Campus Safety
In any life-threatening situation, immediately call 911!
EMERGENCY RESPONSE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE
GENERAL CAMPUS SAFETY INFORMATION
Most campus buildings are open from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm Monday through Friday and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Campus police may question anyone who does not appear to have authorization to be in a building after hours. Campus buildings are locked after normal hours and on holidays. Staff and faculty are asked to contact College Police.
When entering a building or facility after normal hours
It is the responsibility of those using rooms and offices to lock the doors, turn off all lights, and close all windows upon leaving. College Police personnel will check areas after hours but the primary responsibility for security lies with the user of the facility.
We cannot stress enough the importance of making sure campus facilities are secured when not in use. By working together we can prevent a vast majority of thefts and vandalism that occur to campus facilities.
KEYS TO CAMPUS FACILITIES
Keys are issued to staff and faculty members on a need to enter basis. Such determination is made by the appropriate supervisor. Lost or Stolen keys must be reported immediately to College Police and to the employee’s supervisor. Keys may not be loaned to other staff members or to students. College Police will confiscate any keys in a person’s possession that have not been specifically issued to that particular individual. Unauthorized duplication and illegal possession of keys is a misdemeanor.
COLLEGE PROPERTY
No college property may be removed from campus without the expressed permission of the college. Unauthorized removal of property from campus is a violation of law and of college policy.
MAINTENANCE OF CAMPUS FACILITIES
The college Facilities Management Department is responsible for the maintenance of all college buildings and grounds. The College Police works closely with them to insure that the facilities are maintained for safety and security.
GENERAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Be Prepared
Emergencies, accidents, injuries and other unexpected events can occur at any time and in any place. Being prepared both mentally and physically for the unexpected is the first and best defense to minimize an incident. Each of us must take a pro-active approach to providing a safe environment and, although no guide can cover all situations, the procedures outlined below will help prepare you should an emergency arise.
Be sure to:
- Familiarize yourself with your soundings.
- Know the location of all exits from your area or building in case of fire or a need to evacuate your area.
- Know the location of all fire alarm pull stations.
- Know the location of fire extinguishers or emergency call boxes to notify the College Police in emergency situations.
- Be aware of what’s going on around you.
- ALWAYS lock your car and conceal valuable items.
- Never leave personal property unattended.
- Don’t hesitate to call 9-1-1 immediately if you believe an emergency exists
CIVIL UNREST & COURT ORDERS
Civil Unrest:
A civil disturbance includes riots, demonstrations, threatening individuals, a crime in progress, or assemblies that have become significantly disruptive. If a disturbance should occur on campus, avoid it and contact the College Police. Stay away from the protest, or take a different route away from the problem. Do not taunt or obstruct demonstrators. Never provoke a confrontation. Continue with normal routines as possible unless alternative directions are issued by the College Police.
The college respects the right of free speech and will allow non-violent protest and demonstration to occur. The College Police will be notified of all large assemblies on campus to monitor the crowd as necessary.
Court Orders:
Any person, who has filed an Order of Protection or Injunction and believes the named person may attempt to contact them on the Middlesex College campus, should notify the College Police. The College Police will require a copy of the Civil Court Order and will ask you to provide a physical description of the person named in the order as well as a photo, if possible, and a description of their vehicle. All officers will be made aware of the situation in order to avoid potential problems from occurring. If a violation of the orders occurs, the College Police will taken the necessary action.
SUSPICIOUS INCIDENTS
Suspicious Persons:
Because we are a diverse community, it is sometimes difficult to determine who or who does not belong on campus. There are occasions, however, when you encounter an individual who does not appear to have a legitimate reason for being on the campus. There are other situations where a person’s action, such as prowling in parking lots, peering into vehicles, or their verbal comments, raises suspicion. If you encounter an individual or situation you feel is out of place or suspicious, contact the college police immediately and provide a description, an explanation of the person actions and any other pertinent information. The college police will attempt to identify the individual to determine if they have a justifiable reason to be on campus.
Suspicious Packages:
If you receive or discover a suspicious letter or package, do not handle, move, open or go near the item until it can be checked. If you are unsure as to whether or not it is safe to open a piece of mail, contact College Police immediately and keep everyone away from the item until they arrive.
SOME SPECIFIC SITUATIONS … WHAT TO DO?
| Disruptive Persons:
Besides complying with local, state and federal laws, Middlesex College adheres to a Code of Conduct that is printed in the college catalog and in the Pathfinder. This code establishes behavioral standards for the entire campus community (students, staff and visitors). When followed, the code allows the teaching and learning process to move forward without people disruption. The underlying reason causing a disruption can usually be dealt with after the incident. What matters most during the incident are the real victims of the disruption, other community members present. Therefore, it is important to deal with the disrupter’s actions in a formal manner by first addressing the problem through verbal direction, then documenting the incident in a report. Whenever disruptive individuals fail to comply with staff direction, the College Police Department should be immediately notified. |
What to do?
Whenever you observe or are subjected to unruly or disruptive acts by an individual, do the following: 1. If the disruption is occurring outside the classroom setting, notify the College Police and wait for an officer to respond to the scene. 2. If in the classroom, the instructor should try to deal with the situation by requesting the individual to stop his/her course of conduct. Immediately notify the College Police if the individual continues to disrupt the class. 3. For either of the above situations, prepare and forward a report to your Division Chairperson and the Dean of Students. Note: Knowing that something will be done about a disruptive or unruly act tends to dissuade similar actions from occurring in the future. The College’s policy is enforceable under State of New Jersey statutes. |
| Weapons:
The possession of a firearm or other instruments commonly used to inflict bodily harm is prohibited on campus and all other college property. All persons who attend classes, are employed by the college, are visiting the college or who otherwise have business with in the college, are prohibited from carrying weapons, concealed or otherwise (with or without a permit), on their person or in their vehicles or anywhere on the college property. Certified peace officers, who currently work with a law enforcement agency, or persons who obtain written permission from the college police department are excluded from the No weapons policy. |
What to Do:
Whenever a staff member observes or becomes aware that a person on the college campus is in possession of a firearm or other instrument commonly used to inflict bodily injury, he/she should:
Note: Only the College Police can intervene if a weapon is observed or suspected. |
| Evacuations:
Campus community members will be advised to evacuate a college building during an emergency or for safety reasons. The signal to evacuate will normally be given through the use of the fire alarm bells or verbally during a gas leak emergency. Since gas is lighter then air, it will rise to the ceiling level of a room and work its way down to the floor. An explosion can be caused if a fire alarm bells/horns, telephone, or appliances in the effected area are being used. |
What to Do:
When the fire alarm bells sound or you are verbally advised to evacuate a building or area:
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| Explosions:
Explosions can occur from many sources. Some of these sources are electrical problems, chemical or natural gas release, bomb, or aircraft accidents. After an explosion, the main focus of everyone on campus should be towards assisting the injured and safeguarding against fires and gas leaks. The immediate response of outside resources such as the Fire Department, and utilities companies will be needed to effectively deal with the situation and will be called by the College Police. |
What to Do:
If this type of emergency ever occurs, try to remain calm and prepare yourself for further explosions by crawling under
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