Community Standards

Campus Safety

Introduction

The Campus Safety Department is the College's authorized security force tasked with enforcing its rules, regulations and policies. Enforcement procedures include issuing parking tickets and summary fines, filing conduct charges, performing citizen's arrests and providing vehicle registration and ID card services.

The Campus Safety Department works closely with federal, state, county and local authorities in the investigation and prosecution of crimes and in fire, safety and health-related issues.

You can find more information about Campus Safety at their website.

Policies and Procedures

  • Bicycles

    It is recommended that all bicycles that are brought on campus be registered with the Campus Safety Department. There is no fee required. The Department has bicycle safety and lock information available that can be picked up at the office during business hours. (See Residential Education Policies and General Information)

  • Parking and Traffic Regulations

    Union College requires that all motor vehicles (including motorbikes and/or motorcycles) using the campus be registered with the Campus Safety Department. First-year students are not permitted to have any vehicle on without permission from the Dean of First-Year Students. If permitted, first-year students will be restricted to parking in the Nott / Seward and Roger Hull parking lots only. All other areas on campus will be off limits at all times of the day and night. Traffic enforcement will apply to those who violate this rule.

    Union College assumes no responsibility or risk for any vehicle, its occupants or property contained therein or thereon, while parked or driven on Union College property. Parking on Union College property is a privilege, not a right, and parking space is not guaranteed for each vehicle in any parking area.

    The Campus Safety Department will issue tickets to illegally parked vehicles, and if necessary, will tow vehicles at the owner's expense. No one is exempt from campus traffic enforcement. Parking is allowed in approved lots within approved mark spaces.

    For a complete list of regulations governing parking and driving on campus, including possible sanctions for violations, you may consult the Campus Safety Website or go to the Campus Safety Office for a hard copy, which you will receive when you register your vehicle.

    *Compliance issues may also be addressed through the Code of Student Conduct.

  • Emergency Notification and Alerts

    The Campus Crime Alert (“Alert”) is provided to give students, faculty, and staff timely notification of crimes that may represent a serious, on-going threat to the campus community and to heighten safety awareness. The Alert also seeks information that may lead to arrest and conviction of the offender when violent crimes against persons or substantial crimes against property have been reported.

    Campus Safety is responsible for issuing a Campus Crime Alert when a crime is reported to or brought to the attention of the Campus Safety or other campus security authorities and that crime represents a serious, on-going threat to the safety of members of the campus community. Information for Alerts also comes from other law enforcement agencies. Every attempt will be made to distribute the Alert promptly; however, the release is subject to the availability of accurate facts concerning the incident. Alerts are created and distributed by Campus Safety and/or the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students or his/her designee with the assistance of Telecommunications and/or Communications.

  • Timely Warning Procedure

    Campus Safety will prepare a Campus Crime Alert whenever a report is received of a violent crime against a person or a substantial crime against property on campus that represents a serious, on-going threat to the safety of students, faculty, and staff. Alerts are assigned the same number as the corresponding Campus Safety report and provide details of the crime, a description of the suspect (if known), information on whom to contact with information, and safety tips.

    Campus Crime Alerts will be emailed as quickly as possible to faculty, staff, and students, and may also be distributed throughout the campus, provided to campus media, posted on the Union College website, texted and, if appropriate, posted in off-campus areas frequented by students.

    Whenever the Schenectady Police issue a news release about an off-campus crime that represents a serious, on-going threat to the safety of students, faculty, and staff, the College will assist in publicizing the crime on campus.

    Campus Crime Alerts typically include the following information:

    • A succinct statement of the incident.
    • Any connection to previous incidents.
    • Physical description and/or composite drawing of the suspect, if appropriate.
    • Date and time the Alert was released.
    • Other relevant and important information.
    • Appropriate safety tips.
  • Emergency Text Messaging System

    Rave Emergency Alert System

    Union College has partnered with Rave Wireless to provide an emergency alert system capable of delivering messages to your Union and personal email addresses, as well as your mobile number and personal landline.

    As a student or employee of Union College your “@union.edu” email account is automatically registered and will receive notifications along with your registered cellphone number if provided to the college. You may add or manage contact information by using your Union College login username and password at: GetRave and using your Union College login username and password.

    Messages may be used for situations that pose immediate danger or the closing of an entire campus. Messages about Campus Crime Alerts generally will not be sent unless it is decided there is an imminent threat of danger. This notification service is provided in addition to existing emergency reporting procedures and does not replace or eliminate any emergency notification system.

  • Emergency Evacuation Procedures/Persons with Special Needs

    The mission of the Union College Office of Campus Safety and Emergency Management is to enable, promote, and support the preparedness, responsiveness, and sustainability of all the elements of Union College.

    Union College is committed to providing an environment where all students, faculty, staff or visitors have equal access to safe egress and to effectively alert, evacuate and/or shelter them during an emergency.

    Please refer to the “Emergency Evacuation Voluntary Referral Form.”

  • Campus Identification

    ID cards are issued to all members of the Union College community. This is done, among other reasons, to identify you as a member of the community and as proof of your authorization to be on campus, and to allow you access to dining services and to your residence hall.

    All College personnel must carry their ID card with them and must produce it upon request of a member of the Campus Safety Department or other authorized agents of the College. Refusal or failure to produce an ID card may result in conduct charges.

    The Access Control office located in the Campus Safety Office issues all Union College identification cards.

    Lost cards must be reported to the Campus Safety Department in person. Dining Services must also be notified. A fee of $25.00 is assessed for each occasion a card is reported as lost or stolen. Any malfunctioning ID card can be returned to the Campus Safety office for a replacement at no cost to you.

    The Union College ID card is the property of Union College and is to be used for purposes of identification and transaction of college business only. Any ID card which has been replaced is no longer valid and therefore must be destroyed.

  • Environmental Health & Safety - Fire Safety Reporting Information

    The Office of Environmental Health & Safety at Union College is responsible for programs related to fire safety. EHS works closely with the Department of Campus Safety in obtaining its data with respect to fire alarms and actual fire conditions reported. Since Union College maintains and provides student housing, we are providing this data as required under the Higher Education Opportunity Act.

  • Missing Persons

    The following policies and procedures are to be followed in the event that a student or other individual is reported missing from campus.

    Upon receipt of a report of a missing person, the Campus Safety Department will conduct a thorough and timely investigation to determine the safety and current location of the person. If the missing person is a student, the investigating officer will contact and help coordinate the investigation with the Schenectady Police Department no later than 24 hours after the student is determined missing. Once it is determined that the student has been missing for a period of more than 24 hours, the Campus Safety department will notify the student's emergency contact no later than 24 hours after the student is determined to be missing.

    In addition to registering an emergency contact, students have the option to identify a confidential contact to be contacted by Union College Campus Safety in the event the student is determined to be missing for more than 24 hours. If a student has identified such an individual, Union College Campus Safety will notify that individual no later than 24 hours after the student is determined to be missing. A student who wishes to identify a confidential contact may do so by coming to the Campus Safety Office and filling out a missing student contact form. A student's confidential contact information will be accessible only by authorized campus officials and law enforcement as appropriate. The custodial parent or guardian will be notified within 24 hours of the determination the student is missing.

    An individual will be considered missing if a roommate, classmate, faculty member, family member, or other campus person has not seen the person in a reasonable amount of time. A reasonable amount of time may vary with the time of day and information available regarding the missing person's daily schedule, habits, punctuality, and reliability. Individuals will also be considered missing immediately, if their absence has occurred under circumstances that are suspicious or cause concerns for their safety. If the initial report that a person is missing is made to a department other than the Campus Safety Department, the staff member receiving the report will ensure that the Campus Safety Department is contacted immediately.

    Detailed procedures for the implementation of these policies by the College through the Campus Safety Department are available for review upon request.

    No later than 24 hours after determining a student is missing, the Campus Safety Dept. will notify the following college officials:

    • Dean of Students
    • Director of Residential Education
    • Director of Campus Safety
  • Operation ID

    This program is part of the department’s overall crime prevention program. To prevent thefts and help in the recovery of stolen property, the Campus Safety Department urges that you engrave all your valuables and keep an inventory of your property; stickers can be removed but it is much more difficult to obliterate engraved marks that have been located on an obscure place. Note the serial, model, and engraved numbers on the security inventory sheet.

  • Student Right-To-Know Information (Crime Statistics - CLERY)

    The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act is the federal law, originally known as the Campus Security Act, that requires colleges and universities across the United States to disclose information about crime on and around their campuses.

    The Union College Campus Safety Department has been a contributor to the Uniform Crime Reporting System since 1991. A copy of Union College's Annual Security Report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on-campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Union College; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning sexual assault, and other matters. Individuals can obtain a print copy of this report by contacting the Department of Campus Safety. Three year statistics can be found at: www.union.edu/clery

  • Violent Felony Offense Investigation

    As required by New York State law, upon receipt of a complaint or report that a violent felony has occurred on campus, the Campus Safety Department will immediately respond, thoroughly investigate, and document a report of their findings. The responding officers will verify the nature of the incident and determine if the incident occurred on the Union College campus or during an off-campus event sponsored by the College. The Campus Safety Department will notify and coordinate further investigation of the criminal incident with the Schenectady Police Department. Victims of crimes, especially violent felony crimes, will be assisted, if requested, in making a report of the incident to the Schenectady Police Department.

  • Weapons on Campus

    Possession or use of any type of firearm or any other potentially dangerous weapon is prohibited. Weapons of any kind are dangerous and have no place in a college community. All instruments which can be construed as weapons including, but not limited to, Airsoft guns, BB guns, pellet guns, handguns, rifles, pistols, knives (blade length over 3”), bows and arrows, swords, brass knuckles, night sticks, and handcuffs may not be brought onto College property. Students wishing to bring any such property to campus for sporting purposes must register the weapon or firearm with Campus Safety and store it in the Campus Safety Office.