Security Policies & Procedures:

Public Safety works closely with the Office of Student Affairs, the University Housing staff, and other campus life personnel to the end that safety policies and procedures are uniformly executed and are conveyed in a clear and consistent manner to the University's students, faculty and staff.  Members of the University's community are encouraged to contact any one of the above listed offices if they have safety concerns regarding a particular area on campus.

Access To Facilities:

Except for University Housing, most University facilities are open to the public during the day and during evening hours when classes are in session.  During the times that the University is officially closed, University buildings are generally locked and only faculty, staff and some students, with proper ID and authorization, are admitted.  UAH officers patrol all buildings at night to secure them and to check for any signs of unauthorized entry, fires, or other irregular activity.  Additionally, the campus roads, parking lots, and walkways are lighted during the evening hours for scheduled activities.

University Housing and Security:

Students may reside on campus in either the apartment-style Southeast Housing residences or the more traditional Central Residence Hall.  In the Central Residence Hall tone floor is reserved for women, one floor is reserved for men, and the remaining floors are coeducational.  Single student suites are assigned to students of the same gender.  Floors within Southeast Housing are coeducational, and entrances to units are off an open breezeway.  Several suites are currently leased to Greek-letter organizations.  Married students couples and student families are assigned to three buildings in this nine building complex.

A Resident Director and undergraduate Resident Advisors (RA's) also live in Southeast Housing suites.  A full-time Housing staff member is on call 24 hours a day, and RA's are on duty in their suites or apartments whenever the Housing Office is closed (5:00 p.m. - 8:15 a.m. weekdays and 24 hours a day on weekends and University holidays.)  In the Central Residence Hall, student desk assistants are assigned to the desk in the main lobby 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  RA's and desk assistants in the Central Residence Hall receive training on topics relating to campus safety and security.

During the regular academic year, all exterior doors in the Central Residence Hall are locked 24 hours a day.  During those hours, access to the building is by electronic cards only.  Electronic cards are issued to students residing in that building and authorized University staff only.  The front door is monitored by desk assistants 24 hours a day, seven days a week, throughout the year.  Electronic alarms on all doors warn desk assistants of unlocked or open exit doors.  Occasionally it becomes necessary, due to repairs or other unusual circumstances, for a door to be unlocked or disarmed for a limited period of time.  In that case, residents are notified in advance.  Visitors must sign in at the main desk and leave a picture ID while they are in the building.  All guests must be escorted through the building by a resident or staff member.  Doors to student to student suites and to individual student rooms in the Central Residence Hall have deadbolt locks.  All windows have locking devices.

During the summer, when the building may be in use by conference groups, the front door can be opened with a security access code.

On-campus housing is not required for UAH students, and the University does not provide supervision for off-campus housing.

Reporting Campus Incidents:

Students, faculty/staff employees, and visitors to UAH are encouraged to contact the Department of Public Safety about any criminal activities, incidents, or other emergencies occurring on campus.  Reports of incidents may also be made to the Director of Housing, the Director of the University Center, or the Assistant Vice President for Human Resources.  Upon request, these officials may assist the reporting individual in contacting the Department of Public Safety about an incident.

Reports or requests for public safety assistance can be made directly to the Department of Public Safety by dialing 6911 from an on-campus telephone or by dialing 824-6911 from an off-campus location.  This number will provide direct access to the dispatcher.  Contact may also be made through the "911" operator if the caller is on University property and does not know the Public Safety number.  Reports may further be made by coming by the Department of Public Safety.

Once information is received by the dispatcher, it can be quickly relayed by radio to UAH officers on duty.  The officers will proceed to the site of the complaint or incident, where appropriate law enforcement or other action will be taken.

When the occurrence of one or more serious crimes on campus is considered by the University to pose a threat to students and employees, the University will endeavor to notify the campus community in a timely manner and by appropriate means of such crimes and threat.

Crime Prevention:

With the exercise of due caution, students and employees can reduce their chances of becoming a victim of campus crime.  The University's crime prevention efforts are premised upon the dual concepts of eliminating or minimizing criminal opportunities, whenever possible, and encouraging individuals to be responsible for their own security and the security of others.

The cooperation and involvement of students themselves in a campus safety program is absolutely necessary.  Students must assume responsibility for their wn personal safety and the security of their personal belongings by taking simple, common sense precautions.  For example, although campus facilities and areas are lighted during normal class hours, it is always prudent for students, female or male, to be accompanied by a friend to their residence or vehicle on campus late at night.  Bedroom doors in residence suites should be locked at night and when the room is unoccupied.  Resident suites and apartment entrance doors should be locked at all times.

Valuable items such as stereos, cameras, and televisions should be marked or engraved with the serial number or personal code.  This number should then be kept in a safe place so that it is available should the item be stolen.  Bicycles should be registered with the Housing Office and should be secured with a sturdy lock.  Students with cars must park them in the assigned areas and keep them locked at all times.  Baluables should be locked in the trunk.  Students should report to the Housing Office or the Department of Public Safety any unusual incidents or suspicious individuals observed in and around University Housing.

To make students and employees more aware of the importance of crime prevention, UAH carries out the following programs and projects:

The Department of Public Safety participates in each new student orientation program at which time a representative talks with both students and their parents about guidelines for their personal safety.

A representative of the Department of Public Safety meets with the RA's during their training, which usually takes place during the Fall Semester, to discuss security matters relating to student housing.

The student newspaper, The Exponent, publishes a monthly summary of criminal incidents occurring the proceeding month.  The summary is prepared by the Department of Public Safety.

If circumstances warrant, special printed crime alerts are prepared and distributed either selectively or throughout the campus.  This is generally done through The Exponent or the UAH Insight, the employee newsletter.

Periodically the Department of Public Safety submits an article or a series of safety and security tips for publication to both The Exponent and the UAH Insight.

A brochure on campus security is given to each resident of campus housing at the time the housing contract is signed.

The Housing staff arranges one program each term on some aspect of campus safety and security.  All housing residents are encouraged to attend.

Sexual Assault Program:

A particularly serious type of criminal behavior to which campuses are not immune is sexual assault.  The University has in place a number of activities and programs intended to help reduce the possibility of sex offenses occurring on its campus.  Included are presentations on rape/sexual offense awareness offered to students each year by various UAH personnel.  The University also encourages the reporting by employees and students of conditions on campus which may contribute to a risk of sexual assault, so that appropriate action may be taken.

A student who is a victim of a campus sexual assault should immediately contact personnel in the Student Affairs or Studen Development Offices.  Individuals in these offices are available to provide assistance and to insure that the student receives counseling and other support as needed.  Contact should also be made with the Department of Public Safety and the local police authorities.  Telephone numbers for these UAH offices are:

The Huntsville Police Department may be reached through the "911" emergency number.

Sexual assault is, of course, a crime which may be prosecuted through the courts.  It is also a violation of the UAH Code of Student Conduct subjecting the offender to disciplinary sanctions in accordance with policies and procedures established by the Code.

A copy of the complete UAH policy and program statement regarding sexual assault is available in the Office of Student Affairs.

Illegal Drugs and Alcohol Policy:

UAH policy forbids the possession, use, or sale of alcoholic beverages or drugs not prescribed by a physician anywhere on University property, except that alcohol may be consumed under certain circumstances in the Noojin House or the Tom Bevill Center and in a student's residence in University Housing.  The Bevill Center is a full-service conference facility occupied by the U.S. Corps of Engineers, and the Noojin House is used for receptions and other social gatherings.  In addition, any violation of federal, state or local drugs or alcohol laws, including those pertaining to underage drinking, is contrary to institutional policy and will subject the offender to disciplinary action.

A brief description of drug and alcohol abuse education programs available to the UAH community is included in a letter provided annually to students and employees under the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act.

Other Services:

The Department of Public Safety provides notice regarding disasters and emergency weather situations.  When the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning for Madison County, the local Civil Defense will activate the University's emergency/disaster siren warning system in conjunction with the Madison County's siren warning system.  Building occupants are also alerted by the UAH police officers utilizing the patrol vehicles' siren and public address system.

The Department of Public Safety also provides safety and general support services tailored to meet the needs of the UAH community.  These services include the following:

Meet the Public Safety and Police Personnel:

	mailto: Dan Tennyson	Last Updated: Apr. 02, 2005