Policies & Safety

The University of Pikeville seeks to encourage and sustain an academic environment that respects individual freedoms and promotes the health, safety and welfare of its students, faculty, staff, and visitors. These participants are expected to know and follow the applicable laws and all university rules and regulations. Each person is responsible for his/her own behavior.
The University of Pikeville complies with the Drug-Free School Communities Act of 1989. This act requires that the University of Pikeville certify it has adopted and implemented a program to prevent the unlawful possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students and employees in order to remain eligible for federal financial assistance, as set forth in local, state and federal laws, and the rules and regulations of the university.

The University of Pikeville prohibits the unlawful possession, use or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students and employees in buildings, facilities, grounds, or other property owned and/or controlled by the university or as part of university activities. Alcohol is not permitted on campus. Students who are convicted of an offense involving the sale or possession of a controlled substance may become ineligible for federal student aid.

For the university’s complete drug and alcohol policy regarding the Drug-Free School and Communities Act, you may submit a request to the Public Safety Department or the Office of Student Services. Student Services and the Public Safety Department conduct drug and alcohol abuse education programs each semester.

1 PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to establish procedures for the university’s response to reports of missing students, as required by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008. This policy applies to students who reside in campus housing.

2 POLICY STATEMENT

A University of Pikeville residential student is “determined to be missing” when a missing person report investigation concludes that the student has been absent from the university for a period of 24 hours or longer without any known reason. The Director of Public Safety, or designee, in conjunction with the Dean of Students, or designee, will make the official determination of whether a student is deemed missing.

3 PROCEDURE FOR DESIGNATION OF CONFIDENTIAL EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION

All residential students have the opportunity annually to identify an individual or individuals to be contacted by the Asst Dean of Students not later than 24 hours after the time that the student is determined to be missing in accordance with the procedures set forth below. A designation will remain in effect until changed or revoked by the student. This information is maintained confidentially and will be available only to the Director of Public Safety, Asst Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life. The administration of the university reserves the right to notify the parents of a student under the age of 21 if they are reported missing.

For those under the age of 18 and not an emancipated individual, the university is required to notify the emergency contact as well as the custodial parent or guardian no more than 24 hours after the student is determined to be missing.

4 PROCEDURE FOR OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION FOR MISSING STUDENTS

• Any concerned person who has information that a residential student may be a missing student must notify the Department of Public Safety or Director of Residence Life as soon as possible so that an official determination may be made about whether or not the student is missing.
• Department of Public Safety and Residence Life staff will gather all essential information about the residential student from the reporting person and from the student’s acquaintances. Appropriate staff will include the Area Coordinators on call, the Director of Residence Life, the Assistant Dean of Students and the Director of Public Safety.
• If the above actions are unsuccessful in locating the student in a reasonable time, or it is apparent immediately that the student is a missing person (e.g. witnessed abduction) the student will be determined as a missing student.

At this time, the Director of Public Safety or his/her designee will notify the Pikeville Police Department that the university has a missing student. The Asst Dean of Students and/or their designee will notify the emergency contact of the missing student and the appropriate officials in administration at the university. In addition, the university reserves the right to notify the parents of a student under the age of 21 if they have been determined to be missing.

Preparing for emergencies in advance is one of the most effective ways to deal with potential disasters. Review the following precautions and prepare to take the recommended steps.

Steps to follow if you see a fire:

• Activate the nearest fire alarm.
• If the fire is on campus, call Public Safety at (606) 218-5940; if the fire is off campus, call the Pikeville Fire Department at 911. Give your name, address, location and the extent of the fire.
• Calmly alert people in the building, and evacuate the building by following the EXIT signs.

Steps to follow if you are caught in a fire:

• Remain calm
• Before opening a door, feel the door with the back of your hand. If it is hot;
  1. Do not open the door. Open the windows.
  2. If it is possible, lower the top half of the window to let out heat and smoke and raise the lower half to let in fresh air.
  3. Seal cracks around doors with towels, linens or clothes. Soak these items in water if possible.
  4. To attract attention, hang objects out the window. Shout for help.
  5. Keep low to the floor. Take short breaths to avoid inhaling smoke. Place a wet towel over your nose and mouth. Keep your head six to eight inches off the floor.
• If the door is not hot, brace yourself against the door and open it slowly. If hot air or fire rushes in, close the door and refer to step 2A.
• If you can leave, close all doors behind you and proceed to the nearest safe exit. Leave the building and stand clear of the fire. Help police and fire personnel when they arrive.

Steps to follow for fire prevention:

• Know every regular and emergency exit. Know how to activate the alarm system and what it sounds like. Know the location of fire extinguishers and how to operate them.
• Arrange the contents of your room with fire safety in mind. Maintain clear and unobstructed access to your room door from both inside and outside.
• Do not overload electrical outlets. Do not use broken, frayed or cracked electrical cords. Multi-outlet surge protectors are not allowed in dorm areas. Do not suspend lamps or lights by their own cords.
• If you smoke, exercise care when smoking and do not smoke in bed.
• Do not allow excess clutter of flammable materials.
• Candles are not permitted in dorm areas.

Crime prevention is defined as the anticipation, recognition, and appraisal of a crime risk and the initiation of some action to remove or reduce that risk. Many campuses around the country investigate and make public the nature and quantity of crimes, as well as how crimes are investigated. The University of Pikeville subscribes to that approach and further believes that the public should know how active the Public Safety Department is in crime prevention and detection. The University of Pikeville has experienced success in reducing and preventing crime.

Some of the notable efforts are:

• Emergency 911 dialing
• 24-hour preventative patrols
• Campus foot patrol by uniformed officers
• 24-hour staff in residence halls
• Custodial staff occupy many academic buildings after hours and provide information to the University of Pikeville Public Safety Department Department about suspicious activity or persons in or around the building
• Crime prevention seminars and presentations conducted each semester with staff and student groups
• Crime prevention pamphlets available for students and employees
• Lighting survey

To schedule a crime prevention visit or presentation, call (606) 218-5940 Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In addition to preventing crime, considerable effort is devoted to crime intervention. All reported crimes are investigated immediately. Follow-up investigations occur to identify offenders. Where multiple incidents occur, surveillance techniques may be implemented to help apprehend violators. When caught, offenders are dealt with through the Pike County court system and the University of Pikeville when appropriate. The Public Safety Department encourages the accurate and prompt reporting of criminal incidents, no matter how insignificant or small. Victims are encouraged to insist upon a proper investigation and subsequent filing of charges. Victims are further encouraged to insist on restitution or compensation for losses and demand severe sanctions. Through these measures, the University of Pikeville will become a safer community.

Avoid victimization

Property protection

• Lock your door whenever you leave your room for any length of time or when sleeping.
• Always lock all car doors.
• Never prop open any door.
• Adequately protect all valuables in your room, such as wallets, jewelry, credit cards, cash and computers. Do not leave valuables or cash in plain view.
• Protect your books and put your name in them.
• Do not loan your keys to anyone.
• Never hide your keys outside your apartment or room. Do not put your name or address on your keys.
• Take all valuable items home with you during vacations.
• When in a public place, keep valuable possessions out of sight.
• Participate in “Operation Identification” in cooperation with the Public Safety Department.

“Operation Identification” is a crime prevention project to protect your possessions from theft.

• Obtain “Operation Identification” materials from the University of Pikeville Public Safety Department.
• Itemize your possessions on a file card. Record the description and serial numbers.
• The University of Pikeville Public Safety Department has available an electric engraver that you may use to engrave your license number, social security number or other identifying marks on your valuables.

Note: Computers, VCR’s, CD players, DVD players, cash and jewelry are items particularly susceptible to theft.

At home, in an apartment building or in a residence hall:

• Keep your room door locked when you are napping or sleeping.
• Never let unauthorized persons come into your room, enter residence halls or enter apartment security doors. Always ask to see proper identification. Any suspicious activity should be reported to Public Safety immediately.
• Never prop open inside or outside doors.
• Do not hide keys outside of your room or apartment. Do not put our name or address on your keys.
• Avoid working or studying alone in a campus building.
• Never dress in front of a window. Draw blinds or curtains after dark.
• If an intruder awakens you inside your room, do not attempt to apprehend an intruder. Try to get an accurate description of the intruder and then call Public Safety.

When driving:

• Carry your car keys when approaching your vehicle so you can enter quickly.
• Lock your doors and keep windows rolled up whenever possible. Always check underneath your car and in the rear seat for intruders before entering your automobile.
• Drive on well-traveled and well-lit streets.
• Never hitchhike or pick up hitchhikers.
• If someone tries to enter your stopped vehicle, sound the horn and drive to a safe area such as a convenience store.
• If your vehicle breaks down, ask any person who stops to help to call the police. Do not allow any person access to you or inside your car. Roll down your window no more than an inch. Be aware that an accident may be staged to provide the other driver an opportunity to commit a criminal act.
• Leave enough room between your car and the one ahead so you can drive around it if necessary.
• Call ahead when driving to your home or apartment late at night and have someone watch you walk from your car to the residence.

While walking or jogging:

• Avoid walking or jogging alone and try not to walk or jog after dark.
• Avoid dark or vacant areas. Walk along well-lit routes.
• Be alert to your surroundings. If you suspect you are being followed, run in a different direction, go to the other side of the street and yell for help or move quickly to a lighted area or a group of people.
• Have your keys ready when returning to your residence hall or apartment. Keep your personal or valuable items concealed and close to your body.

Harassing phone calls:

Telephone harassment is both a nuisance and a crime and will not be tolerated on the University of Pikeville campus. If you are a victim of telephone harassment, please follow these steps:

• As soon as you realize the nature of the call, hang up. Remain calm and replace the receiver on the telephone as you normally would for any call.
• Do not talk to or try to discover the caller’s identity.
• If calling persists, or if any call is obscene or threatening, call Public Safety at once. If off campus, call the police and report the activity.
• If calling persists, keep a time log of calls received, what was said by all parties and a description of the voice.

If you see any suspicious activity or person(s) on or near the campus, it is your responsibility to call Public Safety at (606) 218-5940 (office), (606) 477-0262 (cell), or dial 911 for emergencies.

Do not assume what you see is an innocent activity or that another individual has already called Public Safety. Do not worry about being embarrassed; rather, think about what could happen if you do not act.

Suspicious persons may include:

• person(s) loitering about at unusual hours and locations.
• person(s) running, especially if something of value is being carried.
• person(s) exhibiting unusual mental or physical symptoms. They could be under the influence of drugs or needing medical or psychiatric assistance.
• person(s) carrying property that might be suspicious, depending on the circumstances.
• person(s) going from room to room trying doorknobs.

Do not assume the person may be a visitor or college staff that you have not seen before. Call Public Safety immediately.