SCC is committed to ensuring the safety and security of students, employees, and visitors on its campuses, in College facilities and at College-sponsored activities and events. The College provides a variety of services and programs designed to promote and support safety and security.
The College monitors potential safety and security risks continuously, and maintains and reports crime information as required by the Crime and Campus Security Act of 1990. Anyone interested in accessing crime log information should contact the campus Dean of Student Affairs or visit the College’s Safety and Security website at www.southeast.edu/campussafety.
Safety/Security/Law Enforcement on Campus
The College recognizes that laws and rules are necessary for society to function and supports the enforcement of law by governmental agencies and rules established by College officials. Southeast Community College has developed administrative guidelines, and accompanying procedures, intended to establish a deliberative process to determine whether a student or situation poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others within the College community. All persons on an SCC Campus or Learning Center are subject to these laws and rules at all times. As part of a multi-campus system that includes Learning Centers throughout a 15-county service area, safety and security is the responsibility of everyone and the management of it falls to a number of individuals, including identified Campus Safety Authorities, who have, as a portion of their assigned responsibilities, safety and security duties. SCC has assigned lead administrative responsibility for: 1) enforcing institutional rules of conduct related to safety/security, and 2) referring potential or alleged violations of law to government authorities to the Assistant Campus Directors (or designee) at each location.
Beatrice Campus; Learning Centers at Falls City and Nebraska City
All Lincoln Campuses; Learning Centers at Plattsmouth and Wahoo
Milford Campus; Learning Centers at Hebron and York
All SCC Locations
Students, employees, visitors, potential students, and others interested in SCC safety and security programs and services are encouraged to review the College’s Annual Safety, Security and Crime/Fire Statistics Report found on the Safety and Security website.
Emergency Response and Notifications
SCC provides notification information related to crime or other potentially threatening situations in an accurate and timely fashion and issued as a means of a “Campus Timely Warning Notice” or an “Emergency Notification.” SCC partners with Regroup to offer an emergency notification system. Regroup is available to all staff, faculty, and enrolled students. SCC’s Campus Notification system will disseminate timely emergency notifications and weather announcements via text message, email, and voice messages. Please visit https://southeast.regroup.com/signup to register and personalize your notifications.
Standard Response Protocol
Campus Safety Personnel utilize the Standard Response Protocol to coordinate emergency response procedures. Posted throughout the campuses are Standard Response Protocol posters that outline what to do in case of a variety of emergencies. SCC posts this information on the safety and security website www.southeast.edu/campussafety/. Safety officials test the emergency response and evacuation procedures annually and publicize the emergency response and evacuation procedures throughout the campus communities. Annual testing may be either announced or unannounced. The College also maintains a Campus Safety & Security website www.southeast.edu/campussafety/ which contains “best practices” and information about emergency response guidelines for the campus community to follow.
Any student or employee can request an escort to their vehicle or SCC residence hall by contacting the campus switchboard or custodial supervisor.
If you feel a reasonable threat to your safety and security, please contact law enforcement immediately by dialing 911 to report crimes or emergencies. SCC students, visitors and employees should report any suspicious behavior, suspected criminal activity or other emergencies at any SCC location to local law enforcement.
Any student who is involved in an incident concerning safety and security should immediately report the incident to campus administration or the campus safety specialist, and complete a TIPS Incident report online (a reporting system on The Hub or SCC website). To report any incidents, you may contact the Campus Safety & Security Specialist or the Assistant Campus Director/Dean of Students. You can also submit a TIPS report. TIPS is not a 911 or emergency reporting site. TIPS expands the methods by which any member of the campus community can share matters they feel need to be elevated or addressed. It is not the college’s intent to replace direct contact with campus officials, but instead to provide an avenue for reporting campus incidents or positive acts of kindness to share. Access TIPS via the SCC website www.southeast.edu or The Hub.
Law Enforcement Contacts
In situations deemed as non-emergency or not requiring special considerations (e.g., safety and security), please follow these procedures for routine law enforcement contacts at any SCC facility:
- Initial Point of Contact - The initial point of contact for all law enforcement representatives will be in the Campus Director (or designee) in the Campus Office. The Campus Director (or designee) will assume responsibility for assessing the law enforcement request, determining appropriate next steps, and documenting relevant details of the law enforcement contact.
- Student Contact Request - If a duly authorized law enforcement representative on official business requests interaction with a SCC student, the Campus Director (or designee) will contact and involve the Assistant Campus Director/Dean of Students. The Dean coordinates and assists the law enforcement contact with the student at a place, time, and in a manner that is deemed to be prudent and appropriate.
- Privacy/Confidentiality - Law enforcement contacts of the nature described above do not obviate the College’s responsibility to safeguard information and files that students or employees reasonably expect to be private/confidential (e.g., student records protected under FERPA, or employee personnel files).
Firearms, Weapons, Dangerous Instruments
Effective Jan. 1, 2007, Nebraska State Statute 28-1202 makes it unlawful to carry a concealed firearm or weapon into a meeting of the governing body of a political subdivision, or collegiate athletic event; school, school grounds, school-owned vehicle, or school-sponsored activity or athletic event.
These prohibitions apply to EVERYONE (employees, students, invitees, and visitors) and are enforceable EVERYWHERE (all College property and all College-related events.) The possession, concealment or use of firearms, weapons, fireworks and explosive materials, or any item used or intended to cause damage to property or harm to persons is prohibited in college-owned buildings, grounds or the vehicles, or at any location where a meeting, activity or athletic event is conducted, sponsored or sanctioned by the College (see examples of prohibited items below). Violations of these prohibitions will result in disciplinary and/or law enforcement action.
The authority to develop, implement, and interpret administrative guidance for this policy lies with the Vice President for Student Affairs. Responsibility for monitoring and enforcing established administrative guidelines will be assigned to the appropriate College staff at SCC locations.
Definitions/ Examples of Prohibited Items
- Firearms - Any weapons designed or readily converted to expel any projectile by the action of an explosive. Examples include: pistol, revolver, starter gun, rifle, shotgun, short rifle, and short shotgun.
- Weapons - Any knife with a blade over three and one-half inches in length. Examples include: daggers, dirks, knives, and stilettos, or other dangerous instrument capable of inflicting cutting, stabbing, or tearing wounds.
- Fireworks and Explosive Materials - Any composition or device designed for producing a visible or audible effect by combustion, deflagration, or detonation. Examples include: common fireworks (firecrackers, bottle rockets, sparklers, ground/ aerial/whistling devices); ammunition; black powder; gun powder, other explosive or combustible articles.
- Dangerous Instruments - Any air or gas-powered pistol or rifle, including paintball/ BB/pellet or tranquilizer guns/rifles; knuckles and brass or iron knuckles; bow and arrow, or any other projectile weapon or device; atomic, radiological, chemical, bacteriological, or biological materials.
These prohibitions apply to everyone (i.e., employees, students, invitees, and visitors) except:
- Law Enforcement Officials carrying or using weapons in conjunction with their official duties; and
- An approved part of the regular course of instruction or college-approved activity.
Illness or Accident on SCC Owned or Controlled Property
Every effort is made to prevent accidents, and the College reserves the right to call 911 in case of student illness or injury, and to call for ambulance service to deliver a student to the hospital. The judgment of the College staff present at the scene shall determine what immediate action needs to be taken.
The College maintains general liability insurance to cover accidents that occur resulting from faulty equipment or College negligence. However, SCC is not responsible for accidents that occur on campus because of student negligence. We urge students to maintain private health insurance to assure coverage. We highly recommend that any student living either on campus or renting off campus invest in renter’s insurance or verify that his/her family’s home-owner’s insurance covers his/her rental unit.
SCC cooperates with county and state health departments in developing procedures for the control of communicable diseases and procedures conform to the regulations for communicable disease control established by the State Health Department.
Smoke Free/Tobacco Free Statement
Smoking/Chewing Tobacco/E-cigarettes
The College subscribes to the Nebraska Clean Indoor Air Act of 2008, which requires indoor workplaces in Nebraska to be smoke free. In addition to banning smoking in all College facilities and vehicles, chewing or spitting of tobacco products or use of e-cigarettes are also prohibited.
This policy applies to students and guests in SCC apartment complexes and residence halls (buildings, halls, or stairwells, patios or balconies).The areas on campus where these activities are allowed, are clearly marked.
Harassment, Discrimination and Adherence to Title IX
Sexual Misconduct Policy
SCC is committed to maintaining a positive and safe learning and working environment. SCC students and employees are responsible for assuring that SCC maintains an environment for study and work free from sexual assault or misconduct. All members of the SCC community are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that ensures a safe environment.
Title IX, Campus SaVE Act
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/cor/coord/titleix.php protects individuals from discrimination based on sex in any educational program or activity operated by recipients of federal financial assistance. Sexual harassment, which includes acts of sexual violence and sexual assault, is a form of sex discrimination prohibited by Title IX. Although Title IX is perhaps best known for its mission to achieve gender equity in athletic programming, Title IX’s protections are much broader in scope. It applies to all forms of sexual discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, and sexual violence. It also applies to all forms of gender-based harassment. Title IX applies equally to students, college employees, or nonemployee third parties.
Gender and Sex-based Discrimination Not Condoned
Members of the SCC community, guests and visitors have the right to be free from all forms of gender and sex-based discrimination, examples of which can include acts of sexual violence, sexual harassment, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. All members of the campus community are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that does not infringe upon the rights of others. SCC does not condone gender-based misconduct. When an allegation of misconduct is brought to an appropriate administrator’s attention, and a respondent is found to have violated this policy, serious sanctions will be used to reasonably ensure that such actions are not repeated.
Definitions of Sex Related and Civil Rights Offenses
The following are definitions of sexual misconduct (broad term encompassing any behavior of a sexual nature that is non-consensual, committed by force or intimidation or that is otherwise unwelcome) offenses that are prohibited by Southeast Community College.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is any unwelcome behavior (verbal, written or physical) that is directed at someone because of the person’s sex or gender and that is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that it unreasonably interferes with, denies or limits someone’s ability to participate in or benefit from the College’s programs and/or activities by creating a hostile, humiliating, demeaning or sexually offensive academic, residential, working or social environment; and/or is based on real or reasonable perceived power differentials and submission to or rejection of such conduct is believed to carry consequences for the student’s education or employment.
Sexual Assault
In Nebraska, sexual assault is defined as any person who subjects another person to sexual penetration:
- without the consent of the victim
- who knew or should have known that the victim was mentally or physically incapable of resisting or appraising the nature of his or her conduct
- when the actor is nineteen years of age or older and the victim is at least twelve but less than sixteen years of age.
Stalking
In Nebraska, stalking, for purposes of prosecution is defined as any person who willfully harasses another person or a family or household member of such person with the intent to injure, terrify, threaten, or intimidate commits the offense of stalking. Stalking can be carried out in person or by electronic mechanisms (cell phone, Internet, fax, cameras) and examples include repeated maintenance of physical or visual proximity to the victim; repeated following, approaching or confronting the victim; entering property occupied by the victim; photographing or videotaping the victim without permission; or unwelcome or unsolicited written or electronic communication with the victim.
Sexual Exploitation
Sexual exploitation involves taking or attempting to take non-consensual sexual advantage of another person. Sexual exploitation can include observing another person’s nudity or sexual activity without consent; distribution of images, photos, videos, or audio recordings of sexual activity or nudity with the knowledge and consent of all parties involved; prostituting another person; engaging in sexual activity with another person while knowingly infected with a sexually transmitted disease or the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), without informing the other person; or exposing one’s genitals in non-consensual circumstances.
Domestic Abuse/Violence
Domestic abuse/violence includes crimes of violence, physical pain, bodily injury and/or nonconsensual sexual contact or penetration committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partners of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse.
Dating Violence
Dating violence is a pattern of abusive behaviors (physical, verbal and/or emotional) used to exert power and control over a dating partner. The existence of this relationship is gauged by the length, type and frequency of interaction within the relationship.
Retaliation
Retaliation against a grievant or witness for filing or participating in the investigation is prohibited. Retaliation is any overt or covert act of reprisal, interference, restraint, penalty, discrimination, intimidation or harassment against one or more individuals for exercising their rights (or supporting others for exercising their rights) under this policy. The college will follow up on any reports of retaliation and take appropriate action as necessary.
Consent
Consent is an important concept when it comes to sexual assault. Consent must be a willingness or agreement to engage in sexual activity that is freely given with full information of the facts and circumstances. A person cannot give valid consent in Nebraska if they are:
- Overcome by force or fear;
- Unconscious or powerless;
- Mentally incapacitated, whether due to a mental disease or alcohol/drug intoxication;
- Under the age of 14; or
- Providing apparent consent due to fraud or misrepresentation.
Confidentiality
The privacy of all parties will be respected and safeguarded. Information related to a report of misconduct will be shared with only those College employees who have a “need to know” in order to assist in an investigation and/or resolution of a complaint. Confidentiality cannot be guaranteed but will be maintained to the greatest extent possible. In accordance with Section 40002(a) of the Violence Against Women Action of 1994 (VAWA), personally identifying information (information likely to disclose the location of a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking) will not be included in any publicly available recordkeeping.
Trained responders to allegations of sexual misconduct will keep reports private. These trained professionals can provide written notification to students and employees about existing counseling, health, mental health, victim advocacy, legal assistance, visa and immigration assistance, student financial aid and other services available for victims, both within the institution and in the community. Information about services and resources both on and off campuses can be found on our website at https://www.southeast.edu/rights-and-reporting-options/
In instances where the College would be unable to take disciplinary action in response to an alleged violation of this policy because a complainant insists on confidentiality, the College must weigh a request for confidentiality against the College’s obligation to provide a reasonable safe, non-discriminatory environment for all parties. In all cases, the College will pursue other steps to limit the effects of the conduct that violates this policy and prevent its recurrence. However, a request for confidentiality will impede the College’s ability to investigate the incident and pursue disciplinary action against the alleged perpetrator. The Title IX Coordinator or designee will determine what information about a victim should be disclosed and to whom and will inform victims of such disclosures for consent prior to sharing of information.
|