uafs.edu/upd
The Student Right to Know and Campus Security Act of 1990 applies to every institution of higher education that receives federal financial aid. Title II of the Act was called the Campus Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990. It requires institutions of higher education to distribute to all current students and employees, and applicants for enrollment or employment, two types of information: (1) descriptions of policies related to campus security and (2) statistics concerning specific types of crimes. Amendments enacted in 1998 renamed Title II, and it is now known as the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. The amendments require the disclosure of crimes that are reported to police and campus officials, along with a breakdown of locations of criminal activity to be specified as on-campus, non-campus, residence hall, or public property.
UAFS Police Department Law Enforcement Authority
Arkansas State Statute 25-17-304 confers upon the chancellor of a state institution of higher education the right to create a university agency with the same powers as any municipal, county, or state police agency in Arkansas. The UAFS Police Department is made up of sworn, state-certified law enforcement officers. UAFS’s police department cooperates with the Fort Smith police and Sebastian County sheriff’s departments, as well as state and federal law enforcement agencies, and shares concurrent jurisdiction with these agencies over university properties and events. UAFS’s police department is a service-oriented agency. Service to the campus community is the top priority.
UAFS strives to provide a safe and secure environment for its students, faculty, staff, and guests. Every member of the campus community has a role in campus safety. Students, faculty, staff members, and visitors are encouraged to be vigilant and report crimes, suspicious activity, and emergencies to the University Police Department at 479-788-7140. If the fire department or EMS are needed, first call 9-1-1, then notify UPD. Responding campus police officers will determine whether additional agencies are needed or may be cancelled. The University Police Department consists of a force of certified police officers providing 24-hour coverage. Emergency blue light phones are located throughout campus to help contact UPD in emergency situations. An important component of on-campus safety and security is student behavior. Students are expected to comply with the standards of conduct published and distributed through the Student Activities Office (SAO) and online.
Reporting Crime and Other Emergencies on Campus
The UAFS Police Department will respond quickly to any request for assistance. Response time is based on current activity and the severity of the call. Crimes in progress, traffic accidents, and medical assists have a higher priority than other types of calls.
It is important to report criminal incidents and emergencies promptly and accurately. If a crime is not promptly and accurately reported, evidence can be lost, leads missed, and a suspect could get away. If you witness a crime or an emergency situation, contact the UAFS Police Department promptly, and answer questions as accurately as possible. The investigation and response to these incidents will only be as good as the information received.
UAFS’s Police Department can be contacted by telephone, emergency/information phones, in person, and by e-mail. By telephone, the department may be reached at its emergency number 479-788-7140, or the office number 479-788-7141. Most elevators in campus buildings also contain emergency phones, which provide a direct connection to the department. UAFS Police Department officers in vehicles, on foot, or on bicycles, are eager to be of assistance and may be contacted directly. E-mails may be sent directly to University Police at upd@uafs.edu.
UAFS Police Department officers are in radio contact with the Fort Smith Police Department.
For emergencies involving the need of immediate ambulance, fire department, or armed law enforcement response, call 911 immediately and then notify the UAFS Police Department as described above.
Campus and Community Notification of Criminal Activity
If there are crimes occurring on the UAFS campus that will continue to endanger or affect the campus community, public safety bulletins will be published and posted on My.UAFS and Lions Alert. The bulletins will allow members of the campus community to know what is currently happening so they can better protect themselves.
Information about the department, services provided, and related resources concerning safety and security can be obtained by contacting a UAFS Police Department officer or e-mailing the UAFS Police Department with questions or information.
UPD maintains a daily crime log that is available for viewing upon request at the UAFS Police Office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Building Access
University buildings are opened by 6 a.m. and secured after 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. On weekends and holidays, UPD will open and secure buildings and facilities at times fixed by the department directors and scheduled by the events coordinator. University police will not be responsible for opening and closing buildings and facilities on an individual or random request for access without proper authorization from the person responsible for that building. Students, including student employees, wanting access to buildings and facilities after scheduled hours or on weekends must first obtain access authorization to a building/room from the department head or their designee. Students must also have a valid Lions ID Card. Any person who cannot properly identify themselves will be considered unauthorized and will be asked to vacate the premises.
Persons authorized to be in the building may be accompanied by family members. Children should not be permitted to roam unattended through the building. Pets will not be permitted in the buildings. If there is a specific need for a student to be in the building after midnight, they must be accompanied by a member of faculty, staff, or administration or have a note from the department head indicating the days and hours that they are authorized to use the facility. Policies may differ by departments concerning students studying/working after hours. Please check with the dean of the college.
During occasions when it is impossible to comply with this policy, University Police should be contacted and special arrangements can be made.
Community Policing Philosophy
The UAFS Police Department will play a vital role in the students learning and living at UAFS utilizing the community policing philosophy. The focus of community-oriented policing is not simply on responding to crime, but on preventing crime and resolving community problems. The philosophy grows from the belief that the police and the community must work together as partners to solve the contemporary challenges faced in today’s society. Officers work closely with other organizations and community groups to educate community members about potential hazards they may encounter and how to reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim of crime; to identify the problems, concerns, and fears of community members; to identify and eliminate hazards that may promote crime or disorder; and to improve the overall quality of life in the community.
CSUC - Collaborative Efforts for a Safer University Community Objectives
- Developing programs that serve our university community to create a greater sense of safety while working, attending school, or visiting at UAFS. We hope to leave a positive experience of our police department and the university.
- Forming partnerships, collaborative efforts, playing a role in the educational process, and empowering students to make a difference in their individual and community safety.
- Getting to know the community that we serve as a whole, prioritizing efforts while developing partnerships within the university community.
Programs Under the Community Policing Initiative
- Common Thread (larceny prevention, alcohol consumption, sexual assault awareness, Facebook safety)
- Safety seminars
- Who Knew (collaborative effort between Judicial Affairs and UPD)
- University Crime Watch
- All are One (public awareness)
- University Community Watch
- Safe Walk
- Lock Out Auto Crime
UPD-Conducted Safety Presentations (As Requested)
- Alcohol Awareness
- Active Shooter Training
- General Safety Training
- Bicycle Safety
- Carjacking Prevention
- Date Rape Prevention
- Sexual Assault Prevention
- Domestic/Relationship Violence Prevention
- Facebook Safety
- Fire Safety
- ID Theft Prevention
- Cybercrimes
Additional Services
- Emergency and courtesy phones located across campus
- Vehicle unlocks
- Vehicle jump-starts
- Crime prevention information for groups and individuals
- Security surveys
- Non-criminal fingerprinting (job applications, security clearances)
The R.A.D. Program
- A unique self defense system designed for women ages 11 and up.
- The only women’s self defense course endorsed by The International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators
- No prior martial arts training required
- RAD manual provided to each participant
- The basic course consists of nine hours of awareness and physical training.
- At the conclusion of the physical training, students may participate in dynamic simulations. The simulations will allow students to utilize the learned techniques.
- With the permission of the class, the simulations will be videotaped.
- Debriefing occurs at the close of the final class with a review of the video.
- Participation in the simulation is voluntary.
Disclosure of Campus Crime Statistics
The university is located in the city of Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Fort Smith Police Department officers travel around and through the campus each day. In addition, Fort Smith Police Department officers may assist officers from the UAFS Police Department when their assistance is requested. During their travels on campus and during those times when their assistance is requested, Fort Smith Police Department officers have full authority to make arrests for violations of the law. To view the campus crime statistics for the previous three years, go to uafs.edu/upd/clery-act.
|
