SAFETY AND SECURITY
Message from President Robert L. Caret
A college campus should be a safe haven where students can study, socialize and relax. As a parent myself, I know that parents are especially vulnerable to anxiety and concern about their college-age children. If you are a student, the knowledge that your parents are worried about you may raise your own anxiety level a little. I want to assure parents and students alike that Towson University places the highest priority on the safety of our campus community. The safety of students is paramount.
We review our security procedures often to ensure that we maintain the safest possible campus. The assessment and upgrade of campus security is ongoing, and as a result, we have added some new safety features and improved others.
Students can now register for the free state-of-the-art text message notification system. In case of a campus emergency, text messages are sent instantly and simultaneously to all registered text-message capable mobile phones, Blackberrys, wireless PDAs, pagers, smart or satellite phones, and e-mail addresses. The service also posts these messages on the university’s Web site. The messages will “pop up” on the computer screen for anyone using Google, Yahoo or AOL as their home page.
We’ve provided here answers to frequently asked questions about campus safety at Towson.
Q What are some methods Towson uses to keep students safe?
A Our Campus Safety Video provides a general introduction to many of the ways we address campus safety at Towson. Additional resources are listed below.
SAFEWALK and Ride-Van
Police Aides staff a program called "SAFEWALK” and will meet a student at any location within the central campus area and escort the student to his or her destination on campus. All Police Aides are radio equipped. For more outlying areas, the police department also operates a "Ride-Van” between the hours of 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. daily. The ride-van will take a student to any destination on campus.
Residence Hall Security
All residence halls are locked 24 hours a day; residents must use a swipe card to enter or be accompanied as a guest of a resident. All guests must sign in at the security desk. The desk is staffed at all times by a member of the Residence Life Staff or a security officer. Everyone must enter and exit by a single door. Packages and backpacks are subject to inspection. In addition, all the residence towers are equipped with a public address system that enables building-wide and room specific communications.
Campus and Building Security
Our capacity to "lock down" the campus is a complex challenge now under thorough review. The residence halls are secure 24/7 and are accessible only by key card entry. Building coordinators and key staff are able to lock the front doors of campus buildings if necessary. Our review process will examine protocols and procedures for dealing with campus-wide and building-specific security issues.
Police and Security Training
University Police officers regularly patrol the campus in marked cars and on bicycles. The University Police participated in crisis incident training in 2003, 2005 and 2007 along with the Baltimore County Police and Maryland State Police.
Q Where can students go for help and support during times of crisis?
A Depending upon the student’s specific need, there are many options available. Here are a few.
Counseling Center
The Counseling Center provides services to students under confidentiality to help them cope effectively with anxiety and stress. The Web site also contains informative material for parents, explaining the Counseling Center’s role, services and restrictions.
Campus Ministries
A variety of faith communities are represented on campus. Most provide personal ministry in counseling, theological discussions and other supportive areas. The Campus Ministries office is located in the University Union, room 208B, and the phone number is 410-704-2268. They can
also be reached through the Center for Student Diversity, located in the University Union, room 317, and by phone at 410-704-2051.
Student Affairs
Residence hall directors and staff are often the first to know when a resident student is in distress. All residence hall staff are trained to know about referral resources and who to contact in an emergency. The Division of Student Affairs coordinates many of the services for students. The Division of Student Affairs may be reached by e-mailing studentaffairs@towson.edu or by calling the student LIFE Line, 704-LIFE (5433). LIFE Line is staffed and ready to assist callers Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. After these hours, you can leave a voice mail message and get a response the next business day.
Q How will students be informed if there is a crisis?
A Students will be alerted in a variety of ways, including the following.
All-Campus E-Mail Message
An all-campus e-mail will provide information regarding present or imminent threats or dangers and inform the campus of appropriate steps to take to maintain safety.
Cell Phone Text Messages
Text messages regarding emergency safety and security measures will be sent to all students who opt to enroll in the free message service.
Campus Telephone Notification System
The University Police will call deans, directors, department heads, building coordinators, the housing director, and residence hall coordinators. All 13 residence halls have a responsible staff member on site at all times who will be notified of any emergencies.
Callers who dial 410-704-NEWS and our main campus telephone number (410-704-2000) will be alerted to events by a voicemail message.
Web Site and Media Alerts
A message will appear on the Towson University homepage, and television, radio and print media will be alerted if appropriate.
Police Announcements
Police announcements will be made as they patrol campus in vehicles.
Residence Hall Announcements
All of the residence towers are equipped with a public address system that enables building-wide and room-specific communications.
Students in the other residence halls will be notified by their RAs and by other systems in place.
Q Are guidelines in place for emergencies?
A Absolutely. Towson University has an Emergency Resources Guide: A Ready Resource for Managing and Responding to Emergency and Crisis Situations.
The Emergency Resources Guide provides direction for many emergency situations. Each office on campus has a copy of the guidebook and it is posted online. Students are routinely reminded to review safety and security procedures provided by the University Police.
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