TIMELY WARNING POLICY
The Campus Crime Alert (“Alert”) is provided to give students, faculty, and staff timely notification of crimes that may represent a serious or on-going threat to the campus community and to heighten safety awareness. The Alert also seeks information that may lead to arrest and conviction of the offender when violent crimes against persons or substantial crimes against property have been reported.
Campus Safety is responsible for issuing a Campus Crime Alert when a crime is reported to or brought to the attention of the Campus Safety or other campus security authorities and that crime represents a serious or on-going threat to the safety of members of the campus community. Information for Alerts also comes from other law enforcement agencies. Every attempt will be made to distribute the Alert promptly; however, the release is subject to the availability of accurate facts concerning the incident. Alerts, are created and distributed by Campus Safety and/or the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students or his/her designee with the assistance of Telecommunications and/or Communications.
Timely Warning Procedure
Campus Safety will prepare a Campus Crime Alert whenever a report is received of a violent crime against a person or a substantial crime against property on campus that represents a serious or on-going threat to the safety of students, faculty, and staff. Alerts are assigned the same number as the corresponding Campus Safety report and provide details of the crime, a description of the suspect (if known), information on whom to contact with information, and safety tips.
Campus Crime Alerts will be emailed as quickly as possible to faculty, staff, and students, distributed throughout the campus, provided to campus media, posted on the Union College website, and, if appropriate, posted in off-campus areas frequented by students.
Whenever the Schenectady Police issue a news release about an off-campus crime that represents a serious or on-going threat to the safety of students, faculty, and staff, the College will assist in publicizing the crime on campus.
Campus Crime Alerts typically include the following information:
1. A succinct statement of the incident.
2. Any connection to previous incidents.
3. Physical description and/or composite drawing of the suspect, if appropriate.
4. Date and time the Alert was released.
5. Other relevant and important information.
6. Appropriate safety tips.
Emergency Text Messaging System
Union College provides emergency notification services to the college community via cell phone text messages and email. The Emergency Text Messaging System is available to students, faculty, and staff. To participate in this service, sign up here.
Messages may be used for situations that pose immediate danger or the closing of an entire campus. Messages about Campus Crime Alerts generally will not be sent unless it is decided there is an imminent threat of danger. This notification service is provided in addition to existing emergency reporting procedures and does not replace or eliminate any emergency notification system.