3.10.6  

The institution takes reasonable steps to provide a healthy, safe, and secure environment for all members of the campus community.

RATIONALE FOR COMPLIANCE JUDGMENT

Nashville State Technical Community College is committed to providing a safe environment for its students, faculty, staff and visitors. The college’s many programs, services and policies reinforce this commitment as outlined and discussed in the Catalog [1], Faculty and Staff Handbook [2], and the Student Handbook [3]. The Security Department operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, monitoring the campus by means of automobile and foot patrols. All security officers are licensed unarmed security officers.  All security officers are trained annually on defensive tactics, asp, pepper spray, handcuffs, CPR, first aid and defibrillator.

The Security Department's work is augmented by a closed-circuit television system that was installed in 2005.  In addition to parking lot coverage, the camera system covers every door, window, hallway and stairwell in the buildings.  The data from the system is digital and archived for two years. 

The Director of Security is responsible for campus emergency plans [4], lab safety, OSHA compliance, traffic and parking regulations, key and building access, motor vehicle pool management, crime awareness and prevention, testing campus alarm systems, and hazardous chemical removal.

The Security Department works with the local enforcement agencies. Campus security monitors not only safety and security issues on campus, but also in the neighborhoods surrounding the campus. A relationship exists between NSCC security and other local agencies to cooperate and share information and intelligence that could be of concern to the health and safety of our community and the surrounding community.  The security department also hosts an annual crime stoppers meeting.

Other services provided to the campus community are detailed on the security web site [5]and include:

• Escort Service after dark to the parking lot

• Jump-Start Service

• Lockout Assistance

• Crime Prevention Presentations

• Presentations on Handling Disruptive Behavior

• Printed Crime Prevention Materials

• Exterior Lighting Surveys

• Monitoring Access Control and Alarm System

The Director of Security and his staff participate in campus committees and provide input to the campus relative to safety, security, and risk assessment in the campus community.

The Security Department is responsible for maintaining records and statistics for on-campus criminal offenses, personal accidents and injuries, and motor vehicle accidents. The Security Department is also responsible for releasing some public information in compliance with state and federal laws. The Security Department publishes crime statistics which meet compliance standards set forth by the "Student Right to Know and Campus Security Act" and educates community members about crime awareness.  This information is available on the campus security web site.