Transcription of www.policies.vt.edu
1 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University UNIVERSITY SAFETY AND SECURITY | NO. 5615 | 1 a University Safety and Security Purpose Virgini a Pol ytechnic Instit ut e and State University (Virgini a Tech) is committ ed to the safety and welfare of student s, faculty, staff and visitors through the establishment of reason able pr actices that: (1) support a safe and secure env ironment in all building s and grounds owned, leased and/or op erated by Virgini a Tech; (2) promot e safety thr ough policies and prog rams; (3) pr ov ide an approp riate level of security at university activities.
2 And (4) safegua rd the university s property and physical a ssets. The University Safety and Security Policy pr ov ides an ov erview of existing university safety and security policies and programs that demonstrate compliance with Section Ch. 8 of the Code of Virginia and the Higher Education Act o f 1965 as amended. This policy describes the aut horities and responsibilities to carry out pr og rams and operations that pr omot e safety and security of individu als and pr operty and establishes an operational committee for coordina tion and ov ersight of university safety and security policies and pr ocedur es.
3 The policy also defines the specific responsibilities of the Virgini a Tech Polic e Department (VTPD) and other university of fices with responsibilities for campus safety and security, includ ing compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics A ct. Policy The university is committ ed to promoting the safety and security of the Virgini a Tech community within a supportive and accessible living , learning , and wor king environment. It is furthe r committed to safeguarding physical resou rces, identifying conditions or circumstances tha t may pose risks to the safety and security of the university, and preparing the university to effectively respond to emergencies.
4 Uni versity facilitie s must be used in a safe and appropriate manner so as no t to endanger the university community or the general pu blic. All faculty, staff, students, and ot he r members of the Virgini a Tech community share respo nsibility for the safety and secur ity of the ins titution and must conduct un iversity activities and operations in compliance with applicable federal and state regul ation s and university policies. Authorities and Responsibilities By state statute, the Virginia Tech Boa rd of Visitors is charged with the care, preservation, and impr ovement of university pr op erty and with the protection and safety of students, faculty, and staff on university pr operty.
5 As part of an ins titution-wide commitment to a safe and secure campus, the university has establis hed offices specifically charged w ith security and safety responsibi lities and created a committee structure, approv ed by the Board of Visitors, to pr ov ide general ov ersight and leadership for the un iversity s security, safety, and viol ence prevention efforts. NO. 5615 Policy Effective Date: 8/28/1992 Last Revision Date: 11/01/2019 Policy Owner: Dwayne Pinkney, Senior Vice President & Chief Business Officer Policy Author: (Contact Person) Kevin Foust, Associate Vice President for Safety & Security Affected Parties: Undergraduate Graduate Faculty Staff Other Purpose Policy Procedures Definitions References Approval and Revisions Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University UNIVERSITY SAFETY AND SECURITY | NO.
6 5615 | 2 a Committee Structure Safety and Security Policy Committee The Uni versity Safety and Security Policy Committee is an operational committee appointed by the President to serve as a coordina ting and po licy body, with respo nsibilities for establishing the framework for an ov erarchi ng un iversity safety, emergency management, and security pr ogram for all Virgini a Tech facilities (on- and of f-campus, owned and leased) and ensuring t ha t it is impl emented thr ough the approp riate of fices; evaluating the ov erall safety and security inf rastructur e; and pr ov idi ng oversight to the wor k of university operational committees responsible for environmental health and safety, v iol ence prevention, emergency management, and other safety and security related efforts.
7 The committee also serves as the Policy Group as de fined in Virgini a Tech s Crisis and Emergency Management Plan (CEMP). The members of the committee will h ol d seni or admini strative rol es with the autho rity to make policy decisions and commit resources in the core operational areas tha t are generally responsible for the safety and security of the campus c ommunity. The committee is chaired by the President; in the President s absenc e, the order of succession for chair is: Senior Vice President and Chief Business Officer, Executive Vice President & Provost, Associate Vice President for Safety and Security, Assistant Vice President for Emergency Management.
8 The chair must be physically present unless all members in the order of succession are participating remotely. Uni versity Legal C ounsel will s erve as an advisor t o the committee. Specific committee responsibilities include: Reviewing, evaluating , and determini ng requirements concerning safety and security assessments, pl ans, pr og rams, and education, includ ing changes tha t may affect the qu ality of the uni versity s living, learning and working environment; Overseeing reviews of the university s assessment of vulnerabilities, hazards and risks related to the safety and security of individuals and the physical campus.
9 Ensuring that sufficient university resources and funding are available to perform necessary emergency management, safety, and security functions, and that these resources are consistent with anticipated regulatory changes; Overseeing the education and prevention of violence on campus in accordance with Section Ch. 8 of Code of Virginia including (i) creation of university safety and security policies, and (ii) providing direction to the Campus and Workplace Violence Prevention Committee and the Threat Assessment Team on the development and implementation of violence prevention procedures, education and guidance regarding recognition and reporting of individuals whose behavior may pose a threat, assessment of such individuals and means of action to resolve potential threats.
10 Overseeing the Safety and Security Policy and other policies that have implications for emergency management, safety, and security, including but not limited to facilities use, sponsorship of entertainment and events, threatening or intimidating conduct, facilities access control, environmental health and safety, and violence prevention; Reviewing and establishing guidelines and standards for departmental emergency response and continuity of operations plans; Evaluating the effectiveness of the university s safety and security plans and programs; and Advising the President on safety and security issues.