;
• evaluates on-site workplace hazards including physical, chemical and biological;
• implements workplace safety programs;
• conducts follow-up reviews and monitors corrective actions relative to federal and state workplace safety inspections;
• responds to emergencies (i.e., hazardous materials handling and disposal), determines whether danger exists, and oversees corrective action.

Support Documentation:

University Police
CNU Police Bike Training and Certification Program:

       
CNU Police Crime Alerts:

CNU Police Crime Logs:

CNU Police Policy and Procedure Manual
Daily Activity Reports
Student Police Aide:
          Manual
          Front Desk Do's and Don'ts
          Front Desk Training Manual
CNU Safety and Security Plan
Community Safety Enhancement Effort Revised
Police Field Training Manual
Silent Witness Poster
University Police Organizational Chart
Virginia Community Policing Institute Award Submission
Copy of the University Police Website
Copy of the Assault Prevention Website

University Services
Comprehensive Health and Safety Plan
Emergency Policies and Procedures
Blood borne Pathogen Training
Infection Control Plan
Disasters Plan
Unusual Occurrences
Emergency Notification
Department of Health Inspection Report
Administrative Staff

Additional Live Web Resources:
University Police: http://police.cnu.edu/
Sexual Assault Prevention: http://sexualassault.cnu.edu/awareness.html