Personal Security is Important to Everyone
Contribute to your own safety. Read this brochure and keep it handy for the information it contains. You have taken the first step to ensure that campus facilities will be a safe and secure place for all of us to use and enjoy.
How to report criminal actions and emergencies
Each campus has uniformed security personnel on duty 24 hours per day, seven days per week. To report a crime or an emergency, contact campus security by dialing the appropriate number, listed below, or report to any security officer.
At the bottom of this page you will find the location of the security office on your campus.
Emergency telephones with direct access to the campus security department are located throughout the campus and in all elevators. Emergency assistance may also be requested by dialing 911 from any of the public telephones located throughout each campus.
Each campus Chief of Security reviews all violations of law reported to the campus security department or College security officers. Each of the campus chiefs works with local police in the reporting, investigation and prevention of violations of the law which may occur on College property.
Reporting crime to the campus community
Campus student newspapers provide announcements and news stories regarding security issues and concerns, including those related to the crimes set forth in the table elsewhere in this publication. Each campus administration submits announcements and notices to student newspapers and to employee mail boxes concerning security matters when deemed appropriate.
Are there College policies concerning safety and access to campus facilities?
Yes. Miami Dade College is an open college serving not only students but also the general public. Many of our facilities and services are available for public use throughout the week during normal operating hours, which may vary slightly, but are generally 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- Most classes end prior to 11 :00 p.m.
- Weekend hours vary according to student and public needs.
- College facilities are generally unavailable for authorized use after 11 :00 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
The Miami Dade College Campus Services maintains campus facilities in a manner promoting safety and security:
- Campus Services regularly monitors the condition of all facilities within the campuses and specifically focuses on issues related to safety.
- All problems are corrected in a timely manner when identified to the appropriate authorities for action.
- All requests for service involving security-related issues are treated as priority.
- Campus Services cooperates fully with the campus security departments to ensure a safer campus community.
- Campus Services regularly monitor campus lighting and repairs are affected in a timely manner.
- College personnel conduct regular tours of the campuses to evaluate the current lighting situations, identify needs regarding lighting, and inspect current lighting to ensure proper working condition.
Who has law enforcement authority on campus?
The College has an established policy for plant and personnel security. Under this policy, security personnel who are not duly appointed law enforcement officers have no power of arrest, will not be armed and are forbidden to use force in any situation except in self-defense. Security personnel are authorized to request unidentified persons to identify themselves while on College property.
Support from local police may be summoned by campus security. In addition, the campuses may employ offduty local police to support their security departments during normal operating hours, for special events, or when deemed appropriate.
The campus security department reports crimes or infractions to either campus administrators or local police, depending on the circumstances.
Major off-campus centers have security personnel on duty during normal business hours and when classes are in session.
How does Miami-Dade inform students and employees about campus security procedures and practices ?
Security procedures and practices are addressed at orientation programs for new students and employees. Significant changes to College policies or procedures relating to security will be provided in College publications for distribution by campuses to students and employees.
Are there programs to inform students and employees about the prevention of crime?
Yes. Miami Dade College conducts awareness programs for students and employees at least once per major term addressing concerns such as:
- the role of drugs and alcohol in sexual assault
- personal safety when traveling in unfamiliar areas or after dark
- date-rape occurrences
- hazards of hitchhiking or riding with strangers
- other specific crime awareness and prevention tips, applicable to both on-campus and off-campus activities of student and employees.
What about criminal activity at student organization events off campus?
In instances where there has been a commission of a crime relating to an offcampus activity involving students, the College will consider its responsibilities in these incidents on an individual basis.
College policy regarding alcohol
The College has an established procedure that alcoholic beverages are prohibited at student sponsored functions on the campuses of Miami Dade College.
Possession of alcohol by persons under the age of 21 years is prohibited under Florida law. Violations of underage drinking laws will be enforced by law enforcement agencies of the State of Florida.
A College employee or student under the influence of alcohol is nor to report to work or school.
Violation of College procedure regarding alcoholic beverages by students or employees may result in disciplinary proceedings.
What is the College policy regarding illegal drugs?
The College has an established procedure which provides that “The manufacture, possession, having control over, sale, transmission or use of any narcotic, stimulant or hallucinogenic drug in violation of the laws of Florida or the United States is prohibited.”
The College can not protect its students from State and Federal drug abuse laws and has a policy of full cooperation with law enforcement agencies.
A College employee or student under the influence of drugs is not to report to work or school.
A student who is formally charged by a prosecuting authority with a drug violation, may, following an administrative hearing, be suspended until the case is adjudicated. A student in this situation is subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from the College. An employee in this situation is also subject to disciplinary action including suspension without pay or dismissal.
Are there College programs to inform about drug and alcohol abuse?
Miami Dade College has established a Drug Free Campus Program brochure that describes the College's policy regarding the possession, use, and sale of illegal drugs and alcohol, and provides information on drug and alcohol abuse counseling programs. Referral and counseling services are available to students and employees of the College. Students and employees interested in such services should contact the Student Services Office and Human Resources offices at their campus for information.
What is the College policy regarding campus sexual assault programs to prevent sex offenses?
The College will make available and distribute to its students and employees, information on sexual assault awareness and prevention.
In addition, the College will distribute a series of posters designed to educate its students and employees about sexual assault awareness and prevention. This material will be posted in buildings across the campuses and will be updated periodically.
Programs and seminars designed to provide sexual assault awareness and prevention information to the students, employees, parents and friends will also be offered from time to time at locations to be designated by College personnel.
Procedures to follow when a sex offense occursIn the event you have been sexually assaulted, follow these steps:
- As soon as possible after the assault has occurred, contact the Campus Security Office. Security personnel will notify local police authorities upon the request of the victim. Victims, of course, may request anonymity to the extent practicable and permitted by law.
- Because physical evidence is of utmost importance to help establish proof of criminal assault and/or identify a perpetrator:
- Do not change your clothing.
- Do not clean your body or clothing.
- Do not disturb or alter the crime scene or area.
- You will be advised to go to the rape treatment center at Jackson Memorial Hospital for a medical examination and treatment of physical injuries. Emotional counseling is available at the Rape Treatment Center or you may choose to see a private counselor.
- Upon request, all victims of sexual assault will be provided the opportunity to change their academic schedule.
What are the procedures for campus disciplinary action when a sex offense occurs?
In the case of on-campus disciplinary action regarding an alleged assault, the accuser and the accused are entitled to the same opportunities to have others present during a campus disciplinary proceeding. Both the accuser and the accused will be informed of the outcome of any campus disciplinary proceedings brought alleging a sexual assault. (For actual student disciplinary procedures and sanctions, see the Students’ Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.)
What are the procedures for general campus disciplinary action?
The College may disclose to the victim of any crime of violence, the results of any disciplinary proceedings conducted against the perpetrator. A crime of violence is defined as:
- an offense that has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person or property of another, or
- any other offense that is a felony and that, by its nature involves a substantial risk that physical force against the person or property of another may be used in the course of committing the offense. (For actual student disciplinary procedures and sanctions, see the Students' Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.