2011 Annual Security & Fire Safety Report - Seattle Pacific University

during specific hours and class schedules. This access is
given only to those who adhere to the social and
behavioral expectations set forth in the student and staff
handbooks; it may be revoked at any time.
All special events scheduled for the campus must have
prior authorization. Some campus events may require the
presence of security officers. Contact the Office of
Student Life for information on special event policies and
procedures.
Access to residence halls is restricted to students, their
guests and those staff members who have job‐related
business in the halls. Strict control of keys also limits
access; when keys are reported lost, room locks are
changed. In addition, a system of locked security doors
can be opened only with student room keys or card
access. Propping security or fire doors open is not allowed
and failure to obey this rule may result in disciplinary
action. Security officers check doors several times each
day to enforce this policy and to detect malfunctions.
Problems are reported immediately to the Office of
Building Maintenance (206) 281‐2330 for correction.
Residence hall floor areas are segregated by gender and
have hours which limit visitation by the opposite sex.
Overnight visits by guests of the opposite sex are not
permitted and other guests must limit their stay to three
days, except by permission of the hall staff. Guests are
expected to follow the same behavioral standards as the
residents. For visitor convenience and resident safety,
residence hall lobbies are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and
are equipped with phones so that visitors can call
students.
The campus is well‐lighted but periodic reviews are made
to examine use patterns, determining where
improvements may be needed. Each month OSS
completes an exterior lighting report to detect and report
malfunctions. Also, older lighting fixtures are
systematically upgraded to improve reliability and
efficiency. Landscaping is reviewed as well, reducing
opportunities for concealment and to avoid conflicts with
lighting systems.
Office of Safety & Security
The Office of Safety and Security (OSS) is a private security
organization which patrols campus buildings and grounds
by foot and in cars 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Officers do not have deputized or state‐commissioned
police authority and carry no firearms, but they do make
citizen's arrests when appropriate. In addition, they work
closely with the Seattle Police Department in the
investigation of all crimes reported on campus. Security
officers are available 24 hours a day and will respond to
all emergencies. They also render immediate aid,
investigate incidents and complete reports for
administrative follow‐up. Students are also encouraged to
report crimes to the Seattle Police Department. The
Seattle Police and Fire Departments may be reached
directly by dialing 911 from any campus phone. However,
by dialing the campus emergency number, 2911, OSS can
immediately identify the building from which you are
calling and security officers will then report to police or
fire with accurate information. These officers can also
render immediate aid in an emergency.
Officer qualifications include attendance at the
Washington Campus Law Enforcement Training Academy,
certification in first aid and CPR, as well as fire brigade
and self‐defense training.
Timely Warning Policy
It is the policy of the University to issue emergency
notification alerts in an effort to notify community
members about certain crimes in and around our
community in a timely manner. For the purposes of this
policy, "timely manner" means that upon confirmation by
OSS the campus community will be immediately notified
of any significant emergency or dangerous situation
involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of
students or staff.
The Director of Safety and Security will consult, as
appropriate and necessary, with other University officials
regarding whether a timely warning should be issued. The
decision to issue a timely warning shall be made on a
case‐by‐case basis after consideration of the available
facts, including factors such as the nature of the crime,
the continuing danger or risk to the campus community,
and the possible risk of compromising law enforcement
efforts.
When a determination is made that a timely warning
should be issued, OSS will take appropriate steps to
ensure timely notification of the campus community. The
University has various systems in place for communicating
information quickly to the campus community. These
methods of communication include the University’s mass
notification system (SPU‐Alert), an outdoor public address
system, emergency messages that scroll across electronic
reader boards, campus‐wide e‐mails, physical postings on
doors, and announcements by Building Emergency
Coordinators or the SPU website.
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