Crime Alert Information

SAFETY INFORMATION ALL STUDENTS SHOULD KNOW

In light of the recent on-campus incidents, the university would like to remind all students of the security measures in place that work to protect all of you 24-hours a day, seven-days a week. 

Although existing measures are reassuring, safety and security must be a joint effort between the university and all members of the campus community. 

Please review the following information carefully and share it with as many people as you can. 

SAFETY & SECURITY INFORMATION

Safety and security are taken very seriously.  While we provide around the clock police and security protections for the campus, we also work closely with local, regional and state law enforcement agencies.  

The Public Safety and Police Services Unit comprises 17 police officers who are commissioned police officers in Pennsylvania.  Additionally, the department utilizes services of an outside security agency to supplement patrol efforts. 

We believe in having open discussions on how to improve safety.  There have been environmental safety inspections of the campus (a yearly endeavor) and the Borough of Kutztown.  A neighborhood watch program, KUBoK, was re-launched in the borough during late night hours on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. 
 
The campus shuttle service has been expanded to late night hours (until 3 a.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday) from the town back to the campus.

In addition, we have secured a grant to conduct a campus community study on Crime Prevention through Environmental Design. Providing a safe environment is critically important to us and all the staff, faculty, students and family members who come to Kutztown University.  You have our assurance that we are doing everything we can to address these issues. 

CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM MARCH 3, 4 & 6

Public Safety and Police Services is sponsoring a Rape, Aggression and Defense program (RAD) on March 3, 4 and 6 from 6 to 10 p.m. The program is FREE to all females. Sign up by calling 610-683-4861, e-mailing calhoun@kutztown.edu, or by stopping in 13 Old Main.  The RAD Program focuses on crime prevention measures and self defense tactics in dealing with sexual offenses.

RESIDENCE HALL SAFETY INFORMATION

An incident such as this puts our ever vigilant Housing and Residential Services staff on heightened alert.   There are many measures currently in place to ensure the safety of all campus residents:

• The Kutztown University residence hall system employs 24-hour front entrance desk coverage.  These upperclass students monitor traffic, sign-in guests after 8 p.m. each evening, and sign-out guests by either midnight or 2 a.m. depending on the night.  There is 24/7 visitation on weekends. 
• Golden Bear Villages do not have a sign-in process due to the style of apartments and layout of each of the villages.  However, GBV South has a 24-hour desk operation and GBV West utilizes Rothermel Hall’s front desk for assistance. 
• These students are not a security force.  However, they have been trained to utilize both Public Safety and university “on-duty staff’ when situations arise that warrant needed assistance. 
• There are one to two on-duty building directors each night from 4:30 p.m. until 8 a.m., and two on-duty building directors each weekend from 4:30 p.m. on Friday until 8 a.m. Monday.  The on-duty building directors carry cell phones.  Each residence hall has an on duty Community Assistant from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m. each night.  “On-duty” staff is trained to deal with crises intervention and confrontations.  They call Public Safety for ANY possible violation of law or for assistance when warranted. 
• The on-duty Community Assistant makes rounds approximately every 60 to 90 minutes until 2 a.m.  The desk staff makes rounds during duty changes from 2 a.m. until 7 a.m.  There are night duty reports that must be filled out by the on-duty staff in each hall and by each building director. 
• KU will be piloting a video camera program in selected areas of Dixon Hall, the new residence hall, and will assess its effectiveness throughout 2008-09. 

CAMPUS ALERT SYSTEM

KU ALERT is designed to notify you in the event of an emergency on campus.  Kutztown University has contracted with e-2 Campus to provide the service that allows campus community members to be notified via text message and/or e-mail message in the event of an emergency.

Students can register up to two cell phone numbers for text messages and two e-mail addresses on the KU Alert system (the Web address is below).  This is probably the most effective system for notification of parents.  Students can register a parent phone number or e-mail address.  We are working to tie this system into the KU Homepage Web site, which will be titled “Crime Alert and Safety Information”.  
KU Alert Web site: http://www.kutztown.edu/kualert/

KU WOMEN’S CENTER

The KU Women’s Center offers different programs to educate students on campus about rape and sexual assault.  Currently 25 students and staff members are being trained through Berks Women in Crisis.  After completing the training, these volunteers will be on hand as rape advocates.  They would be available to talk with victims and accompany them through medical examinations and police reports.  Students can also obtain rape whistles from the center.

Safety Escorts

Individuals are urged not to walk alone and to practice personal security precautions, especially during evening and early morning hours. The department of Public Safety & Police Services offers an On-Campus Safety Escort, which is available 24 hours a day. To request the escort service, call Public Safety at extension 34002 or use any emergency phone

We appreciate your continued involvement in making Kutztown University’s campus as safe as possible.