Annual Campus Crime Policies and Information
and the Annual Fire Safety Report

• A. Department of Public Safety
• B. Reporting Crimes on Campus
• C. Security of Campus Facilities
• D. Campus Law Enforcement
• E. Security Awareness Programs
• F. Sexual Assault Policy and Programs
• G. Policy Regarding Use of Illegal Drugs and Alcohol
• H. Fire Safety Report

Campus Security Act Tables

• A: Controlled Substances - Uses & Effects
• B: Federal Tracking Penalties - Marijuana and Penalties for Possession
• C: Penalties under Iowa Law for Manufacturing, Delivering, or Possessing with the Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, a Counterfeit Substance or a Simulated Controlled Substance
• D: Summary of Penalties for Various Offense Categories
• E: Crimes on University Property and in Non-Campus Reporting Zones

A. Department of Public Safety

UI Police officers are trained and certified by the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy and have full arrest powers.  In July, 2009, the Department of Public Safety had a total of 39 sworn officers, including 17 patrol officers, one bomb detection K-9, four captains, and six lieutenants in the Uniformed Police Division.  One lieutenant and three investigators constitute the Investigative Division.  As part of the Security Division, the Department of Public Safety employs 154 full-time security guards and 12 part-time student guards during the fall and spring semesters.  The full-time security guards receive annual training in CPR and fire suppression as well as instruction on University of Iowa Rules and Regulations. Full-time security guards receive on the job training from designated trainers.  The Security Division members are required to have extensive knowledge of academic buildings and residence halls located on University of Iowa property.

The Department of Public Safety supplements the other divisions by employing seven full-time Public Safety Dispatchers. Dispatchers are required to become state certified within their first year of employment. They are required to operate the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), Iowa On-Line Warrants and Articles (IOWA) computer systems, and attend a 40 hour training course at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy. Dispatchers routinely monitor over 250 fire and burglar alarm accounts, multiple agency radio frequencies, 911 emergency calls, and calls for service using a Computer Aided Dispatching (CAD) system.  Public Safety also employs University of Iowa students as part-time dispatchers, who are required to meet the same employment standards as full-time dispatchers.

In addition to the three divisions, two important services provided by Public Safety include Crime Prevention and Fire Safety.

CRIME PREVENTION: The UI Police Crime Prevention Specialist (CPS) is available to all faculty, staff and students. The CPS is trained in basic and advanced crime prevention with an emphasis on campus crime prevention. Educational presentations are available upon request at no cost. Presentations and informational materials include: alcohol awareness, club drug information, personal safety and self-protection, dealing with disruptive persons, identity theft information, Refuse to be a Victim, counterfeit currency detection, and Project ID designed to discourage theft and promote registration of student owned valuables. The CPS publishes the Crime Prevention Newsletter six times a year located on the Public Safety website (www.uiowa.edu/~pubsfty/). For these and other crime prevention services please contact the CPS at 335-5043.

FIRE SAFETY: The Fire Safety and Security Coordinator (FSSC) maintains a comprehensive university fire inspection and prevention program, acts as the university liaison with state and local fire and emergency management officials, assists with fire safety inspections of university buildings, enforces fire safety and emergency management directives, collects and prepares related documentation for dissemination to key personnel, researches and enforces all applicable codes, standards, and laws to ensure that the university is in compliance and serves as a member of the Fire Safety Advisory Group. For fire safety related information please contact the FSSC at 335-5389.

B. Reporting Crimes

Importance of Reporting

All local police departments remain in operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This includes the University of Iowa Police, the Iowa City Police Department, the Coralville Police Department, and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. While police officers are trained to deter crime for the protection of the general public, crime prevention cannot take place without assistance from the greater community. As citizens of the community, all University students, faculty, administrators, and staff are urged to participate actively in the criminal prevention process. This includes the prompt reporting of crimes and suspicious behavior as well as cooperating with authorities during the investigation and prosecution of crimes, whether minor or serious infractions.

Crime Prevention

The Department of Public Safety maintains a full-time Crime Prevention Specialist. This specialist maintains a comprehensive crime prevention program that includes presentations, security audits, research, and crime prevention literature.

Reporting Policies

In order to maintain a safe environment for work and learning, the University supports a fully staffed professional police agency on campus, provides facilities for storing criminal information, and stations monitors in critical areas of campus. Because the cooperation of ordinary citizens is also essential to the prompt and accurate reporting of crimes, faculty, students, and staff members are instructed to contact the Department of Public Safety in the event they receive criminal or emergency information.

Confidential Reports and the Procedure for Preparing the Annual Statistics

The Department of Public Safety accepts confidential crime reports for inclusion in the annual disclosure of crime statistics. A confidential reporting form entitled “silent witness” is available on the Public Safety website http://www.uiowa.edu/~pubsfty/. Confidential reporting forms are also available at the University Counseling Services (UCS) and at the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Faculty and Staff Services. Information about the Department of Public Safety and crime reporting is distributed at the UCS and EAP, and counselors there encourage crime victims to report crimes to local law enforcement officials for inclusion in the annual crime statistics.

While the proper reporting channel is direct communication with a law enforcement agency, University administrators affiliated with non-police departments also receive reports of crimes (see “Non-Criminal Investigations” below). The list of titles of administrators who receive crime reports includes the Vice President for Student Services and the Senior Vice President for Finance & Operations and Treasurer. In preparing the annual security report, University officials gather campus crime data from:

• The Office of the Vice President for Student Services
• The Office of the Senior Vice President for Finance & Operations and Treasurer
• University of Iowa Department of Public Safety
• Equal Opportunity and Development
• Sexual Misconduct Response Coordinator
• Department of Athletics
• UIHC Safety and Security

The Iowa City Police Department and the Office of Student Life provide information about non-campus crimes in Iowa City included in the annual crime statistics.

Emergencies

In the event of an emergency, the police should be contacted immediately, particularly in the case of fire and medical emergencies. In order to facilitate a prompt response in emergency situations, 911 telephone service is in effect for the entire county. Off-campus 911 calls are routed automatically to the appropriate police authority (the Department of Public Safety, Iowa City Police, Coralville Police, or the Johnson County Sheriff). All UI Police officers are certified to administer emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and are trained in the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) which are carried in their marked police vehicles.

Emergency Telephones

Twenty-three outdoor telephones with a direct line to University Public Safety and marked “Emergency” are located at critical points on University-owned property. In addition, several indoor telephones are available for emergency use, including one located in the women’s locker room at the Fieldhouse. Visitors to campus are encouraged to use the telephones which have been installed in each residence hall near the main entrances and at various points in University Hospitals & Clinics.

Non-Emergency Situations

Reports should be directed to the respective police agency that has authority to file criminal charges in the geographic area in which the crime was committed.

University-owned property includes all residence halls, all academic buildings, University Hospitals & Clinics, recreation facilities, parking lots located near these buildings, and the Oakdale Campus. Calls should be directed to the University of Iowa Department of Public Safety. In private dwellings in Iowa City, such as fraternity and sorority chapter houses, reports of crimes should be directed to the Iowa City Police Department. If there is any question as to which police agency has jurisdiction, students, staff, and faculty members should call the Department of Public Safety.

Public Safety’s Response to Criminal Reports

In the Department of Public Safety, a record is maintained of every call received by the dispatcher. In cases where on-going criminal activity is reported, the supervisor on duty assigns patrol officers to the scene. If necessary, DPS administration assigns staff investigators to conduct necessary follow-up investigations. When there is a reasonable basis to believe that a known individual has committed a crime on campus, the person is apprehended by a University of Iowa police officer, charged by the arresting officer, and referred to the Johnson County Attorney for prosecution. In cases where incarceration is warranted, persons arrested are taken to the Johnson County Jail immediately following the arrest and booked.

Criminal Data Policies

All University police officers and investigators are required to submit investigation reports and have received specific training in documenting crimes. The DPS administration monitors the department’s response to reports. Information derived from reports is maintained in a written file and on computer by full-time records personnel, who issue daily summaries of criminal incidents which occur on University property to University departments.

Administrative Investigations

In many cases where a University student, faculty, or staff member is charged with a crime, particularly in the case of incidents that occur on University property, a follow-up investigation is conducted by University officials. When the criminal perpetrator is a student, disciplinary review is undertaken by the vice president for student services (hereinafter, “vice president”). When academic instructors have violated criminal laws, disciplinary review is the responsibility of the Provost. When other staff members are charged with criminal activity, disciplinary review is the responsibility of the Vice President for Finance & Operations and the employment department.

Additional Services Provided

In response to reports of a fire or medical emergency, the Department of Public Safety notifies the Iowa City dispatcher for fire fighters and ambulance service. Emergency medical care is provided at all hours at University Hospitals & Clinics. The University provides or otherwise supports post-emergency and post-crime counseling services for students, staff, and faculty members. Among the departments which provide such services are University Counseling Services, the Rape Victim Advocacy Program, Faculty & Staff Support Services, Student Health, and University Hospitals & Clinics. In addition, the Johnson County Attorney’s Office maintains a full-time Victim Witness Coordinator, who assists students, staff, faculty, and other citizens who are crime victims during and after the criminal prosecution.

C. Security of Campus Facilities

Access to University Buildings

As a public institution of higher learning, The University of Iowa welcomes anyone interested in utilizing the wide range of educational facilities on campus. For security reasons, however, not all University buildings are open to the public. University residence halls are private residences, and at certain hours of the night a person must be a guest of a resident in order to enter any area of a residence hall building where residents are housed. Only authorized personnel are permitted in many areas of University Hospitals & Clinics. Most buildings open to the public are closed and locked after regular business hours.

Personal Property Security

Facilities for securing the personal property of students, staff, faculty, and visitors are provided in or near many campus buildings. Examples include lockers in the Field House recreation building; lockers in various libraries; seven monitored parking ramps; gate-locked parking lots; and bicycle racks across the campus. In addition, the University provides housing on University property for more than six thousand students.

Housing on Private Property, Including Student Organization Housing

Since private housing property is located within the geographic jurisdiction of the Iowa City Police and Coralville Police Departments, student-occupied dwelling units located on non-University property are neither secured nor monitored by the Department of Public Safety.  All recognized student organizations which provide housing facilities are Greek-letter associations responsible to the Pan-Hellenic Council, the Inter-Fraternity Council, or an academic college.  Greek-letter chapter houses are managed by private housing corporations consisting of student members, chapter alumni, and professional housing managers.  Security procedures may vary from chapter house to chapter house.  To obtain information about the security procedures in place at a particular chapter house, interested students should consult with the executive officers or the housing board of the student organization.

Monitoring University Property

Sworn police officers of the University Department of Public Safety patrol University-owned property 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on foot, on bicycles, and in squad cars. The frequency and intensity of the patrols increases during night-time hours. Security guards trained by the University Department of Public Safety are assigned to monitor specific buildings or areas at night. Many campus pathways remain lighted throughout the night. As part of their surveillance responsibilities, security officers report burned-out lights and other potentially dangerous situations. Maintenance crew members routinely replace lights, trim shrubbery, and remove snow, ice, and other debris from pathways. In addition to the supervision provided by the Department of Public Safety, University parking lots are patrolled five days a week by part-time and full-time employees trained and supervised by the Parking and Transportation Department.

Access to Academic Buildings

The Department of Public Safety routinely checks University buildings that are closed during non-business hours to ensure they remain locked. Each building has a scheduled time to be secured and only authorized staff members are issued keys to secured buildings. All indoor maintenance personnel wear uniform shirts with Facilities Management insignia for identification purposes, and all students and employees are issued University identification cards. In order to monitor access during secured hours, the entrances of many buildings are lighted.

Access to Residence Hall Buildings

For security purposes, the outside building doors to every residence hall are locked from midnight to 6:00 a.m. 7 days a week. Each resident is issued a key to his or her building as well as his or her room and is advised to keep the room door locked at all hours of the day. During secured hours, a non-resident may only enter the building if he or she is a guest of a resident and enters through the main entrance. Residents are held responsible for the conduct of their guests, and non-residents found in a residence hall during secured hours in violation of this rule are subject to University discipline and arrest for criminal trespass. At least one trained staff member is on duty 24 hours a day. Depending upon the rules of each particular floor, visitation by members of the opposite sex may be limited to certain hours of the day.

Security Precautions for University Apartments

Adult residents of University Apartments (including units in Hawkeye Court and Hawkeye Drive) are issued keys to their respective apartments and are advised to keep their doors locked at all hours of the day. In addition to a smoke detector and fire extinguisher, every University Apartment unit is equipped with a telephone, and important information, such as emergency and police phone numbers, is provided in writing. During daytime hours on weekdays, staff members are on duty in the University Apartments Office. During the night, officers from the University Department of Public Safety routinely conduct car patrols of Hawkeye Court and Hawkeye Drive.

Policy for Residents Reported as Missing

Of utmost concern to the University of Iowa is the safety of our campus residents.  Because Iowa City is a relatively safe community, residents are not required to check out at the front desk or with a University official before exiting University housing. 

Occasionally, a family member will have difficulty locating a student.  A resident’s absence from a dormitory building or a University-owned student apartment is not usually considered an emergency, as residents attend classes and participate in University functions outside University housing.  To facilitate routine communication between family members and students in non-emergency situations, the Housing Department advises students to check their e-mail regularly and utilize cell phones. 

During the move-in process, are encouraged to identify a confidential contact who may know the student’s whereabouts or how to contact the student in the event others may report the student as unaccounted for or missing.  Students are encouraged to keep their “confidentiality cards”, and the contact information contained therein, up to date throughout the year.  Students who live in dormitories can file or update confidentiality cards with the assistance of the front desk staff at the student’s residence hall.  Move-in residents who are not yet 18 years of age will be notified that the institution is required by federal law to notify the resident’s custodial parent or guardian within 24 hours after the student is determined to be missing. 

Persons concerned about the well-being of a residence hall resident are urged to contact the 24-hour desk in the resident’s building facility, or University Police at any time (335-5022).  Phone numbers for the University Housing Administration office, as well as for the 24-hour residence hall desks, are posted on the Residence Life website.  http://housing.uiowa.edu/contactus.htm
 

When a caller reports that a resident is missing or is suspected of being missing, staff will make a record of the call with the name and number of the caller.  The record shall indicate the relationship between the caller and the resident, as well as the last time and place the caller saw or heard from the student.  Concerned callers are encouraged to share any relevant information about the student’s relationships, health, history, or overall well-being that the caller feels may be relevant to locating the absent resident.  The caller will also be advised to contact the University Police dispatcher immediately if they have not already done so and report the same information to the police dispatcher.  If a report of a potentially missing student is received by a clerk at a 24-hour residence hall desk, the clerk shall notify a full time professional building staff member about the call as soon as possible.  A similar procedure will be followed for walk-up contacts and e-mail reports. 

With the information known at the time, University staff will take appropriate action to investigate the report and determine whether the situation rises to the level of an emergency, including (but not necessarily limited to) visiting the room where the resident lives.  Depending on the circumstances, additional appropriate steps may include attempts to contact the potentially missing resident’s roommate or friends to ascertain the resident’s whereabouts, contacting the student’s workplace, checking access card or meal plan usage if possible, or attempts to contact the missing student via electronic mail, cellular phone, and/or room phone. 

When a potentially missing resident is located, callers who reported the resident missing will be notified in a timely manner.  If the resident in question has not been located within 24 hours of the University’s receipt of notice that the resident may be missing, University staff will communicate that information to University Police. 

In cases where the missing resident is 18 years or older, University Police shall determine within a 24-hour period after police receive the call whether the report rises to the level of a police emergency.  A decision to initiate emergency contact procedures will be made by University Police based upon the information known at the time.  Persons contacted by University Police as part of the emergency notification process will include the individual(s) listed on the confidentiality card filled out earlier by the resident during the move-in process, but others may also be contacted as permitted by state and federal law.  In those cases where the resident is not yet 18 years of age, University Police will contact the minor resident’s parent or guardian no later than 24 hours after the time the student is determined to be missing. 

Special Security Precautions in University Hospitals & Clinics

The University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics' Department of Safety and Security operates an in-house safety and security service with an emphasis on personal safety and fire safety as well as security. The UIHC Safety and Security Department staff do not have arrest powers but work in cooperation with the Department of Public Safety, the authorized law enforcement agency for the UIHC. In order to maintain the physical security of UIHC, the Safety and Security Department patrols the hospitals and clinics, secures doors, monitors a safety surveillance closed-circuit television system, and responds to requests by patients, visitors, and staff. Reports of serious criminal activity are routed directly to the Department of Public Safety. In cases of minor criminal activity, copies of Safety and Security reports are sent to the Department of Public Safety for consideration and possible follow-up.

D. Campus Law Enforcement

Arrest Authority

All sworn police officers in the Department of Public Safety are authorized to apprehend crime suspects and formally charge persons with violating state and local criminal laws. Officers with this power of arrest include the director, associate directors, captains, lieutenants, and uniformed police officers. Sworn officers associated with the Iowa City Police Department or other law enforcement agencies are called upon by the University from time to time to assist the Department of Public Safety in securing University-owned property. Security guards and other University security personnel are trained to report observed criminal activity on campus.

Officer Training

All police officers in the Department of Public Safety are sworn police officers who have satisfied state mandated training and continuing education requirements. Public Safety security guards and hospital security officers receive in-service training to assist the sworn officers in securing buildings, responding to reports, and identifying criminal violators.

Interagency Relationships

As a recognized police agency, the Department of Public Safety is part of the state criminal law enforcement network. This ensures that the University has access to intrastate and interstate criminal data. In the process of monitoring University property and responding to reports from the general public, the Department of Public Safety maintains regular communication with the Iowa City Police Department, which has jurisdiction over property contiguous to campus and apartments and other individual dwelling units in Iowa City. The University also works closely with the police department of Coralville, where many students reside; the Johnson County Sheriff, who oversees jail operations; and the State Department of Criminal Investigation, which maintains an office in Cedar Rapids. The Director of the Department of Public Safety or his designee regularly meets with representatives from all law enforcement agencies within Johnson County and the county attorney’s office in order to review patterns of criminal activity in Johnson County and discuss crime prevention issues. The University of Iowa does not have standing agreements with other law enforcement agencies for the investigation of alleged criminal offenses.

Firearms

Faculty, staff, students and visitors are not allowed to bring weapons on campus.

Off-Campus Student Organization Housing

It is the responsibility of every recognized student organization to ensure that all federal, state, and local laws are observed at activities sponsored by the organization. Crimes that occur in housing units maintained by officially recognized student organizations on non-University property in Iowa City are reported to the Iowa City Police Department, which shares with the University its records of crime reports occurring in or near fraternity and sorority housing units. The Office of the Vice President for Student Services and Dean of Students (hereinafter, “Office of the Vice President”), in cooperation with the Iowa City Police Department and the University Department of Public Safety, periodically reviews Iowa City Police crime reports in order to ascertain the number and type of reported crimes which occur on property owned or controlled by recognized student organizations. In cases where a student’s conduct on fraternity or sorority property violates University regulations, appropriate disciplinary action will be initiated by the Office of the Vice President.

E. Security Awareness Programs

General Purpose

The University undertakes programs designed to maintain an awareness in the subject of safety and encourages students, staff, and faculty to take an active role in the deterrence of crime. Security awareness is accomplished through a variety of means. The University disseminates general and specific information in writing to the University community and presents a variety of programs tailored to the interests and particular needs of the various constituencies on campus. These programs include opportunities for students, staff, and faculty to meet and discuss crime issues with the Crime Prevention Specialist in the Department of Public Safety.

General Sources of Information & Timely Reports Policy

Under state law, certain police information is public, including the date, time, specific location, and immediate facts of a crime and the name and address of a person arrested and the criminal charge. In order to learn the most current crime information, members of the University community are encouraged to read the daily police arrest reports in the Daily Iowan or Iowa City Press-Citizen. The Department of Public Safety releases a daily report and arrest log through their web site at http://www.uiowa.edu/~pubsfty/reports.htm.   In addition to releasing a daily report and arrest log, the Department of Public Safety issues timely reports of crimes considered to be a threat to students and employees which are reported to local police agencies.

Emergency Response and Evacuation Procedures

The University of Iowa provides a comprehensive, campus-wide system of emergency response through both the “Hawk Alert” system and the Outdoor Warning system.
The Hawk Alert System is used to notify the campus community of threats to physical safety in emergency situations (tornado, violence, hazardous material incident, and so on). Hawk Alert allows UI administrators to send recorded and/or electronic emergency messages (“Hawk Alerts”) to UI students, faculty, and staff by mobile phone, home phone, office phone, and e-mail (all at once), using contact information from the University’s Enterprise Directory (updated via ISIS or Employee Self Service). The entire campus community can be notified in about 15 minutes.

The Outdoor Warning system is comprised of siren towers located throughout the University campus. Equipped with multiple sirens and equipment for both automated and live voice broadcast, the Outdoor Warning system permits University of Iowa officials to provide crucial information about emergencies to the campus community.
 
When a significant health or safety emergency or some other dangerous situation occurs on campus, campus community members are immediately notified once the threat to students or employees has been confirmed.  Depending on the nature of the emergency, every employee and student may be contacted.  Notification messages are tailored to ensure the scope and content of the message does not compromise Public Safety efforts to assist victims or to contain, respond to, or otherwise mitigate the emergency.

As emergency situations are dynamic, individuals seeking confirmation of an emergency situation or having questions regarding any emergency notification should contact the Director of the Department of Public Safety at the University of Iowa.  In those cases where family members can assist in responding to the emergency, parents of students receive notice following an emergency situation.

The Director of the University of Iowa Department of Public Safety, as well as the Associate Directors, in consultation with the University’s Critical Incident Management Team, confirm the emergency, determine the content of any message to the campus community, and issue appropriate warning(s) as quickly as possible in response to an emergency situation.  These individuals will determine which University employees and students will be notified and which buildings, if any, will be evacuated.  University policy also permits shift commanders in the Department of Public Safety to confirm and issue warnings in emergency situations.  The Directors, Assistant Directors, and shift commanders of the Department of Public Safety are peace officers certified by the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, and must undergo annual law enforcement training in order to maintain certification. 

Dispatchers within the Department of Public Safety also assist with the issuance of warning messages.  Dispatchers receive formal training once a semester to issue messages, and they frequently test the message system throughout the year.
At least once a year, the University tests the emergency response and evacuation procedures at a time when most of the students, faculty, and staff are expected to be present on campus.  Both Hawk Alert and the UI Outdoor Warning systems are tested, usually at the beginning of the fall semester or coinciding with monthly statewide tornado drills.  Faculty, staff and students will receive emails and press releases prior to all tests of the Hawk Alert system.

In the 2008-2009 school year, the Hawk Alert and/or Outdoor Warning systems were formally tested on the following dates and times

• April 8th, 2009 at 10.a.m.
• February 1st, 2009 at 9 a.m.
• September 24th, 2008 at 9.a.m.
  

Information to Specific Constituencies

Depending upon the frequency and nature of criminal threats reported to the local police, warning statements may be issued to specific University constituencies in combination with statements released by the Department of Public Safety. Residence hall residents receive security statements from the Director of University Housing and other staff members; residents of Family Housing receive information from the Family Housing Manager in the newsletter The Villager; hospital employees receive information from the Hospital Safety and Security Department in Compass and Pacemaker; the semi-weekly news bulletin FYI contains security statements issued to all faculty and staff members; and parents of University students receive a special security edition of Parent Times.

Presentations

Crime prevention programs are presented periodically during the academic year by University personnel and student leaders. During orientation, new students are informed of services offered by the Department of Public Safety. A common theme of all awareness programs is student and staff responsibility for their own safety and the security of others. DPS employs a full time Crime Prevention Specialist to coordinate campus-wide prevention efforts and assist individual departments on a case-by-case basis. In addition to programs presented by officers of the Department of Public Safety, Student Services staff provide crime prevention information to undergraduate students. In addition, University departments such as the Women’s Resource and Action Center and the Rape Victim Advocacy Program present a variety of programs, many of which are related to personal safety.

Examples of Programming Offered

Due to the size of the University and the changing calendar of campus activities over the course of a year, the number of security programs presented varies month to month. Among the prevention programs regularly offered are date rape awareness workshops in the residence halls and Greek system; small-group discussion in freshman orientation; shoplifting awareness training for IMU Book Store employees; Cambus late-night and SafeRide service; fire drills in the residence halls conducted by the Iowa City Fire Department; and the Whistlestop and RAD self-defense program for women and men. September is Security Awareness Month in the residence halls, during which time formal and informal programming is provided to residents on topics related to crime prevention.

Information on Sex Offenders

Iowa law requires a person who has been convicted of a sex offense crime anywhere to register with the sheriff in the county in which they reside, and, if the person attends or works for an institution of higher education, register with the sheriff in the county in which the institution is located. Information about sex offenders is maintained by the Iowa Department of Public Safety and can be accessed at http://www.iowasexoffender.com. Locally, a public list of registrants containing photos, descriptions, and last known addresses of such individuals is available at the Johnson County Sheriff’s office (356-6020). For additional assistance, contact the UI Department of Public Safety at 335-5022.

F. Sexual Assault Policy and Programs

The University’s detailed policy regarding sexual assault and resources available to victims of sexual assault can be found in the University Operations Manual: http://www.uiowa.edu/~our/opmanual/iv/02.htm
The University of Iowa prohibits sexual assault in any form.  Students should be able to live, study, and work in an environment free of sexual assault. 

The University is committed to fostering a campus environment that both promotes and expedites prompt reporting of sexual assault and timely and fair adjudication of sexual assault cases.  The University’s procedures are designed to protect the rights, needs, and privacy of the student making a University complaint, as well as the rights of students accused of sexual assault.  Among other things, these procedures provide the same opportunities to have others present during a disciplinary proceeding to both the individual accused of sexual assault and to the individual reporting the sexual assault.

Sexual assault allegations made against students are adjudicated through an evidentiary hearing conducted by administrative hearing officers in accordance with the Judicial Procedure for Allegations of Sexual Misconduct.     http://student-services.uiowa.edu/students/policies/2b1.php  A University of Iowa student who is found guilty of sexual assault in violation of University policy is ordinarily suspended or expelled from the University.  In accordance with the law, the individual accused of sexual assault and the individual reporting the sexual assault will be informed of the outcome of any University disciplinary proceeding. 
For victims of sexual assault, the University provides a variety of confidential and free services, including advocacy and counseling, and makes reasonable adjustments to alleviate related problems with academic class schedules and housing arrangements

Each year, a copy of this policy is mailed to every student and employee, along with the Code of Student Life, the Sexual Harassment Policy, the Violence Policy, and the Campus Security Statement. Throughout the academic year, members of the University community are invited to attend a variety of extracurricular programs presented on campus.  Such programs may include sexual harassment seminars conducted by the Office of Equal Opportunity & Diversity; RAD (Rape Aggression Defense) classes taught by UI police officers; healthy relationship and communication workshops organized and conducted by students; professional training on sexual assault issues provided for University staff by RVAP; NITE RIDE, a fixed area ride service for females, and Saferide, a late-night fixed route transportation service offered by the Cambus Transit System.

G. Policy Regarding Use of Illegal Drugs and Alcohol

The Health Risks Associated with the Use of Illegal Drugs and Alcohol

Student use of marijuana, LSD, amphetamines, sedatives, tranquilizers, or other dangerous drugs or controlled substances (as defined by law) is a matter of concern to this educational institution. The University is also concerned about student abuse of alcohol.

Succeeding at the University requires a balanced, healthy lifestyle. Misuse of alcohol and the use of other drugs can interfere with or prolong a student’s academic career as well as cause legal, social, financial, and health problems. Alcohol and other drug-related accidents are the number one cause of death of people age 18-24 years old. As an educational institution, the University endeavors to protect and assist students by providing reliable information about the hazards of illegal drugs and alcohol.

Health risks include, but are not limited to, adverse modification of one or more body systems, such as the nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, muscular, endocrine, and central nervous systems; toxic, allergic, or other serious reaction; unfavorable mood alteration, and addiction. Physiological and psychological dependency, which manifests itself in a preoccupation with acquiring and using one or more drugs, may cause severe emotional and physical injury.

Alcohol consumption causes a number of marked changes in behavior. Even low doses significantly impair the judgment and coordination required to drive a car safely, increasing the likelihood that the driver will be involved in an accident. Moderate to high doses of alcohol cause marked impairments in higher mental functions, severely altering a person’s ability to learn and remember information. Very high doses cause respiratory depression and death. If combined with other depressants of the central nervous system, much lower doses of alcohol will produce the effects just described.

Common side-effects of alcohol consumption include digestive complaints and sleep problems and may adversely affect a student’s academic performance. Because alcohol increases aggression, excessive consumption may lead to fighting, vandalism, criminal mischief, and verbal abuse. Alcohol abuse often plays a role in unwanted pregnancies and acquaintance rape. University of Iowa students who consume excessive amounts of alcohol have reported suffering from hangovers, missing class and/or work, and engaging in unintended or regretted sexual intercourse as a result of drinking alcohol.

Repeated use of alcohol can lead to dependence. Sudden cessation of alcohol intake is likely to produce withdrawal symptoms, including severe anxiety, tremors, hallucinations, and convulsions. Alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening. Long-term consumption of large quantities of alcohol, particularly when combined with poor nutrition, can also lead to permanent damage to vital organs such as the brain and the liver.

The health risks associated with specific narcotics, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and cannabis (including marijuana) are explained in Table A.

Alcohol and Other Drug Education Services Available to Students

The University of Iowa offers a range of services for persons who want to learn more about alcohol and other drugs, are concerned about their own or someone else’s substance abuse, or are recovering from substance abuse problems. More specific information about drugs and drug abuse is available through Student Health Service and the University Counseling Service. Any discussions between individuals and the professional staffs in these offices are treated as confidential information.

To assist students whose substance-related behavior may be causing legal, psychological, physical, or social problems, or jeopardizing their student status, the University maintains the student Substance Assistance Program, a component of Student Health Service. Services include substance abuse assessment and referral, outreach, education, short-term outpatient treatment, and recovery support groups. Students with concerns or questions are encouraged to contact Health Iowa at 335-8392 and talk with a Counselor or Health Educator.

Alcoholic Beverages

Alcoholic beverages may not be consumed, possessed, distributed, or sold on campus without specific authorization. Alcoholic beverages may not be served or consumed by students on campus except as hereafter provided.

Students who are 21 years old may purchase and consume alcoholic beverages in the Iowa Memorial Union within restricted areas described in the Iowa Memorial Union Alcohol Beverage Service Policy. Restrictions on consumption and possession of alcoholic beverages in University residence halls and responsibilities associated with its possession and consumption are contained in the Residence Hall Guidebook and must be observed.

A college or department may serve alcoholic beverages on campus only in accordance with the Iowa Memorial Union Alcohol Beverage Service Policy and with the permission of the Office of the Vice President for Student Services and Dean of Students (hereinafter, “Office of the Vice President”).

Alcoholic beverages may not be purchased with mandatory student fees or with recognized student organization funds. In addition, alcoholic beverages may not be purchased or served at University events sponsored or sanctioned by a recognized student organization or student government body, except in accordance with the Iowa Memorial Union Alcohol Beverage Service Policy, or with special permission from the vice president for student services (hereinafter, “vice president”). This includes events on campus as well as off campus. For purposes of this policy, any event held on property owned or controlled by a recognized student organization is considered to be an event sponsored by the organization. Recognized student organizations which own, lease, or otherwise control private property are responsible for ensuring that federal, state and local laws are observed at all times on their property.

Disciplinary Action

The University will not tolerate the use of drugs that are illegal. Students are expected to abide by the laws concerning controlled substances and alcoholic beverages. Students in violation of state or federal laws may face criminal prosecution, and the University will discipline students who possess or use illegal drugs or alcohol on campus or as part of any other activities of the University. Sanctions which may be imposed for possession or use of alcohol and other drugs in violation of the Code of Student Life include a written warning, probation, mandatory substance abuse evaluation, suspension, or expulsion. Recognized student organizations which fail to comply with University regulations governing alcohol and other drugs may be disciplined by an appropriate governing body. In addition, the vice president may revoke their University recognition.

Illegal drug trafficking is viewed as a clear and present danger to the University community. Any student found to have sold, manufactured, distributed, or administered illegal drugs may be suspended or expelled (See Parts A and B above, Code of Student Life and Judicial Procedure for Alleged Violations of the Code of Student Life).  Students who violate the rights of others while under the influence of alcohol or drugs face serious disciplinary action up to and including suspension or expulsion.

The sale, manufacture, distribution, or administration of illegal drugs is viewed as a clear and present danger to the University community. Students who violate the rights of others while under the influence of alcohol or drugs face more serious disciplinary action up to and including suspension or expulsion.

In addition to disciplinary sanctions, substance abuse counseling is mandatory for violators.  Students found to have violated this policy or who harm themselves or others while under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol will be required to undergo a substance abuse evaluation and attend all education or treatment programs recommended as a result of the evaluation in order to re-enroll.  The University may require a student recommended for inpatient treatment to enter a treatment program immediately in lieu of attending classes until the treatment is completed. 

Reporting Drug Violations

Reports of illegal drug use on campus should be directed to the Department of Public Safety. Drug violations which occur off campus are investigated by the law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction in which the alleged illegal activity occurred. In the residence halls, residence hall staff members will investigate reports of drug use and may report to the Department of Public Safety. The Department of Public Safety, the Office of the Vice President, and University Housing publish a summary of drug-related complaints in their periodic reports.

Applicable Legal Sanctions

Both state and federal laws prohibit distribution of, manufacture of, or possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance or a counterfeit controlled substance. State penalties range from 5 years to life confinement and a fine of $1,000 to $1,000,000, depending upon the type and quantity of drug involved. Conviction may also result in the loss of state and federal benefits, such as grants, schools loan, or work assistance, during the time periods required by federal law. Specific drugs, amounts, and penalties are described in Iowa Code § 124 and summarized in Table C.

Maximum federal penalties range from 1 year confinement to life imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 to $4,000,000, depending upon the type and quantity of drug involved. Specific drugs, amounts, and penalties are described in Table B. State and federal legal sanctions are subject to change by the General Assembly and Congress, respectively.

Penalty Enhancement

The maximum term and fine increase significantly if state or federal penalty enhancement rules apply. Factors which raise maximum penalties under Federal penalty enhancement rules include death or serious bodily injury; prior drug conviction; placing at risk or distributing a drug to a person under 21 years old; using a person under 18 years of age to assist in the drug violation; and distributing or manufacturing a drug within 1,000 feet of school property, including the University of Iowa campus. Penalty enhancement rules apply to defendants age 18 years or older. Factors which raise maximum penalties under state penalty enhancement rules include using firearms or dangerous weapons in the commission of the offense; distributing or possessing with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of school, public pool, or recreation center.

Possession

Both state and federal laws prohibit possession of a controlled substance. The maximum state and federal penalty for possession is confinement for 1 year and a fine of $1,500. The maximum term and fine increase significantly in the event that state or federal penalty enhancement rules apply. A person in possession of a small amount of a controlled substance for personal use may be assessed a civil fine up to $10,000 in addition to any criminal fine.

• View related tables and charts at the table of contents under "VI. Tables."
  
  

Driving While Intoxicated

Under state law, a person found guilty of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or of having an alcohol concentration of .08% or higher, or of having any amount of a controlled substance in the person's blood or urine, shall be imprisoned for not less than 48 hours and fined not less than $1,000 for the first offense. For the second OWI offense the minimum period of confinement is 7 days and a fine of not less than $1,500. The minimum period of confinement for the third or subsequent OWI conviction is 30 days, and could be up to 5 years, with a fine of not less than $2,500 and up to $7,500.

If a person under 21 years of age is operating a motor vehicle with an alcohol concentration of .02% or greater, the person's driver's license will be revoked for at least 60 days, even if the person is not legally intoxicated. If a person is operating while intoxicated, the person's driver's license will be revoked for at least 180 days.

Alcohol-Related Offenses

The drinking age in Iowa is 21. State law prohibits:

1. purchase or possession of alcohol under the drinking age;
2. giving or selling alcohol to a person under the drinking age;
3. driving a motor vehicle with an open container of alcohol in the passenger compartment;
4. giving or selling alcohol to an intoxicated person; and
5. public intoxication.

6. Consumption of an alcoholic beverage in a public place;
7. Possession of an unsealed receptacle containing an alcoholic beverage in a public place.

H. Fire Safety Report

Statistics for each on-campus housing facility, during the most recent calendar years for which data are available, concerning each of the following:

Descriptions of each on-campus student housing facility fire safety and sprinkler system

Key Notes

• Fire Resistive Construction – constructed of materials that prevents or retards the passage of excessive heat, hot gases and flames.  Examples – poured concrete, treated steel frame, layered dry wall with metal framing
• Ordinary Construction - constructed of materials allowed by code, but when exposed to excessive heat or flame will burn.  Examples – wood frame, wood frame with lath plaster
• Intelligent fire alarm system – a system where individual detectors and devices have direct communication with the building fire alarm panel.  These systems are monitored “off-site” by our campus police communications center.
• Zoned fire alarm system – a system where groups of detectors and devices have direct communications with the building fire alarm panel
• Total Coverage – fire / smoke detection provided in all public areas, student rooms, and rooms of hazard throughout the building.  Detection located in student rooms have a local sounder, similar to smoke detectors installed in homes
• Partial Coverage – fire / smoke detection provided in public areas and rooms of hazard only
• Local Coverage – fire / smoke detection provided in living areas only
• Fire sprinkler system monitoring.  All fire sprinkler systems, be it a partial or complete system, are monitored by the building’s fire alarm system.

Regular mandatory supervised fire drills

Two fire drills are conducted each academic year per student housing facility (dormitory).  The first fire drill for each academic year is conducted within the first 2-3 weeks of school; which is observed by Public Safety and the Iowa City Fire Dept.  The second is conducted shortly after the winter break by the RAs and professional staff only.

Policies regarding portable electrical appliances, smoking, and open flames.

Cooking Appliances
In an attempt to keep the residence halls as safe as possible, the types of appliances that are allowed for cooking are limited. Only those appliances that do not:

1. Have an exposed heating element;
2. Use cooking greases;
3. Or have an open flame are allowed. We also highly recommend using appliances that have an auto shut-off feature.

Electric grills (i.e., George Foreman), pizza cookers, and toaster ovens are NOT allowed. Residence hall rooms with a kitchen provided (Mayflower) may use toaster ovens in the kitchen area only.

Electrical Appliances
All appliances must be in good working order. Do not overload electrical outlets with adapters or extension cords. All extension cords must be UL approved. Rooms are not wired to permit the use of any large electrical appliances including room air conditioners (unless supplied by the University), large refrigerators (over five cubic feet or drawing more than 9 amps), space heaters, etc. Halogen lamps are also prohibited. For safety reasons, we recommend using only appliances with an auto shut-off feature.

Explosives and Other Combustibles
The possession, use or distribution of any type of fireworks, ammunition/gun powder, fuses, or any explosives/combustibles of any kind is prohibited and will result in disciplinary action. Propane tanks may not be stored in residence halls.

Halogen Lamps/Bulbs
Halogen lamps/bulbs are considered a fire hazard and therefore are prohibited in the residence halls.

Open Flame
Incense, candles (lit or unlit), and any open-flame items are fire hazards and are therefore prohibited. Any incense or candles found may be confiscated, destroyed and disciplinary sanctions may be imposed. Storage of these items is prohibited; residence life staff will not store these items for you.

Smoking
The University of Iowa Residence Halls are considered substance-free environments. Therefore the use of tobacco, including smokeless tobacco products, and legal smoking products are prohibited in residence hall student rooms and in public areas. Public areas include hallways, stairways, elevators, lobbies, lounges, restrooms, etc. Students over 18 years of age may possess and are allowed to store tobacco and legal smoking products but may not use them in the halls. Under the Smoke Free Air Act, smoking is banned on the entire University of Iowa campus.

Evacuation Procedures

Fire
The University Housing staff provides residents with fire evacuation procedures and will hold fire drills to prepare residents in case of a fire. Each fall semester, University Housing sponsors "Fire Safety Week" to increase students' awareness of the importance of fire safety.

If you discover a fire in the residence hall:

• Immediately pull the corridor fire alarm.
• Call 911 to report the fire and give as much information as possible.
• The fire alarm will alert people to evacuate the building; don't attempt to rescue others unless you can do so safely.

Standards of student behavior in the residence halls require students to follow adopted emergency procedures specific to University Housing. Any persons found not leaving or attempting to re-enter the building during an alarm may face disciplinary charges.

Evacuation from Fire Area

• Feel the door from top to bottom. If it is hot, do not proceed; go back.
• If the door is cool, crouch low and open the door slowly. Close the door quickly if smoke is present; smoke inhalation can be deadly.
• If the area is smoke-free, exit via the nearest stairwell. Stay low if smoke conditions exist.
• NEVER USE ELEVATORS when there is a fire!
• If you encounter heavy smoke in a stairwell, go back and try another stairwell or fire escape.
• If you are trapped in a room, do the following:
• Stuff wet towels or clothing under the door to keep smoke out.
• Open the windows. Wave something out the window to attract attention, and yell for help.
• If possible, dial 911; report your situation and location.
• Keep a soaked towel over your head.
• Stay low; breathe fresh air near the windows.

Fire Safety Education and Training Programs

Each fall, a joint effort between UI Residence Life, Department of Public Safety (DPS), University Housing and the Iowa City Fire Dept presented an annual Resident Assistant (RA) Fire Academy to some 140 RAs and Housing professional staff.  Individuals are trained in the use of portable fire extinguishers, hazard recognition in dorm rooms, past case history of campus fire incidents in America, and the evacuation of students through a smoke (simulated) filled hallway.   After the winter break, the RAs and professional staff reconvened for a refresher of the training from the previous fall.

Faculty and staff are reminded, via email, to review the University’s Critical Incident Management Plan (CIMP) which provides the basic information on how to react/respond to various emergencies that could occur on the campus.  The plan also includes a “user guide” to the operation of portable fire extinguishers.

UI Facilities Management and or UI Public Safety conduct fire extinguisher and fire safety training to groups, when the training is requested, approx. 25 times a year with an average total attendance of 2,000 persons.

Reporting Fires

Fires should be reported to the following departments:

• Iowa City Fire Department                                911
• University of Iowa Dept. of Public Safety      335-5022

Plans for Future Improvements in Fire Safety

UI Public Safety has recently purchased a digital fire extinguisher training system that will greatly increase the abilities to conduct basic fire extinguisher training at any location on campus.