WNCC 2010 Self-Study Report - Western Nebraska Community ...

their contact information at semester starts or at registration time. They also have the ability to
update their information throughout the academic year to ensure that the College has current
emergency contact information.
Emergency notifications, campus closings, and weather alerts also appear as messages on the
College website. The switchboard phone is programmed so that a response message can be
placed on it to inform callers of the situation during a crisis or emergency situation.
Hazardous Materials and Waste Disposal
WNCC recognizes the need to provide a comprehensive learning experience for students, which
involves offering course and laboratory experiences that sometimes use hazardous materials.
The Physical Plant Director has the responsibility of overseeing compliance with hazardous waste
disposal and reporting guidelines. Instructors in science, art, theatre, photography, journalism,
and automotive areas are trained to store and use potentially hazardous materials, and they safely
store waste materials until they are collected for eventual disposition. Instructors or area
managers report waste accumulation totals monthly. The Director submits an EPA report monthly
on waste collected and disposed of, besides quarterly EPA reports for fog and sand trap services.
For chemicals used in laboratory instruction, WNCC maintains master manuals of Material Data
Safety Sheets (MSDS), and copies of individual MSDS sheets are posted in all areas where
chemicals are stored or used. Biology and chemistry faculty members have been trained in
laboratory safety, including the proper disposal of products or byproducts related to laboratory
instruction. Students are also taught about basic laboratory safety in courses that include
laboratory sessions. In 2008, a new chemical storage structure behind the main building was
completed at Scottsbluff; all chemicals are now stored and monitored in that location.
Campus Security
WNCC contracts with a private security firm (SOS) to provide security services on the Scottsbluff
campus seven days a week between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. When not patrolling
the Scottsbluff campus, the security officers are stationed at the residential facilities. The officers
do not have law enforcement authority but work through the Scottsbluff Police Department for
necessary assistance. The security officers are also trained in first aid, CPR, and the proper use
of the latest generation of automatic defibrillators.
The Alliance and Sidney campuses do not use private security services. Instead, local law
enforcement departments provide security and law enforcement functions. Both campuses have
excellent working relationships with local law enforcement agencies at the city and county level.
Residence halls are monitored by Residence Life Coordinators between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Each
residence hall remains locked 24 hours a day, with access controlled by a card. Students entering
residence halls between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. must show a valid WNCC identification card. Visitors
at the residence halls must sign in at the reception desk and show a picture ID. An entrance log is
maintained, and a surveillance camera scans the front entrance.
WNCC publishes annually a Campus Security and Safety Report, following the requirements of
the Jeanne Clery Act, the federal Student Right-To-Know and Campus Security Act of 1990, and
the Higher Education Amendments of 1992. The report is made available on the College website,
in the Student Services Department at the Scottsbluff campus, and in the administrative office
Page 114
Western Nebraska Community College