Policy Manual

The Campus Safety organization includes multiple departments that provide essential safety services. Departments and key services include:

1. Police Department.
   1. The Police Department provides 24/7 law enforcement and emergency response services for campus. UI police officers are state sworn, and enforce state, local, and federal laws. They respond to all calls for service and investigate all criminal incidents that occur on university property.
   2.  UI police officers provide a variety of free and low-cost training programs to the campus community including but not limited to self-defense and citizen response to active shooter events.
   3.  Police officers will unlock offices for people who have locked their keys in their office. A person must have a picture ID for verification, and electronic records must confirm appropriate access. If verification is not possible, a person must contact their supervisor for access.
   4. With regard to incidents involving sexual abuse, police officers are available to begin an investigation and to facilitate communication between the Office of Institutional Equity, the Rape Victim Advocacy Program, other law enforcement agencies, and the Johnson County Attorney's Office. UI Police will not pursue a criminal case or contact anyone without the consent of the reporting party.
      
      (See also the UI Police Department website). 
2. Security Services.
   1. Security Services employs both full-time security officers and part-time student security officers who conduct regular patrols of campus to deter crime and identify potential security threats. This work also includes building unlocks, fire watch patrols, student life compliance checks, and other campus safety needs.
   2. Security officers monitor security cameras and other safety systems used to detect suspicious or concerning behavior to respond to potential incidents proactively.
   3. Security Services operates several essential safety services including Nite Ride, which provides free late-night transportation to students, faculty, and staff; the Lost and Found headquarters; and Fingerprinting Services  for university personnel seeking citizenship documentation, military commissions, passports, dental boards, government security clearances, etc.
3. Department of Emergency Management.
   1. Emergency Management works to ensure the university can preserve its mission of teaching, research, and service when it is impacted by a major emergency or disaster by developing and implementing comprehensive emergency management plans and procedures that address potential hazards and threats to the university.
   2. Emergency Management works closely with other departments and stakeholders across the university to identify and mitigate risks, prepare for emergencies, respond to incidents, and recover from disasters. This may include developing emergency response plans, conducting training and drills, establishing communication systems, coordinating with external agencies, and providing support and resources to affected individuals and communities.
   3. Emergency Management also seeks to ensure the safety and well-being of students, faculty, staff, visitors, and the surrounding community during emergency situations. By being proactive and prepared, the department helps minimize the impact of emergencies and disasters on the university and its stakeholders and facilitates a timely and effective recovery.
4. Emergency Communications.
   1. Emergency Communications includes a team of emergency dispatchers who promptly respond to emergency calls and dispatch the appropriate personnel to the location. They are responsible for quickly assessing the situation, gathering critical information, and relaying it to the appropriate first responders such as police officers, firefighters, and medical personnel. Dispatchers also provide crucial support to those in distress by remaining on the line and providing instructions on how to stay safe until help arrives.
   2. This team also supports other campus operations including dispatching maintenance workers for facilities issues that occur after hours, monitoring campus alarms, issuing emergency notifications, and responding to Rave Guardian requests.
5. Fire Safety.
   1. Fire Safety ensures the university community is well prepared to prevent and respond to fires, and that all fire safety regulations are being met. This work includes ensuring all campus buildings comply with state, local, and federal regulations and conducting fire safety inspections with state and local fire officials to identify potential fire hazards and ensure that fire safety equipment is in good working condition.
   2. Fire Safety also provides fire and life safety training courses to campus and assists departments across the university with formulating building-specific fire prevention and response plans.
   3. Fire Safety also coordinates the installation and maintenance of the campus Automated External Defibrillator (AED) system and Stop the Bleed kits.
6. Threat Assessment Team.
   1. The Threat Assessment Team (TAT) supports campus safety by assessing, monitoring, and providing support for people exhibiting unusual distress, fixated grievances, or troubling behaviors.
   2. This multidisciplinary team includes people with backgrounds in human resources, student life, health care, and law enforcement. Their varied perspectives allow them to identify and monitor potential safety threats and intervene with supportive campus resources to maintain campus safety.
7. Security Engineering Services.
   1. Building Access Control: Security Engineering Services Actively manages access to university buildings, ensuring that access is granted only to authorized personnel. This helps to prevent unauthorized individuals from entering restricted areas and potentially causing harm or damage.
   2. Alarm Monitoring: Security Engineering Services provides administrative oversight for campus alarm and intrusion detection systems. These systems are designed to detect unusual activity — such as break-ins, trespassing, fires, or other emergencies — so the appropriate Campus Safety employees can quickly respond to any potential threats and take appropriate action to prevent harm or damage.
   3. Security Camera Systems: Security Engineering Services provides administrative oversight for the appropriate use of security camera systems on campus. These cameras help to deter criminal activity and can provide valuable evidence in the event of a crime or safety incident.
8. Office of Clery Compliance. The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) is a federal law requiring all institutions of higher education participating in the federal student financial aid program report campus crime data, support victims of violence, and publicly outline the policies and procedures they have put into place to improve campus safety. The Office of Clery Compliance is responsible for coordinating Clery compliance efforts on campus.

(See also the Campus Safety website.)