Saint Joseph's University Security A Shared Responsibility . . .
Who is responsible for Safety and Security at Saint Joseph's University?
The safety and security of all who live, work and visit Saint Joseph's University is of paramount importance to the entire Saint Joseph's community. The primary concern of the Department of Public Safety and Security is to seek to provide the highest reasonable level of security on our 98 acre campus. Our SJU community shares this responsibility and during the school year, several crime prevention and security forums are conducted. This "shared responsibility" is a very important element of our overall safe learning environment.
The Federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or Clery Act, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Act 180, Uniform Crime Reporting Act require the publication and distribution of the following information, as well as the keeping of an open crime log that is available for inspection in security headquarters at Barbelin Hall, Rm 13. Information for this Report was compiled by the Department of Public Safety and Security, in consultation with Student Life. It includes all reports to Security, Residence Life, other Campus Security Authorities and local police departments, regardless of whether they have been determined to have occurred.
Statistics
* The statistics listed below are the number of crimes reported to Security. They do not reflect the outcome of investigations by Saint Joseph's University Security or the pertinent police department.
SEX OFFENSE DEFINITIONS
CRIME DEFINITIONS
GEOGRAPHICAL REPORTING DEFINITIONS FROM THE CLERY ACT
Procedures for Reporting a Crime or Emergency
Members of the Saint Joseph’s University community are encouraged to report all crimes and emergencies to the Department of Public Safety in a timely manner. To report a crime, emergency, or non-emergency, call Public Safety at extension 1111 or, from outside the University phone system, (610)660-1111. Public Safety Officers trained to dispatch are available at this number 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer your call. Based on the nature of the call, an officer may be dispatched to your location, or you may be asked to report to the Public Safety Office to file an incident report. The Department of Public Safety will provide assistance with contacting Philadelphia Police or Lower Merion Police, if needed. To further assist with reporting crimes or emergency situations, 150 emergency phones are located throughout the campus, both inside and outside the buildings. These phones provide a direct line to the Public Safety Office; simply pick up the handset or press the “call” button. You will be immediately connected with a Public Safety Officer who will be able to determine your location based on the emergency phone you are calling from.
All Department of Public Safety incident reports involving students are forwarded to the Vice President for Student Life and the Office of Community Standards for review and judicial action, if necessary.
Should the victim of, or witness to, a crime wish to make an anonymous report, there are several means of doing so. An Anonymous Tip Line has been established to provide the Department of Public Safety with “tips” about criminal activity or behavior on campus. Call extension 1114, or (610)660-1114, to reach this recorded line and leave a message. The Anonymous Tip Line is monitored by the Director of Public Safety and information provided will be thoroughly investigated. Though monitored, the Anonymous Tip Line is not meant for emergencies that require immediate action. Another means to make an anonymous report is through the Tip Box located in the Drexel Library. The drop-box is situated to the right of the computer classroom on the ground floor and allows for anyone to drop off an anonymous message that will be promptly checked by Public Safety. Additionally, individuals can fill out an anonymous Tip Form located on the main MySJU website. Click on the “Safety and Security Tip Link” and complete the form.
Timely Warning to the Campus Community
The University will provide timely notice to the campus community regarding crimes considered to be a threat to the safety of or health of students and employees which are reported to Public Safety or the local police. The manner of notification depends upon the particular circumstances of the crime. Means of communication such as telephone voice mail broadcast messages, electronic mail, University publications, Attention Bulletins, the Open Crime Log, and the student newspaper are available for this purpose. A “Campus Alerts” box is permanently located on the main MySJU website and is utilized to quickly disseminate emergency information to the University Community. The University also has a siren/public address warning system and a cell phone text messaging system in the event of an emergency.
Preparation of the Annual Report
Under the Federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act, the preparation and dissemination of an Annual Report is required. Preparation of this report is the responsibility of the Department of Public Safety and requires the compilation of crimes reported throughout the previous calendar year. The crime statistics are gathered primarily from the Department of Public Safety Incident Management System, but also include statistics provided by the Office of Community Standards. Once completed, the Annual Report is published and made available to the campus community. The report is also posted on the Saint Joseph’s University website at http://www.sju.edu/resources/security/annualreport.html. An email is sent to every student, faculty, and staff member once the Annual Report is posted. This email includes the web address and information on how to obtain the hard-copy report.
The Department of Public Safety submits the statistics published in the Annual Report to the Department of Education which is made available to the general public through the Department of Education website.
Campus Security Authorities
The Clery Act requires “Campus Security Authorities” to report campus crime statistics for inclusion in the Annual Report and to facilitate timely warnings. “Campus Security Authorities,” as defined by the Clery Act, include security and law enforcement officers; deans (or other senior student administrative personnel); coaches; residence hall staff; overseers and advisors to student clubs and organizations; and other campus officials who have “significant responsibility for student and campus activities,” such as, but not limited to, student housing, student discipline and campus judicial proceedings. Professional and pastoral counselors are exempt from the reporting requirement while working within the scope of a license or certification.
The following are designated as Campus Security Authorities:
All administrative employees in the Division of Student Life, including, but not limited to, Vice President for Student Life; Assistant Vice President for Student Development; Director and Associate Directors of Residential Life; Area Coordinators and Resident Assistants; Director and Assistant Directors of Student Leadership; Assistant Vice President and Directors for Student Educational Support Services; Associate Vice President and Directors, Associate Directors, Assistant Directors and all team coaches for Recreational Sports and Intercollegiate Athletics; Director of Campus Ministry; Director of the Student Health Center;
All Deans, Associate Deans, and Assistant Deans of the Undergraduate and Graduate programs within the School of Business, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the College for Professional and Liberal Studies;
All administrative employees in the Division of Administrative Services, including, but not limited to, Director of Dining Services; Director, Associate Directors, and Assistant Directors of Facilities Management; Director and Assistant Directors of Public Safety and all Department of Public Safety personnel to include uniformed officers, residence hall desk attendants, gate attendants, and drivers.
Others designated as campus security authorities include the Assistant Vice President and Assistant Directors for Human Resources; the Director of the ELS Language Center; all advisors to student groups, clubs and organizations; all faculty/staff advisors to student groups, clubs and organizations; and all non-professional counselors (such as victim advocates).
Safety of Campus Facilities
Residence halls are staffed by security personnel on a 24 hour basis. The residence halls are equipped with state-of-the-art access systems. Only residents, their registered guests, and approved members of the University community are permitted access into the residence halls by swiping their Saint Joseph’s University identification cards in the card access readers. Smaller campus houses are not staffed but do have access systems to control entry. Student's rooms are equipped with knob locks, night latches on the doors and window locks. Suites have card access readers.
Public Safety personnel and Residence Life staff work together to enforce security measures in the residence halls.
The campus is divided into several patrol areas and when unsafe conditions (landscape, lighting, etc.) are noted, the proper department is notified. Fire alarms, emergency phones and lights are inspected and tested on a monthly basis.
How is the Department Structured?
The Department of Public Safety and Security reports to the Vice President for Administrative Services and consists of a Director, Assistant Director Operations, Assistant Director Administration, 3 Patrol Shift Managers, 9 Patrol Shift Supervisors, 80 officers, 66 residence center desk attendants and 14 gate attendants.
Security officers must be certified under Commonwealth of PA Lethal Weapons Training Act 235 prior to employment. Additional pre-service training is provided to all new officers. Security officers do not carry firearms. They are employees of Saint Joseph's University and as such, operate solely as agents of the University. Criminal investigations are conducted by one of the two outside law enforcement agencies that are responsible for coverage at Saint Joseph's University. They are Lower Merion Township on Merion Campus and Philadelphia on Central and Overbrook Campuses. The security department has a longstanding and successful working relationship with both departments. While these relationships are well established, they are not memorialized in any written agreement. They will report student off-campus involvement in criminal activity to the University. All crime victims have a right to report any criminal incidents to local police. The Department of Public Safety encourages this right and will assist with the reporting process.
Education
Security and crime prevention presentations are made at student forums throughout the year. Special emphasis on Public Safety services and Crime Prevention practices are made during New Student Orientation programs for undergraduates, graduates, and international students. Articles are also published in the student newspaper and special crime prevention tips are posted on MySJU. Members of the Department of Public Safety also address all new employees at orientation sessions conducted by the Office of Human Resources.
The Department of Public Safety also works with the Coordinator of Residential Education to assist with programming in the residence halls and events conducted during Safety and Wellness Week.
Off-campus Student Organizations
Saint Joseph’s University does not have any officially recognized student organizations in off-campus facilities, to include housing.
Alcohol, Drugs and Firearms Policies
The carrying of or presence of a firearm is not permitted on University property with the only exception being when carried by deputized police officers on duty.
The university policies concerning the possession, use, and sale of alcoholic beverages and drugs are intended to conform to the statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and are stated in full in the SJU Student Handbook.
In compliance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, no person under twenty-one years of age shall attempt to carry out the purchase, possession, consumption or transport of alcoholic beverages on University property or at any event sponsored by the University. No student or employee of the University shall attempt or carry out the transfer of any form of identification for the purpose of falsifying age in order to secure alcohol. No student or employee of the University shall give permission or render assistance in the sale, furnishing, or providing of alcohol to any person under the age of twenty-one.
Only under the conditions clearly stipulated in the University guidelines is the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages by students twenty-one years of age and older permitted. This conditioned permission should not be interpreted to mean that the University encourages the use of alcoholic beverages. Furthermore, the University considers intoxication, disorderliness or offensive behavior deriving from the use of alcoholic beverages, regardless of a person's age, to be unacceptable and subject to disciplinary action.
Saint Joseph’s University prohibits the unlawful sale, manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession or use of any drug by University employees or students in the workplace, on University property, or as part of any University sponsored activity.
For the health and well-being of the community, drug paraphernalia of any kind is prohibited. Any employee or student found in possession of drug paraphernalia on University grounds will face disciplinary action.
As a condition of employment, all employees will abide by the terms of this Policy and must notify the Assistant Vice President for Human Resources (or Provost in the case of faculty members), no later than five (5) calendar days after any conviction for a violation of a criminal drug statute occurring in the workplace.
To reflect its commitment to alcohol awareness, the University calls upon key individuals and departments to educate the University community on the dangers of alcohol abuse and to enforce policies on alcohol use: 1) The Drug/Alcohol Counselor coordinates alcohol education and programming as well as annual materials to assist students concerning alcohol usage. 2) The Office of Public Safety assists in implementing and enforcing the policy, and monitors, using desk attendants, individuals entering residence halls. 3) The Alcohol and Other Drug Task Force assists the Vice President for Student Life by making recommendations concerning the policy.
The University is in this regard vitally interested in the well-being of all members of its community and, therefore, offers assistance by making available to all members of its community a counseling office staffed by professionally trained personnel. The services of a qualified psychiatrist are also available. The University strongly urges its members to take advantage of these services. In addition, the Center for Counseling and Personal Development offers a comprehensive library collection on the topic of drug use and abuse.
Sexual Offense Policy
Saint Joseph's University policy on sexual offenses is stated in its entirety in the Saint Joseph's University Handbook and the University's web site at http://www.sju.edu/resources/humanresources/sexoffense.html. The policy identifies and describes procedures and resources available to those individuals who believe they have been a victim or victims of a sexual offense, identifies possible sanctions for violations of the policy, appeals procedures and educational programs.
Saint Joseph's University will not tolerate sexual offenses, whether forcible or non-forcible, on its campus or at any University-sponsored events, by any member of the SJU community regardless of location (i.e. on or off campus) when involving SJU students or employees. The University can and often will, in its sole discretion, take action under this policy for off-campus behavior.
An individual who believes that he or she has been a victim of a sexual offense is encouraged to report the matter immediately to the Office of Public Safety and Security (610-660-1111), and/or the local police (911). In addition, the Harassment Advisory Team (HAT) is available to assist the students and employees in pursuing appropriate institutional remedies regarding reported conduct. The names of the Harassment Advisors can be obtained from the Office of Human Resources, and/or by accessing the SJU website, www.sju.edu/hr (under "Policies").
The Office of Public Safety and Security will provide information about filing criminal charges. If the person making the report of a sexual offense so desires, the Office of Public Safety and Security will assist her or him in contacting the local police. This office will also provide information for contacting a member of REPP (Rape Education and Prevention Program; 610-733-0650, available 24 hours a day) if she or he so desires.
The Office of Public Safety and Security will also provide guidance to the individual concerning preservation of relevant evidence.
The Director of Residence Life, in consultation with other offices, as necessary, will make changes in the academic, living and/or employment situation of a student who has reported a sexual offense if such changes are reasonably feasible.
When the alleged offender is a student, the alleged offense will be handled under the Student Code and Student Judicial Process as a Major Violation. Both parties (the accused and the alleged victim) may have a support person from the SJU community who may accompany him/her during the hearing.
A sanction will be imposed for violation of this Policy. The University has wide discretion as to the sanctions that may be imposed, including removal from the residence community, removal from participation in extracurricular activities, suspension from the University and/or expulsion from the University. Appropriate sanctions may also be imposed upon groups or organizations found to have violated this policy. Both the accuser and the accused shall be informed of the University's final determination in a disciplinary proceeding and any sanction imposed against the accused.
Saint Joseph's University has developed a Rape Education and Prevention Program (REPP) and trained teams to assist an individual who has reported a sexual offense. REPP's web site, http://www.sju.edu/academics/cas/sociology/rape_education/repp.html contains information about reporting sexual offenses, medical treatment, victims' rights, criminal and disciplinary proceedings, the need for professional counseling, campus personnel and services available for victim assistance, information about testifying in court, feelings and reactions experienced by most victims and ways to deal with feelings.
The Center for Counseling and Personal Development (610-660-1090) offers confidential counseling to students for a wide variety of concerns, including the psychological effects of sexual offenses. Referral for in-patient or out-patient psychiatric care is also available to students, faculty and staff.
Criminal Records and Sex-Offender Registry
The University has no policy concerning the admission of students with criminal records and applicants are not questioned concerning their criminal record. If a prospective student's criminal conduct comes to the University's attention, appropriate consideration is given in the application process.
Criminal background checks are conducted on all new employees.
The Pennsylvania State Sex Offender Registry can be reached by phone at 717-783-4363 or via email at http://www.pameganslaw.state.pa.us/.
Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting Act Crime Rates
In addition to the Clery Act, the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting Act requires the release of crime statistics and rates to students and employees. The rate is based on the actual number of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) students and employees which is calculated according to the following state-mandated formula. The formula is the number of FTE students (6058) plus the number of FTE employees. The FTE is therefore 7527 or 13.29. The rate is obtained by dividing this figure into 100,000 and multiplying the quotient by the individual statistics to produce the crime rate per 100,000 persons in each category.
CRIME STATISTICS AND CRIME RATES
Who makes up the Saint Joseph's Community?
There are 7650 students enrolled at Saint Joseph's University across full and part time programs both undergraduate and graduate. Approximately 60% of the undergraduate day students live in University housing. Saint Joseph's employs 289 full-time faculty, 314 adjunct faculty, 991 full-time employees and 224 part-time employees.
What about Campus Housing?
Campus housing consists of 11 high-rise buildings and 9 smaller houses. Students also live in university owned multi-story buildings away from main campus. Housing is apartment style in the latter. While most rooms are doubles, there are a few singles and triples. Houses are single sex. High-rises are co-educational according to wings with single sex suites. Housing is limited to undergraduate students.
Campus housing remains open for student occupancy from August 15th through May 15th. During the winter and summer breaks, when classes are not in session, most residence halls are closed.
An area coordinator is responsible for each high-rise. Each hall within a high-rise has a resident assistant. Security training is required for all resident staff prior to the beginning of classes. Monthly staff meetings for resident assistants include an update on problems and discussion of potential solutions.
Housing for upperclassmen is based on a lottery while freshmen are assigned according to their request and space limitations. Changes are made on a space available basis.
Visitors to high-rises must identify themselves, be escorted into the building by their host, leave identification at the desk and in the houses and apartments, guests are escorted by their host. Houses and apartments are locked and entrance can only be gained by a resident student allowing entrance.
Students may have a guest for not more than two consecutive days. Guest passes are issued and checked. Applicants for positions at the university are sometimes housed on campus, but space is rarely available.
Classes are usually limited to registered students, but lectures, athletic contests, and plays are open to the community. Certain events require campus ID and persons not having ID will be asked to leave the campus.
Saint Joseph's University does not normally undertake rental of its facilities. Consistent with its educational purposes, however, the University may accommodate the activity of responsible outside organizations when such activity is judged to be consistent with University educational purposes and mission.
Important Phone Numbers
Department of Public Safety and Security 610-660-1111
Student Life Office 610-660-1045
Residence Life 610-660-1062
Police or Fire Emergency Lower Merion and Philadelphia 9-911
Admissions Office 610-660-1300
Graduate Studies 610-660-1760
Professional and Liberal Studies 610-660-1264
For assistance call 610-660-1111
