ESU Annual Security Report & Policy Statement
Updated 9/20/06
ESU conducts classes, workshops, and seminars at the following locations in connection with its Distance Education Program. Crime statistic information for these locations can be obtained by accessing the accompanying links or contacting the identified department.
Distance learning contact numbers
(Contact Stacey Braun at 620-341-5901 if you have difficulty accessing the above information.)
To view the latest crime statistics, click here.
For information regarding registered offenders at Emporia State University, www.emporia.edu/right2know/offenders.html
University Police & Safety Office
Campus safety and security are coordinated by the university police department, which employs a force of nine full time armed officers. Emporia State University police officers are qualified commissioned officers who have attended the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC) where they receive fourteen weeks of formal basic training. After KLETC certification, ESU officers complete an intensive field training program supervised by certified Field Training Officers. Additionally, all officers must attend a minimum of forty hours of continuing education yearly. University police officers have the same training, authority, and responsibilities as officers employed by city and county law enforcement agencies across the state.
The objective of this department is to help provide and foster a safe secure environment conducive to living and learning and to protect the lives and property of the students, faculty, staff and visitors of Emporia State University. This objective is pursued within the framework of Emporia State University rules and regulations as well as local, state and federal laws. The investigation of crimes committed on campus fall under the jurisdiction of the University police department. The University police work closely with the Emporia police department, Lyon County Sheriff’s department, Kansas Highway Patrol and various other state and federal law enforcement agencies.
Crime Reporting
Emporia State University is committed to maintaining an environment in which students, faculty, staff, and guests can work together free from all forms of harassment, exploitation and intimidation. The University will act as needed to discourage, prevent, correct, and if necessary discipline behavior that violates this standard of conduct.
University police will promptly investigate allegations of unlawful discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, physical handicap or disability, status as a Vietnam veteran or sexual orientation. Allegations of unlawful discrimination can first be discussed with the Student Wellness Center, Multicultural Programs & Services, or the Vice President for Student Affairs.
Any suspicious persons/activity should be reported immediately to ESU Police & Safety at 341-5337.
Timely Warning Policy
If it is determined that a specific danger to the campus community, or specific segments of the campus community exists, an appropriate notification to the community of that danger will be made. This determination will be jointly made by ESU Police and Safety and the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs in consultation with the University General Counsel.
Policy on Alcohol and Drugs
The University police enforce laws regulating underage drinking and the use or possession of controlled substances and weapons in violation of local, state and federal law.
Students who are 21 years of age or older are allowed to possess and consume beverages of 3.2 percent alcohol or less in designated areas of the residence halls. Alcohol is prohibited in all other areas and on the grounds of Emporia State University. Exceptions may be granted for special events as approved by the office of the university president.
Members of the campus community in need of prescription or over-the-counter drugs should contact the Student Health Center, west side of the Memorial Union, off Union Square, phone 341-5223, or e-mail rx@emporia.edu. A complete description of alcohol and other drug programs for our campus appears in a publication "Know Your 3 R's" and is available at the Student Life and Counseling Center, 211 South Morse Hall.
Weapons on Campus
Firearms and dangerous weapons of any type are not permitted on campus. Intentional use, possession, or sale of firearms or other dangerous weapons is strictly forbidden and is a violation of state and federal law.
Daily Log
The University police maintain a daily activity/crime log which is available for public view at the Police and Safety office which is located near the northeast corner of Welch Stadium. This daily log documents police activity and reports of crimes and incidents which occur on campus. Information is recorded by date and time and includes general location as well as complaint disposition. Logs are created on a daily basis and are typically made available for public view the following day. Weekend activity logs are generally posted on Monday mornings.
The office of the chief of university police may classify an incident “confidential” to protect the identity of victims/witnesses and/or the integrity of a case. In certain cases, the release of information may jeopardize or hamper investigatory activities.
Crime Prevention Activities
Members of the campus community are urged to secure their valuables and be aware of their surroundings at all times. To assist in this endeavor, University police, Student Wellness Center, and the Women's Resource Center hold educational programs each semester on a variety of topics including personal safety awareness and security, sexual assault awareness and prevention education, operation identification, and security surveys. Information on safety and security is provided on request to students and employees regularly via presentations, posters, brochures, college student newspaper, and other printed materials.
Students are also informed of many personal safety services available on campus, which include campus escort, sexual assault counseling, personal counseling services, and emergency medical and operation identification.
University police provide courtesy first aid service, escort service, vehicle assistance, and the delivery of emergency messages.
The physical plant department maintains the campus buildings and grounds with a concern for safety and security. It inspects campus facilities regularly, promptly makes repairs affecting safety and security, and responds immediately to reports of potential safety and security hazards, such as broken windows and locks. If you have concerns about the physical safety of campus buildings and grounds, call the physical plant office, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at extension 5331. For emergencies that occur during non business hours, call the university police department at 341-5337.
The college campus is well-lighted. About 98% of the lights around campus are high intensity sodium vapor lights. Improvements have also recently been made to the lights in the parking areas. These lights have been made brighter by replacing the light bulbs with metal hay lights. In addition to a telephone in each student's room, there are four blue light emergency telephones strategically located throughout the campus, which are directly connected to the university police.
Campus Safety Committee
The Campus Safety Committee was established in the Spring of 2002 to meet and discuss issues facing the university regarding the safety of the university community and its guests. The committee meets annually to tour campus and discuss and evaluate any safety concerns.
Relationships with Other Police Departments
Criminal activity at off-campus apartments occupied by students and student clubs is monitored by the University police department in cooperation with the city police and Lyon County Sheriff's Department. These agencies may also assist the University police as needed. Students involved in off-campus situations involving alcohol/drug offenses or other criminal activities may be referred to the campus judicial program.
Campus Crime Statistics
In accordance with recent updates to the "Campus Safety Act," the following data are presented to review crime activity both on campus and on streets adjacent to campus property. A map of campus can be found on ESU's web site at: http://www.emporia.edu/esu/esumap/campus.htm. Reported on-campus offenses include all offenses reported on campus property and in campus buildings.
To view the charts reflecting data from recent years, click here.
Two other categories are presented: "non-campus buildings or property" and "public property." The first category, non-campus buildings or property, includes properties owned by student organizations officially recognized by the institution and those owned by the university outside the campus boundaries that appear on the map.
The second category, public property, includes thoroughfares, streets, sidewalks, and parking facilities immediately adjacent to the campus.
This section on campus crime statistics also includes arrests and disciplinary referral made to campus authorities for alcohol, drugs and weapons possession. As defined by the campus safety act, a disciplinary referral is an instance when a student is formally reported in writing to a university officer for possible sanction.
As required by the Campus Safety Act, Emporia State University is required to report hate crimes in this report. For this reporting, a hate crime occurs when a person is victimized intentionally because of his or her actual or perceived race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity or disability. The hate crimes presented for this report are only related to those offenses where the victim was bodily injured. There were no offenses that were classified as hate crimes in 2005.
The crimes presented are based on reports filed with the following offices: University Police and Safety, Vice President for Student Affairs, Affirmative Action Officer, Director of Residential Life, and Director of Athletics. Formal requests for crime statistics for areas defined as "public property" and "non-campus buildings and property" were made with the Emporia police department.
SECURITY IN RESIDENCE HALLS AND ESU FAMILY HOUSING
The Emporia State University Department of Residential Life is committed to providing a safe environment in the residence halls. Students are made aware of safety concerns as well as tips on prevention through floor meetings and presentations. While there are many safeguards in place for residence hall students, each student must do his/her part to assure a safe and secure environment by adhering to the safety related policies and procedures. Each residential complex is supervised by a Complex Coordinator(CC).
The CC is a professional staff person who lives and works in one of the residential complexes. On every floor there is also a Resident Assistant. A Resident Assistant (RA) is an upper class student who has received extensive training in many different aspects of residence hall living. The CCs and RAs undergo training in enforcing residence hall safety and security policies as well as being aware of potential safety hazards and concerns. The Department of Residential Life provides an "on-duty" CC for the campus and an "on-duty" RA in each complex every night and weekends for assistance with any problems.
Every residence hall student is issued a room key and a coded Student ID card for convenience and community safety. Exterior doors of all residential complexes are locked from 11:00 pm to 7:00 am during normal school hours; during holidays and specific break periods exterior doors are locked 24-hours.
To ensure the safety of all residents, no doors in the halls are to be propped open at any time. A Reception Center attendant is available at each complex, 24 hours a day. The Department of Residential Life also employs Night Security Assistants (NSAs). The NSAs walk through the residence halls between the hours of 10:00 p.m.and 6:00 a.m. They monitor the exterior doors as well as building traffic during this time. They also report any unusual circumstances or situations in the residence halls.
ESU Family Housing
The 96-unit University operated family housing apartment complex is located 5 blocks from campus at 1201 Triplett Drive. One- and two-bedroom apartments assist qualifying students by providing pleasant, well maintained housing at the lowest possible cost. The apartment complex is maintained/supervised by an on-site Apartment Manager and an Assistant Apartment manager. The area is regularly patrolled by ESU Campus Police.
Any suspicious persons/activity should be reported immediately to ESU Police & Safety at 341-5337.
Last Updated January 3, 2008