5.16.1.2 Monitoring Off–Campus Student Organizations Activities
5.16.1.3 Facility Access/Security
5.16.1.5 Additional Monitoring/Crime Prevention Services
5.16.2.1 On Campus Crime Reporting
5.16.2.2 Off Campus Crime Reporting
Nicholls State University is committed to providing a safe and drug–free campus. In addition to policies regarding drug–free workplace and school zone (Section 5.3.7), the university has several policies in place for preventing crime and enforcing the law. See also the description of the university Safety Committee (Section
5.16.1 Crime Monitoring
The University Police officers are responsible for vehicle traffic control and law enforcement on campus. The campus is patrolled by police commissioned law enforcement officers 24 hours each day of the year. The officers are commissioned by the city of Thibodaux, Parish of Lafourche, and Department of Public Safety. Louisiana Revised Statutes 17: 1805 grants University Police officers law enforcement powers, authority, and responsibilities identical to the local police or parish deputy in one’s home community. Each officer must successfully complete a certified basic course on law enforcement.
All officers receive additional in–service or specialized training in first aid, C.P.R., firearms, investigation techniques, etc. Campus police officers are responsible for a full range of police services including but not limited to responding to service calls, medical emergencies, fire emergencies, traffic accidents, and any requests requiring police assistance. Crime information or investigations involving serious incidents are shared with the Thibodaux Police Department and the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Nicholls State University operates under a two–tiered system of sanctions. When a student is brought in to University Police in association with a crime which is also a violation of the Code of Student Conduct, he or she will be referred to the Dean of Student Life and may also have criminal charges brought against him or her. Thus, the final results of a student’s association with any criminal activity may be suspension or expulsion, as well as arrest. Further, the Dean of Student Life may officially ban a student from the campus or from specific parts of the campus, including residence halls.
5.16.1.1 S.A.F.E. Program
University Police is assisted by the S.A.F.E. Program. (Students Achieving a Friendly Environment). This is a program through which student officers assist both the University Police and university staff in providing a safe and crime–free environment. Students may become S.A.F.E. officers by applying through University Police to the University student employment office. Applications may be obtained at the University Police Station. Applicants must possess a GPA of at 2.00, should have completed at least 24 hours of credit, and must be currently enrolled at Nicholls State University.
The responsibilities of the S.A.F.E. officers include, but are not limited to, the following:
- maintaining a peaceful, orderly learning environment
- alerting University Police to potential problems
- monitoring residence hall activities
- security for special events
The S.A.F.E. officers are equipped with two–way radios and flash–
lights. They are uniformed, but do not carry weapons on their person.
5.16.1.2 Monitoring Off–Campus Student Organizations Activities
The Thibodaux Police Department advises the University Police of crimes that occur at recognized student organization dwellings which are located in the city of Thibodaux. The Code of Student Conduct applies to student organizations on and off campus. Student organizations found to be in violation may be suspended by the University, pending the organization’s appearance before the Student Organizations Committee or Discipline Committee.
5.16.1.3 Facility Access/Security
Most university facilities are open to the public during the day and evening hours when classes are in session. During the times when the university buildings are generally closed, only faculty and staff members are allowed entry. With proper authorization, students will be allowed access to certain buildings. Whenever a faculty or staff member plans to be in a closed building after hours, he or she must notify campus police of that fact.
During evening classes, a university police officer patrols the academic buildings. This officer is in direct radio contact with the University Police radio dispatcher and other officers. The exterior doors to the campus buildings are checked regularly throughout the night for security by university employees and/or by a member of the University Police Department. Faculty, staff and students are warned never to leave any exterior door partially open.
The Maintenance and Greenhouse/ Grounds Departments maintain the university buildings and grounds. Safety inspections are con ducted on a regular basis. If a hazard exists, corrections are made in a timely manner to meet accepted and approved standards. For ex ample, hedges are kept trimmed and dark areas of the campus are lighted. Campus police assists the Greenhouse and Maintenance Departments by reporting potential safety and security hazards. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to report any safety or security hazard, such as exterior doors that are propped open, dimly lighted areas, etc., by dialing 448–4746 (on campus 4746 ).
5.16.1.4 University Housing
All residence halls at Nicholls are coordinated by house directors. The house directors live in the residence halls and provide supervision for the residence hall program. In addition to the house director, each residence hall is staffed with resident assistants on each floor.
Residence hall desk/lobby areas are staffed with personnel 24 hours a day except in extenuating circumstances during which the entrance areas are locked. The Office of Residential Services and the University Police provide educational programs for the residents on personal safety and security. Each resident must take an active role in the residence hall program by reporting all problems to the residence hall staff and University Police, and by observing the rules of personal safety at all times.
5.16.1.5 Additional Monitoring/Crime Prevention Services
Campus Police also provides free bicycle registration upon request. Bike registration will provide the police with the owner’s name and bike description in case of bicycle theft. Students living in dormitories may have their valuable possessions marked in order to make them identifiable in case of theft. An escort service by University Police is available from dusk to dawn for anyone walking alone on campus at night. This service is available between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. each day. Information on the service is available by dialing 448–4746 (on campus 4746).
5.16.2 Crime Reporting
Emergency calls or requests for police service are initiated through the complaint desk at 448–4911 (on campus 4911) or by reporting to the office location on Ardoyne Drive at its intersection with Madewood Drive. Non–emergency calls or requests for police service are initiated by dialing 448–4746 (on–campus 4746) or by reporting directly to the police office.
Depending on the seriousness and nature of the emergency condition, the appropriate University office will be notified, or the problem will be addressed directly by the police officer investigating it, if it is within his or her jurisdiction to do so.
Emergency call boxes provided by the Student Government Association have been installed at strategic locations on campus. The installation of these emergency telephones creates a communication network with campus police for instant assistance or reporting of a crime.
5.16.2.1 On Campus Crime Reporting
Students are encouraged to report all criminal activity which they have witnessed or in which they have been involved. They may report to any officer, dispatcher, the Chief or Assistant Chief of University Police. They may also report to persons who have significant responsibility for student and campus activities as listed on the University Police website.
These officials will report the incident immediately to the University police, which will investigate the report sufficiently to conclude that a crime either did or did not occur. If University Police concludes that a crime took place, it will publish a report of that crime in two ways: l ) an initial crime report available to the media and the public in the Daily Crime Log, maintained by the Office of University Police; 2) a “Crime Alert” bulletin posted widely and circulated by on–campus FAX machines and internal mail to all departments.
5.16.2.2 Off Campus Crime Reporting
The Thibodaux Police Department regularly reports to the University Police when a Nicholls student is involved in a criminal activity off campus. If the student involved in that activity poses a threat of immediate harm to the campus community by his or her return to campus, the Nicholls disciplinary authority may take pre–emptive action against the student.
5.16.2.3 Crime Statistics
Nicholls State University Police Department submits monthly crime reports to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Justice and the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System. The Code for Student Conduct the number of crimes and arrests for the most recent three calendar years on the Nicholls campus and on property controlled by Nicholls student organizations.
Changes to Section of Manual
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