Policy Number: 114

Categorized: General Policies

Responsible Office: College Police and Office of Emergency Management and Safety

Subject: Notification of emergencies , dangerous situations, and crimes that pose an continuing threat to students and employees

Related Policies: Clery Policy

Forms:

Additional Information:

Effective Date:

Last Reviewed Date: 09/09/2017

1.0 Scope

This policy applies to reported incidents at all College property.

2.0 Policy Statement

In compliance with the Jean Clery Campus Safety Act, the College provides Emergency Notifications and Timely Warnings to inform the College community about threats and to enable members of the community to protect themselves. Emergency notifications are issued upon confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health and safety of students or employees. Timely Warnings are issued in response to Clery Act crimes that have already occurred on College property, and that in the judgment of the NOVA Police Chief or designee, represent a serious or continuing threat to students and employees. The Timely Warning will be issued as soon as pertinent information is available.

3.0 Definitions

Clery Act Crime: murder/non-negligent manslaughter, negligent manslaughter, sex offenses, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson, hate crimes, stalking, dating violence, and domestic violence

College Property (as defined by the Clery Act):

Campus Grounds, Buildings and Structures –Any building or property owned or controlled by an institution within the same reasonably contiguous geographic area and used by the institution in direct support of, or in a manner related to, the institution’s educational purposes, including residence halls; and any building or property that is within or reasonably contiguous to such buildings or property that is owned by the institution but controlled by another person and is frequently used by students and supports institutional purposes.

Off-Campus (Non-Campus) and Affiliated Property –Any building or property owned or controlled by a student organization that is officially recognized by the institution; or any building or property owned or controlled by an institution that is used in direct support of, or in relation to the institution's educational purposes, is frequently used by students, and is not within the same reasonably contiguous geographic area of the institution.

Public Property –All thoroughfares, streets, sidewalks, and parking facilities that are within the campus, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus or centers

Emergency Notification: A notification issued to the College community upon confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees occurring on a campus. An emergency notification is triggered by an event that is currently occurring on, or is imminently threatening the campus.

Timely Warning: A notification issued to the College community when any Clery Act crime occurs on College property and is reported to campus security authorities, College or local police and is considered by the NOVA Chief of Police or designee, to represent a serious or continuing threat to students and employees. Timely warnings are triggered by crimes that have already occurred but represent an ongoing threat.

4.0 Procedures

See the College Crisis Communication Protocol for detailed information about NOVA’s communications response to emergencies.

5.0 Authority

Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, codified at 20 USC 1092 (f).