Role Of Campus Safety
Bicycles
Building Access Control
Campus Alert Policy
Guests And Visitors
Lost And Found
Parking Regulations
Pedestrian Gates
Vehicle Use On Campus

Role Of Campus Safety

The Campus Safety Office is structured within the Rhodes’ Division of Student Affairs, putting Campus Safety in close contact with all aspects of student life.

The primary mission of the Campus Safety Department is to preserve the safety and security of the campus community to enable the mission of the College to go forward. This mission includes comprehensive efforts aimed at protecting our community from threats to both person and property. Although the Campus Safety staff is considered a private security and safety force, they are responsible for enforcement of all State and local laws, College policies and procedures, security, safety, and emergency responses. As a “first responder” Campus Safety stands ready and well trained to provide support services to meet the many and varied needs of the Rhodes Community.

Due to the importance of Campus Safety, students are advised that it is a specific offense of the student code of conduct to fail to comply with the directions of a College official including those of Campus Safety or to fail to identify oneself to a College official including those officers in Campus Safety.

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Bicycles

All bicycles must be registered with the Campus Safety Office. Failure to do so will incur a fine of $25. Bicycles may be kept:

1. in the student′s own residence hall room,
   
2. in the bicycle storage rooms assigned, 
   
3. in the outside bike racks.

Bicycles may not be kept in hallways, social rooms, alcoves, under stairways, or other places. Campus Safety will remove bicycles in unauthorized places in residence halls and the owner must pay a $10 fee to retain the bicycle.

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Building Access Control

Students may need access to certain academic and administrative buildings in pursuit of their studies after these buildings have been locked at the end of the day and on weekends. At the same time, the College has the responsibility to ensure that students utilizing these facilities work and study in a safe secure environment.

Accordingly, students will use the following building access control systems:

1. When students need to have access to certain academic or administrative buildings, they must ask the appropriate departmental representative to certify that they are authorized to be in a particular building or room during a specified time. This authorization must be sent to Campus Safety where it will be kept on file. Thereafter, authorized students who register personally at the Campus Safety Office will be escorted to a particular building and given access. Students must also notify Campus Safety upon exiting so that a precise occupancy log is always maintained in the event of an emergency. If time authorization limits are not indicated on the access request, it will be assumed that access is limited to that building’s regular business hours. Otherwise, if time limits are not indicated, access after regular business hours will not be granted.
   
2. Students working in an area when it is being secured for the day must go through the access system before they can continue their work. Students who have gained access properly are not authorized to grant access to other students. Any student not on the approved access list will be required to leave the building.
   
3. Several rooms in Clough Hall are available for general student study at night. In addition, the Library offers a 24 hour study space.
   
4. Access to students’ rooms for anyone other than the registered occupant must always have the authorization of the Residence Life or Student Affairs Administrative Staff. This includes parents, family members, and friends of the registered occupant.

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Campus Alert Policy

The Clery Act, enacted by the Congress and signed into law by the President in 1990 as the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990, requires all institutions of higher education “to make timely warning reports to the campus community on certain crimes that represent a continuing threat to students and employees and that were reported to officials with significant responsibility for student and campus activities, campus police or local police.” These reports, according to the legislation, will be "disseminated in a manner that will aid in the prevention of similar occurrences."  

To meet the provisions of this portion of the legislation and to fulfill our duty to monitor and to reduce campus crime and the fear of crime, the Office of Campus Safety maintains a campus alert system. Campus alerts are used when crimes reported to the Office of Campus Safety represent an imminent or continuing threat to students and employees.

The Director of Campus Safety consults with members of the campus alert team, as deemed necessary, to determine if a report represents such a threat. Members of the campus alert team include, but are not limited to, the Director of Campus Safety, either the Dean of Students or the Associate Dean of Students, either the Executive Assistant to the President or the Vice President for Community Relations, and the Director of Communications (four persons). When warranted, the campus alert is written by the Director of Communications or her designee and a draft is approved by the campus alert team.

The alert typically contains the following information about the event: date, time, location, criminal activity. Descriptions of suspects involved in alleged criminal activity are used only when the witness or victim is certain about the information and there are multiple and specific descriptions provided that can aid in identification. The alert is signed by the Director of Campus Safety and posted on building bulletin boards and emailed to the Rhodes College community within one business day of the occurrence of the crime or the determination that a crime trend poses a threat.

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Guests And Visitors

Rhodes has always welcomed guests and visitors to the campus. However, we also recognize that there are certain identification, safety and security problems attendant with this practice. Therefore, it is essential that guidelines be established to insure the well being of the College community. While it is impossible to cover every variable, the following general policies apply with respect to visitors to the campus.

Visitors to the campus are generally prospective students and parents, alumni, and those who have business with academic or administrative departments. Once the identity and purpose of these persons are confirmed they should always be made to feel welcome and accorded the same amenities that faculty, staff and students are allowed.

Guests of students are welcome on campus. Guests staying with a student overnight along with their host-student must register with Campus Safety in person. Guests are expected to remain under the auspices of the host student and the host student bears the responsibility for the guest′s behavior and compliance with campus policy. Rhodes accessible keys should never be loaned to guests. Guests are not allowed during exams. When it appears that guests have been completely abandoned by a host, they will be asked to leave the campus. Host responsibilities for a guest should not be transferred from one student to another.

Visitors arriving at a Welcome Center to see a student, faculty member or staff person, will be detained until the host can be located by the officer by phone. If the host cannot be located, the visit will not be allowed. If the host is located, he/she must authorize the visit before entry is allowed. Students expecting a visitor, who is not staying overnight, may call the Campus Safety Welcome Centers (Bailey - #3894; Phillips - #3883) and advise the officer on duty whom to expect, the time of arrival, and the name of the host. If this is done, the visit is allowed regardless of phone confirmation of visit. If you′re unable to connect to a Welcome Center, you may call the Campus Safety Control Center at #3880.

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Lost And Found

All items found on campus should be turned in to the Office of Campus Safety located in Spann Place #5. Note: After approval by the Vice President of Finance, Campus Safety will dispose of all items not claimed by June 1st of each year.

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Parking Regulations

The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), Memphis Fire Protection Laws and insurance regulations as well as general safety precautions make parking and traffic control on campus a necessity. Written regulations and appropriate signage are established to facilitate traffic flow, control parking and protect fire lanes and unloading areas as are designated. In consultation with the Rhodes Student Government, the Social Regulations Council, the Traffic Appeals Committee and various other representatives of the Rhodes community, regulations and procedures have been developed for using a motor vehicle on campus. Details are furnished in the Campus Safety Brochure, and both the Student Handbook and College Handbook. If you have any questions, please contact the Campus Safety office at (901) 843-3880.

Registration of Motor Vehicles. All members of the Rhodes community who park on campus are required to register their vehicles with the Campus Safety Department and display a current registration decal, if they plan on either driving or parking on campus property. If a member of the Rhodes community drives a vehicle on campus, it must be registered with either a permanent or temporary registration decal.

Faculty and Staff should register their vehicles at the Campus Safety Office. Persons choosing not to register their vehicles for campus parking must still abide by all "off campus" parking regulations as listed below.

Registration Decals. Decals are colored to indicate registration information and specified parking areas. They must be properly affixed to the lower left, inside driver′s side front windshield.

Handicap Parking (to include temporary handicap). Vehicles parked in handicap spaces must display proper handicap placard or license information. If a "temporary" handicap need arises for students, petition must be made to the Director of Disability Services.

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Pedestrian Gates

Campus Pedestrian Gates are equipped with locking devices and springs to insure proper perimeter safety and security. Electronic key fobs, issued to students, will access these gates. If a gate is left unsecured, it will be considered a "propped door;" and if the responsible party is observed not securing the gate, a minimum fine of $100.00 will be charged to the violator.

Locations of pedestrian gates: Glassell (west side), Bellingrath (west side), Spann quad (east side), Charles Place entrance, Stewart (west side), and North Parkway.

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Vehicle Use On Campus

Entering Campus. When a Campus Safety officer is on duty at any entrance onto the campus, drivers must stop or slow down enough to be acknowledged and identified before entering.

Moving Vehicle Regulations. The maximum posted speed limit on College property is 15 mph. Vehicle operators must have their vehicles under control at all times regardless of their speed to avoid collision or endangering others’ well-being. Vehicle operators who fail to control their vehicle, who endanger others’ well-being, or who have the potential to endanger others while operating a vehicle are subject to being held accountable for reckless driving.

Driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol on campus is strictly prohibited and will be prosecuted with police involvement.

Driving is permitted only on designated, surfaced drives. No vehicles are allowed on grass, lawns or fields without special permission.

Failure to stop at posted stop signs will result in a citation.

No Parking Areas. Off ramps, such as those behind Clough Hall and Rhodes Physics Tower provide access to buildings for fire fighting equipment and must remain open. Additionally, off ramps provide routes of egress to open areas from many of the campus buildings in case of fire and must be kept free of parked vehicles. If a space is not laned or marked as a parking space, it is considered a violation to park in the space and will be cited as such.

Fire Lanes. Fire lanes are currently designated as all roads throughout the campus. Persons who park in these areas are not only in violation of Rhodes parking regulations, but of the City of Memphis Ordinances as well. Violators′ vehicles will be towed by the City of Memphis in addition to a citation from the Memphis Police Department and Rhodes. Rhodes Campus Safety may also tow and cite violators′ vehicles.

Illegal Parking. All legal parking areas within College property are clearly indicated both on site and in publications. Parking in areas other than those properly lined as parking spaces is a violation and will be cited. Parking along curbs, unless clearly marked as a parking space or unless otherwise authorized is strictly prohibited.

Visitor parking is considered "reserved" twenty-four hours per day, seven days a week. Areas designated as visitor parking are strictly reserved for visitors to the campus only. Unauthorized parking will be cited and vehicle may be towed.

Off Campus Parking. While parking on campus is recommended, those who choose to park on streets near Rhodes should be aware of restrictions imposed by both the City of Memphis and also those regulations held by Rhodes College. All persons are expected to comply with the below "off campus" parking regulations.

City of Memphis parking restrictions are so marked.

Rhodes College restricts parking in the following areas where no Rhodes community members are allowed to park: 1) North side of Snowden west of University; 2) South side of Snowden, west of the alley behind Stewart Hall, 3) North side of Tutwiler, west of the entrance to Spann/Stewart Parking lot, 4) South side of Tutwiler.

Obstructing Traffic Charges. If a vehicle is parked in such a way whereby two vehicles cannot pass abreast of each other safely because of the parked vehicle, it will be cited for obstructing traffic.

Use of Emergency Flashers. Use of emergency flashers does not justify parking in violation of regulations and is not an appropriate cause for appeal. Use of flashers does not legitimize a violation of parking regulations. Time elapsed is not an element of a violation. Violating a parking regulation "for only two minutes to run inside" is not a defense for the violation.

Penalties. Fines assessed for traffic and parking violations are indicated on the citation. Payment of the fine is required within ten (10) days of the date of issue regardless of intentions to appeal. If an appeal results in a voided citation, the cashier′s office will issue a refund. If an appeal is not made by the 10th calendar day following the citation, it will not be considered for appeal.

Appeal of Citations. If students or employees of the college believe they have received a citation in error, they may ask for an appeal of the charges through the Traffic Appeals Board. This board is made up of representatives from the faculty, staff and student populations and is also very involved in the development of all traffic and parking control regulations.

To file an appeal, the student or employee must do so within (10) calendar days of the offense. Otherwise the right to appeal is forfeited. Students and employees must also pay the fine cited before the appeal is heard. If the appeal results in a voided citation, the cashier′s office will issue a refund. An appeal may be written on the back of the citation copy or a letter attached to the citation. All appeals will be heard before the end of the academic year and all will be notified of the outcome.

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