Institutional Security Policies and Statistics

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• Department of Public Safety introduction
  • Reporting Emergencies and/or Criminal Actions
  • Personal Counselors/Referrals
  • Facilities Access
  • Off-Campus Student Activities
  • Education Programs
• Security Policies
  • Alcohol and Drug Use Policy
  • Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, Domestic Violance, Dating Violence and Stalking Policies
  • Sex Offender Registration Policy
• Chesapeake College Campus Crime Statistics

Department of Public Safety

Chesapeake College works to enhance the level of security on campus to provide a safe and a secure environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors. The Department of Public Safety has primary responsibility for campus security and safety. The Department consists of a Director, uniformed Special Police Officers, and uniformed Security Officers. The Director and uniformed Special Police Officers have powers granted through a special police commission, authorized by the State of Maryland, to make arrests, detain guests, and carry weapons. Uniformed Security Officers have legal authority under Maryland Law to ask persons for identification to determine whether individuals have lawful business on campus and have arrest powers available to the general public to make a citizen’s arrest.

Public Safety personnel are trained to respond to campus emergencies and are certified in basic first aid, CPR, and AED. They provide medical assistance if they are the first to arrive at the scene of an injury or accident. Public Safety personnel maintain a close working relationship with the Queen Anne’s County Department of Emergency Services, the Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office, and the Maryland State Police. A written memorandum of understanding has been adopted between Chesapeake College and the local emergency service agencies for the investigation of alleged criminal offenses and emergency response situations that occur on campus.

Public Safety personnel provide patrol coverage for the Wye Mills Campus and answer calls and answer calls for service while the campus is open for business. At all other times, it is suggested that personnel contact 911 for any emergency situations. A security escort service to and from parking lots is available upon request. Cambridge Center has coverage while the center is open for business.

Reporting Emergencies and/or Criminal Actions

The Chesapeake College Emergency Procedures Guide is printed annually and is available to all employees on the College’s Website. It is intended for the use of faculty, staff, and students of Chesapeake College specifically to provide information on how to respond to possible emergency conditions on campus. It covers such areas as bomb threats, chemical spills, crimes, serious injuries or illnesses and fires. 

All reports of criminal activity and other emergency situations will result in a response by a member of the Department of Public Safety. The appropriate emergency response agency will also be contacted to respond if deemed necessary for further investigation. The Department of Public Safety can be contacted by dialing 410-758-7275, *9 from any college phone, or by dialing “0” for the college operator during normal business hours. Cambridge Center Department of Public Safety can be called directly at 410-463-4185. 

Students, employees, faculty, staff, and visitors can report criminal activity or other emergency situations directly to the Department of Public Safety for the purpose of making timely warning reports. Individuals can also contact the Department of Public Safety for annual statistical disclosure. Reports of criminal activity and other emergency situations can also be reported to the following agencies:

County Agencies

• Queen Anne’s County Department of Emergency Services - 410-758-4500
• Maryland State Police Centreville Barrack - 410-758-1101
• Queen Anne’s County Fire Board - 410-758-0223
• Cambridge Police - 410-228-3333

Sheriff’s Departments

• Caroline County - 410-479-2515
• Dorchester County - 410-228-4141
• Kent County - 410-778-2277
• Queen Anne’s County - 410-758-0770
• Talbot County - 410-822-1020
• Maryland Poison Control - 1-800-492-2414

Chesapeake College encourages accurate and prompt reporting of all criminal activity to the Department of Public Safety or to the above listed law enforcement agencies. Reports can be made confidentially by victims or witnesses. The Department of Public Safety or administrative staff can assist victims and witnesses with confidential reporting.

Personal Counselors

Chesapeake College does not have professional counselors on staff.

However, further assistance, such as counseling services, can be facilitated through the Office of Advising for students and through the Human Resources Department for employees. The following services are available for students and employees:

• Eastern Shore Operations Center (1-888-407-8018)
• Life Crisis Center Hot Line (1-800-422-0009)
• Suicide Hotline (1-800-SUICIDE)
• Youth Hotline (1-800-422-0009)
• For All Seasons, Inc. (1-800-310-7273)
• Mid-Shore Council on Family Violence (1-800-927-4673)
• Corsica River Mental Health Services (410-758-2211)

For information on the availability of mental health organizations offering on-campus support, contact the Office of Advising, 410-827-5844. Academic advisors can also help facilitate student appointments with mental health counselors on an emergency basis.

Access to Facilities

All buildings are generally open from 7:00AM to 9:30PM Monday through Thursday and 7:00AM to 4:30PM on Fridays. Certain academic buildings are also are also open for weekend classes and special events. When the College is closed, all buildings are locked and secured by Public Safety Officers as appropriate for scheduled activities. Security Officers responding to requests for access to buildings ensure that such access is appropriate.

Chesapeake College has no residential facilities.

Off-campus Student Activities

Most student activities take place on campus. Off-campus student activities are primarily associated with athletic teams. Teams travel together and are supervised by College personnel. College personnel are aware of their responsibility to report any incident of student misconduct through the Office of the Vice President for Workforce and Academic Programs. Reports of off-campus misconduct to external agencies and to the Office of the Vice President for Workforce and Academic Programs, as appropriate, are the responsibility of the college employee.

Education Programs

New employees are given brochures at their orientation informing them of the Department of Public Safety duties and responsibilities, and students have access to information on safety awareness through the Chesapeake College website and app. Safety awareness messages are sent through various notification systems advising the campus community of safety tips and safety awareness issues.

Safety awareness recommendations are stated in college publications and on the college web site under safety and security. The purpose of the recommendations is to advise the campus community of safety tips and safety awareness issues.

Crime prevention tips along with timely notifications are sent to the campus community after reports of criminal activity are received by the Department of Public Safety.

Security Policies

Policy on Alcohol and Drug Use

Chesapeake College does not permit the use, possession, distribution, and/or the sale of controlled substances on its campus. Alcohol is prohibited at student events. Students are notified of this policy through the Student Code of Conduct, which is available free-of-charge to all students online and in this catalog. Alcohol and drug laws are strictly enforced by local and state law enforcement authorities. Disciplinary actions for violations include immediate dismissal. (Note:  Per state law – HB 571 – complainants and witnesses to instances of sexual assault shall not be subject to disciplinary action for drug/alcohol violations IF (a) the violation occurred during/near time of assault, (b) the assault report and participation in the investigation is in good faith, and (c) the violation was “not an act that was reasonably likely to place the health or safety of another individual at risk”.  Complainants and witnesses may be referred for treatment as appropriate.)

Student counseling assistance for alcohol and drug abuse can be obtained by contacting the Office of Advising, located on the first floor of the Dorchester Administration Building or by contacting 410-822-5400, ext. 2250 to schedule an appointment. Advisors will provide referrals to other agencies and/or professionals as needed. Advisors follow the confidentiality guidelines suggested by the American Association for Counseling and Development. 

Policy on Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking

Chesapeake College is committed to maintaining a working and learning environment in which students and staff can develop intellectually, professionally, personally and socially. Such an environment must be free of intimidation, fear, coercion and reprisal. The College prohibits sexual misconduct, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking in all forms. Statements of College policy with regards to these issues are included in the Student Handbook, Catalog, and Student Code of Conduct. The full text of these policies and grievance procedure are distributed to all employees as part of the Faculty/Staff Manual and at the new employee orientation, as well as the new hire employment packet. They are also available to students through the Office of Students & Learning and for new students as part of the orientation process.

The Office of Students & Learning and the Human Resources Department provide programs designed towards education and prevention of sexual misconduct, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking and are provided to students and employees during orientation sessions and as part of the new hire employment package. College security policies and procedures are developed and carried out in an effort to prevent all forms of criminal activity including sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. If any of the above listed crimes occurs, it should be reported as soon as possible to the Department of Public Safety, or it can be reported to a faculty or staff member, who can also assist in making the proper notifications. 

Reports of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking are turned over to local law enforcement for further investigation. Victims do have the right to decline law enforcement intervention. Bystanders are encouraged to report any instances of sexual misconduct, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking immediately to the Department of Public Safety or to local law enforcement. Employees may also contact the Director of Human Resources. Students may contact the Vice President for Workforce and Academic Programs or any dean. Anyone reporting the above crimes can remain anonymous. It is important to preserve any evidence for a proper investigation.

Further assistance, such as counseling services, can be facilitated through the Office of Advising for students and through the Human Resources Department for employees. The following services are available for students and employees: Eastern Shore Operations Center 1-888-407-8018, Life Crisis Center Hot Line 1-800-422-0009, Suicide Hotline 1-800-SUICIDE, Youth Hotline 1-800-422-0009, For All Seasons, Inc. 1-800-310-7273, Mid-Shore Council on Family Violence 1-800-927-4673, and Corsica River Mental Health Services 410-758-2211.

Once one of the above listed crimes are reported to the Department of Public Safety, local law enforcement will be contacted for further investigation.Local law enforcement will assist the victim with the proper procedures with obtaining a protective order or peace order if applicable. Information concerning protective orders and peace orders can be obtained by visiting the District Court of Maryland’s Website.

If a student or an employee obtains a protective order or peace order, a copy must be provided to the Department of Public Safety. The Public Safety Department will notify the Vice President for Workforce and Academic Programs, the Dean for Students & Learning, and the Director of Human Resources. Violators of protective orders and peace orders will be reported to local law enforcement.

College policies provide for a complete grievance procedure including a prompt, fair, and impartial investigation of any alleged criminal incident or sexual misconduct at the request of any student, employee or guest.This also includes allegations of domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. All disciplinary proceedings will be conducted by trained individuals. By policy, the outcomes of the investigation are made available to the accused and the accuser. Disciplinary action for violation of the College policy may result in suspension or immediate dismissal for students and may include a verbal warning, written warning, suspension or termination of faculty or staff. Cases will be adjudicated based upon a preponderance of evidence. The college will assist victims with academic and working situations that are reasonably available, such as adjusting schedules. Chesapeake College cannot assist with living arrangements and transportation, since we not offer student housing or transportation. See the college’s complete Title IX Policy.

Additional campus security policy and information can be found on the website of the Office of Public Safety at http://www.chesapeake.edu/security.

Sex Offender Registration

In accordance to the “Campus Sex Crime Prevention Act” of 2000, which amends the Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act, The Jeanne Clery Act and the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, Office of Public Safety website (http://www.chesapeake.edu/security) provides a link to the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Sex Offender Registry to advise the campus community where State-provided law enforcement information concerning registered sex offenders may be obtained.

Chesapeake College Campus Crime Statistics

Federal regulations call for colleges and universities to report crime statistics to students, employees and upon request to applicants for enrollment or employment. These requirements stem from the Federal Campus Security Act of 1990 and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (2013 Amendments). This information is shown below and covers the federally-prescribed crimes and time periods. “Public Property” is defined as the area that is within the same reasonably contiguous geographic area of the school, or is adjacent to a facility owned or controlled by the school, and the facility is used by the school in a manner related to the institution’s educational purpose, and includes streets, sidewalks and parking facilities. These statistics are also available in the student handbook and college catalog.

Definitions for criminal offenses can be located here.

Chesapeake College’s detailed results are available at the Federal Office of Postsecondary Education’s Campus Security Statistics Website.

In accordance with the U.S. Department of Education Regulations, Chesapeake College distributes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report to all current students, staff, and faculty. In addition, the report is available to prospective students, staff, and faculty upon request. Contact the Director of Public Safety at 410-827-5889 if you would like to receive a paper copy of this report. The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report provides important information regarding campus crime and security, including information about Chesapeake College’s Department of Public safety, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual assault policies, and crime statistics for the previous three years.