Higher Education Opportunity Act - Campus Safety & Security

Clery Reportable Offenses:

The Franklin University Alerts system is provided to give students, faculty and staff timely notification of incidents that may present an immediate threat to the campus community and to heighten safety awareness. Franklin University’s first concern is the safety of our students, faculty and staff. Franklin University always seeks information that may lead to arrest and conviction of the offender when violent crimes against persons or serious crimes against property have been reported. Information regarding any crime may be reported to Franklin University’s Department of Safety and Security Services (DSSS) or anonymously by using the My Safe Campus reporting system (http://www.mysafecampus.com/Home.aspx or 1-800-716-9007). This service allows individuals to report information either anonymously or by leaving a name and contact information.

DSSS is responsible for the activation of a Franklin University Alert when an incident is reported to or brought to the attention of the Department of Safety and Security Services, and that incident represents an immediate threat to the safety of members of the campus community. Information for alerts also comes from other law enforcement agencies or offices. Every attempt will be made to distribute the Alert in a timely manner. However, the release is subject to the availability of accurate facts concerning the incident. Alerts are distributed to faculty, students and staff through email, text messaging and/or by phone.

Safety and security information relevant to a campus location but not dealing with an immediate threat to the safety and welfare of any campus location is communicated via other mediums to include memorandums, fliers, e-mail and voice-mail.   

The Department of Safety and Security Services may initiate a Franklin University Alert whenever a report is received of a violent incident against a person or a particularly threatening incident against property on campus that represents an ongoing danger to the safety of students, faculty and staff. Timely information will be widely distributed throughout campus, provided to campus media representatives, posted on the DSSS web site and, to the extent possible, e-mailed as quickly as possible to select university offices.

Whenever a law enforcement agency issues a news release about an off-campus crime that represents an ongoing threat to the safety of students, faculty, and staff, the university may assist in the distribution of this information to the campus community.

The university will test their response to emergency incidents by conducting at least one table top exercise per calendar year that is related to a crisis or emergency event on campus. This will allow the university’s Crisis Management Team (CMT) the opportunity to test current university crisis management plans in this simulation exercise. In addition, at least one time per year, Franklin’s DSSS will conduct and document fire drills for each building to assess the evacuation procedures currently in place.

The Franklin University Alerts system is provided to give students, faculty and staff timely notification of incidents that may present an immediate threat to the campus community and to heighten safety awareness.

Incidents that occur which are not an immediate threat to students, faculty or staff will be evaluated by Franklin University’s Chief of Staff to determine the need for an alert. In the absence of the Chief of Staff, the VP of Human Resources will determine when to issue an alert.

The Department of Safety and Security Services (DSSS) is responsible for the activation of a Franklin University Alert when an incident is reported to or brought to the attention of the Department of Safety and Security Services, and that incident represents an immediate threat to the safety of members of the campus community. Information for alerts may also be provided by other law enforcement agencies or offices. Every attempt will be made to distribute an Alert in a timely manner. However, the release is subject to the availability of accurate facts concerning the incident. Alerts are distributed to faculty, students and staff through email, text messaging and/or by phone.

To register for the Franklin University Alerts system follow the link: http://www.franklin.edu/news-community/news-events/user-sign-up.html

Registration information will not be shared with outside sources and will only be used to send emergency messages.

When you create a user account with Franklin University Alerts you will be redirected to a Web page where you will need to validate your mobile phone or email address. You will receive a 4-digit validation code that will need to be entered and submitted to successfully complete the registration process. Once registered, Franklin will text or email you important alerts and information.

Once Franklin sends an alert message through Franklin University Alerts, the message is sent to a large number of telephone and email service providers.  These providers control how quickly messages are delivered to phones and email mailboxes.  Delayed message delivery is almost always due to the telephone/email provider and how the message has been processed through their network. Emergency information and weather delays or cancellations are also posted on the Franklin University Web site at www.franklin.edu

The Department of Safety and Security Services may prepare a Franklin University Alert whenever a report is received of a violent incident   against a person or a particularly threatening incident against property on campus that represents an ongoing danger to the safety of students, faculty and staff.

Additionally, the Department of Safety and Security Services may issue a Franklin University alert in the following circumstances:

• Weather Closing
• Biological Threat
• Bomb Found
• Bomb Threat
• Emergency Situation
• Gas Leak
• Hostile Intruder
• Police Emergency
• Shooting
• All Clear

All persons are strongly encouraged to report crime to the Campus Special Duty Officer or the appropriate local police department. The Department of Safety and Security Services shall be notified at the earliest reasonable time.

Most states have laws requiring persons who have knowledge of a felony (a victim of or witness to the crime) are required to report the crime to the police Failure to report a crime may itself be a crime.

The University strongly encourages crime victims to report all criminal activity to police.

If you are the victim of a crime and do not want to pursue action within the university system or the criminal justice system, you may still want to consider making a confidential report. My Safe Campus allows students, faculty and staff the opportunity to file a report on the details of an incident without revealing your identity (http://www.mysafecampus.com/Home.aspx or toll free 1-800-716-9007).

The purpose of a confidential report is to comply with your wish to keep the matter confidential, while taking steps to ensure the future safety of yourself and others. With such information, the University can keep a record of the number of incidents involving students, determine where there is a pattern of crime with regard to a particular location, method, or assailant, and alert the campus community to potential danger. Reports filed in this manner are counted and disclosed in the annual crimes statistics for the institution.

Crimes adjacent to or on university property and reported to the following individuals or offices will be included in the annual crime statistics report.

• Franklin University Department of Safety and Security Services
• Vice President for Students
• Vice President for Human Resources
• Blendon Township, OH Police Department
• Columbus, OH Police Department
• Delaware, OH Police Department
• Dublin, OH Police Department
• Indianapolis, IN Police Department

Franklin University's Annual Report is the result of the efforts of many people on campus. Each year the offices and individuals listed above provide information for inclusion in the annual report. No formal police report is required for a crime to be included in the statistics. Every effort is taken to ensure that all persons required to report do so, and that statistics are as accurate and complete as possible. Information included in the annual report is reviewed for accuracy, completeness and readability.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of the statistics and information in this report, please contact the Director of the Department of Safety and Security Services at 947-6901.

The University’s Department of Safety and Security Services prepares this report to comply with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act. The full text of this report can be located on the University’s web site. This report is prepared in cooperation with the local law enforcement agencies surrounding our campus.

Campus crime, arrest and referral statistics include those reported to the Department of Safety and Security Services, designated campus officials (including but not limited to vice presidents, directors, department heads, counseling, advisors to students, student organizations, and local law enforcement agencies).

Each year all enrolled students receive notification that provides the web site to access this report. Faculty and staff receive similar notification in their orientation. Copies of the report may also be obtained by calling (614) 947-6901. All prospective students and employees may obtain a copy from the Department of Safety and Security Services.

All Franklin University employees have the authority to ask persons for identification and to determine whether individuals have lawful business at the university. Criminal incidents are referred to the Campus Special Duty Officer who has jurisdiction on the campus. The Department of Safety and Security Services at Franklin University maintains a professional working relationship with all law enforcement organizations having jurisdiction at any campus location.  All crime victims and witnesses are strongly encouraged to immediately report any crime to the Department of Safety and Security Services.  Prompt reporting will assure timely warning notices on-campus and timely disclosure of crime statistics.

Franklin University’s Main Campus Security Force is comprised of off-duty City of Columbus, OH police officers. Officers maintain all of the authorities granted them by the City of Columbus Police Department while on campus. All other Franklin locations employ off-duty police officers from their respective communities. They maintain all law enforcement powers granted by state law and their respective police agencies while on duty at these locations.

Community members, students, faculty, staff, and guests are encouraged to report all crimes and public safety related incidents to the Department of Safety and Security Services in a timely manner. This policy focuses on the Department of Safety and Security Services because it monitors the campus.

To report a crime, call 911(only life threatening emergencies) or the university’s Special Duty Officer.

DSSS personnel and/ or the Special Duty Officer are available to answer your call. In response to a call, the Special Duty Officer will take the required action to include summoning appropriate personnel or notifying the appropriate law enforcement agency. The Special Duty Officer and/or DSSS will investigate a report when it is deemed appropriate. Additional information obtained via the investigation will also be forwarded to appropriate university or law enforcement resources.  

This policy contains information about on-campus and off campus resources. That information is made available to provide Franklin University community members with specific information about the resources that are available in the event that they become the victim of a crime.

Crimes should be reported to the DSSS to aid in providing timely warning notices to the community when appropriate and ensure inclusion in the annual crime statistics. 

Annually, the DSSS, in cooperation with other University organizations, departments, and law enforcement agencies  present crime prevention awareness sessions on topics such as sexual assault (rape and acquaintance rape), theft, and vandalism, as well as educational sessions on personal safety.

A common theme of all awareness and crime prevention programs is to encourage students and employees to be aware of their responsibility for their own security and the security of others.

When time is of the essence, information is released to the university community through the Franklin University Alerts Emergency Notification System (i.e., text and email messages) and special security alerts posted prominently throughout campus.

If you are a victim of a sexual assault at this institution, your first priority should be to get to a place of safety. You should then obtain necessary medical treatment. The University strongly advocates that a victim of sexual assault report the incident in a timely manner. Time is a critical factor for evidence collection and preservation. An assault should be reported directly to a Special Duty Officer, the Department of Safety and Security Services, and local law enforcement agency.

Filing a police report will not obligate the victim to prosecute. It will  not subject the victim to scrutiny or judgmental opinions from the university community.  Filing a police report will ensure the victim :

•  receives the necessary medical treatment and tests, at no expense to the victim
• provide the opportunity for collection of evidence helpful in prosecution, which cannot be obtained later (ideally a victim of sexual assault should not wash, douche, use the toilet, or change clothing prior to a medical/legal exam)
• assure the victim has access to free confidential counseling from counselors specifically trained in the area of sexual assault crisis intervention.

For more information:

• Director of Safety & Security, (614) 947-6901
• Director of Public Relations, (614) 947-6581
• On Campus Security by Campus

• o   Main Campus: (614) 947-6902

  o   Delaware: (614) 947-6907

  o   Dublin: (614) 947-6905

  o   Westerville: (614) 947-6906

   

• University Regulations:
• 
  VP for Administration and Chief of Staff, (614) 947-6025