Contents:
Timely WarningsIn the event that a situation arises, on or off campus, that in the judgment of the Director of Campus Safety, constitutes an on-going threat, a campus wide warning will be issued. The warning will be issued via the Widener Campus Alert System. This system provides a text message to all members of the community who are enrolled in it. Participation is voluntary and participants must re-enroll annually. Directions for enrollment can be found on the top of the home page for the School of Law,
law.widener.edu, see campus alert.
Depending on the threat, the circumstances of the crime, Campus Safety Officers will post notices on boards and the entrances and exits to all buildings, provide verbal warnings to all they see on campus at the time the warning is initiated, notify drivers entering campus at the two campus entrances, and utilize other methods such as campus wide email, and campus wide voice mail, (staff only).
A timely warning will be issued to all members of the community when ever there is an immediate or on-going threat.
Any person with knowledge of an act that constitutes a threat to the campus should contact Campus safety at once,
302-477-2200.
Reporting Criminal Offenses, (how to report crime and who to talk to)
Any victim or witness of a crime is both expected and encouraged to report the incident to Campus Safety. Campus Safety will also report crimes to local law enforcement agencies on behalf of students when requested to do so or if deemed necessary by the Chief of Campus Safety. Individual identities will be safeguarded when possible. After review by the Chief of Campus Safety, the incident may be included in both the Daily Crime Log and the annual statistics.
Reports can be rendered on both a voluntary and confidential basis to any of the following persons / offices:
Delaware Campus: Phone, BuildingCampus Safety Office: 302-477-2202, Concord Hall
Dean of the School of Law: 302-477-2278, Law Building
Vice Dean of the School of Law: 302-477-2153, Law Building
Assoc. Dean for Administration: 302-477-2794, Law Building
Assoc. Dean of Student Affairs: 302-477-2023, Law Building
Director of Campus Services: 302-477-2077, Passmore House
Harrisburg Campus: Phone, BuildingCampus Safety Office: 717-541-3948 / 3954, Library Building
Vice Dean of the School of Law: 717-541-3902, Main Building
Assoc. Dean of Student Services: 717-541-3952, Main Building
Director of Campus Services: 717-541-3907, Main Building
Voluntary Confidential Reporting of CrimeIndividual identities will always be kept confidential to the extent possible in relation to both university policies and state law. Individuals wishing to report crime on a confidential basis should see one of the persons named above on either the Delaware or Harrisburg Campuses.
Preparation and Disclosure of Crime Statistics Campus safety prepares this report so as to comply with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act. A
full text of this report can be viewed on the Campus Safety Department Website. This report is prepared in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies, housing and resident services, and Student Affairs. Each entity provides updated information on their educational efforts related to campus safety and security awareness.
Campus crime statistics include those crimes reported to campus safety, designated campus officials, designated housing staff, advisors and student affairs officials, and local law enforcement agencies. These crimes include both those that occur on campus as well as those that occur adjacent to campus property.
Each year an email notification is sent to all students, faculty, and staff informing all recipients about our updated statistics, and where they can review the statistics on the university website. In addition to notification about the posting of updated crime statistics, all recipients are invited to review updated safety and security policies posted on the university website. Faculty and staff receive a similar notification from the Human Resources Office along with employee policies.
Paper copies of both the crime statistics and safety and security policies will be provided on request to all prospective and current employees. Make request to the Chief of Campus Safety, contact: email:
ggstelzig@widener.edu, phone: 302-477-2202, fax: 302-477-2201.
Current and prospective members of the community may also view both the daily crime log and updated crime statistics at the campus safety desk on each campus. Paper copies of same will be provided by the officer on duty.
Security and Access to Campus BuildingsDelaware Campus: Access to campus buildings is limited to those with authorization. Student services persons, housekeeping and contractors, along with for example, police and emergency medical persons may enter buildings for bona fide reasons. Entrances to all student housing buildings are locked 24 hours a day and are accessible to residents with assigned keys. All doors to student rooms are equipped with locks and those in rooms with windows, where window access is likely, are equipped with window locks. Campus buildings and resident halls are patrolled by campus safety officers throughout the 24 hour period of each day.
Students are reminded that propping doors open is not permitted and that doing so causes a threat for occupants.
Officers check for and remove door props when discovered. Students who are caught propping doors are referred to the Office of Student Affairs for disciplinary action.
Visitors are permitted in university housing only if accompanied by a resident. Guest passes are not issued, but overnight guests are required to register with Campus Safety. In accordance with state law, the university reserves the right to ban persons from university property.
Campus Safety completes a monthly report on both the Delaware and Harrisburg Campuses outlining all maintenance issues such as, lighting and other safety hazards. This report is forwarded to Campus Services for corrective action and or repair.
Harrisburg Campus:Entry to all university owned buildings is limited to students, staff, faculty, and guests of the university. In accordance with state law, the university reserves the right to ban persons from university property. University buildings are patrolled by campus safety officers at any time the university Law Library is open. University buildings are monitored by an electronic monitoring system when the university is closed.
There are no residence halls on the Harrisburg Campus. The campus is composed of three buildings, a Law Library, an Administrative Building, and a combination Student Organization and bookstore building.
Campus Safety Department, (authority and responsibility)
Campus safety personnel are identified under both the Delaware and Pennsylvania Code as proprietary agents of the university whose authority is limited to university property and. Officers have the authority to request identification from anyone on university property. Officers have no “arrest” or “police type” powers and must rely on local law enforcement (the Delaware State Police and Susquehanna Township Police) for support in reaction to any threat posed by a disorderly subject or serious criminal matter.
Each campus is staffed with full time and part time university employees, (21 full time at the Delaware Campus, and 2 full time and 4 part-time at the Harrisburg Campus). In the event of an emergency, additional staffing can be obtained from the Campus Safety Department at the Main Campus in Chester. The Delaware Campus is staffed 24 hours a day. The Harrisburg Campus is staffed by officers when the library is open.
All officers undergo a battery of interviews and background checks, including a criminal background check. All are provided three days of department training, as well as on the job training and CPR / AED and first aid training on an annual basis. In addition to this training, officers receive periodic training throughout the year under the direction of the Chief of Campus Safety. Further, officers are encouraged to avail themselves to the plethora of employee training opportunities provided by Widener University. These employee training opportunities are at no cost to the officer / employee and range in subject matter from healthy dieting to managing stress. Officers may also take college level courses at no cost as part of their university benefits.
The Campus Safety Department enjoys an excellent working relationship with local law enforcement. All matters brought to Campus Safety involving a crime against person or property is referred to local law enforcement for proper investigation. Any knowledge or observation of any kind of felony, weapon, gun, or other serious matter, results in an immediate call to local law enforcement for help.
Contact Information:
Delaware State Police: 302-761-6677
Susquehanna Township Police: 717-652-8265
Procedures for Reporting a Crime or Emergency)
Members of the university community are both encouraged and expected to report crimes and or emergencies that impact themselves and others. We ask that any call made to 911 for any reason is followed by a call to Campus Safety so that we may be apprised of the situation, threat, and or matter.
Report a Crime by Phone: Delaware Campus On campus / university phone: x 2200
On campus / personal phone: 302-477-2200
Off campus: 302-477-2200
Harrisburg Campus On campus / university: x 3948
On campus / personal phone: 717-541-3948
Off campus: 717-541-3948
Report a Crime in Person: Delaware Campus: Concord Hall Lobby
4601 Concord Pike
Wilmington, DE 19803
Harrisburg Campus:
Law Library Front Desk
3800 Vartan Way
Harrisburg, PA 17106
Report a Crime via email: ggstelzig@widener.edu Availability of Counseling)
Counseling is available to all students who feel they need the service of a trained and licensed counselor. Specific information related to counseling resources for all Widener Law School students is outlined in the Widener School of Law Student handbook, pages 85-86.
Delaware Campus students are able to take advantage of the Student Counseling Center at the Widener main Campus in Chester, PA. Contact information:
Widener University Counseling Center
301 East 19th Street
Chester, PA 19013
610-499-1261
Harrisburg Students may coordinate their need for counseling services through the office of the Dean of Students at the Harrisburg Campus who oversees a contract with a local counseling service. Contact information:
Widener University School of Law
Office of the Dean of Students
3800 Vartan Way
Harrisburg, PA 17106
717-541-3952
Counseling services are available for those staff and faculty who maintain counseling as an option in their university offered health care plan.
Security Awareness Programs
The Campus Safety Department distributes information on a periodic basis to all students, staff, faculty and visitors. This information focuses on three main points:
- Individual responsibility, (safety is a shared responsibility).
- Situational awareness, (be aware of your surroundings).
- Community responsibility, (we must all do our part).
Campus Safety distributes safety awareness information to all new students and staff, as well as safety reminders via campus wide email, posters on campus boards, flyers posted in residence halls, and periodic notes in the Widener University School of Law campus newspaper on each campus, The Digest. When time is critical, and an immediate threat exists, Campus Safety issues a Timely Warning.
Crime Prevention ProgramsThe Campus Safety Department, in its efforts to heighten safety and security awareness, has established a host of crime prevention programs oriented at enhancing safety on campus. These efforts result in the distribution of information over the school year through some of the following venues; email, the campus newspaper, flyers. A highlight of these efforts includes the “Friendly Reminder”, a small note that alerts community members of a condition that could result in their being a victim of crime.
Alcoholic Beverages and Illegal DrugsThe university complies with all federal, state, and local laws that regulate the procession, use, and sale of alcoholic beverages and controlled substances. At any on-campus activity where alcohol is served, the university reserves the right to monitor the event. The university discourages the unlawful use of alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs. The university also calls attention to the laws of both the states of Delaware and Pennsylvania, and although not an enforcement agent of either state, the university will not impede the efforts of law enforcement in the enforcement and investigation of acts related to same.
The procession, use, and sale of illegal drugs, narcotics, and other controlled substances is a crime and punishable by mandatory fines and imprisonment in both Delaware and Pennsylvania. Any Widener student found to be in procession of illegal drugs, drug paraphernalia (not prescribed by a doctor and without knowledge of the Dean of Students) or who causes such items to be brought onto university property may be dismissed. Additionally, applicable federal laws state that any student convicted of various illegal drug offenses may loose their eligibility for specific periods of time depending on their nature of their conviction, (whether the conviction was for the use or sale and how many times they have been convicted).
Alcohol and drug information specific to Widener University School of Law Students is outlined in the School of Law Student Handbook, pages 83-86.
Substance Abuse EducationAll members of the Widener University community are invited to attend drug and alcohol abuse education programs at the University’s Main Campus in Chester, PA. Additionally, the Widener University School of Law Student Handbook outlines all options available to students regarding substance abuse on pages 96-97. Students may obtain a copy of this handbook and seek help with their needs in this area through the Chief of Campus Safety or the Office of Student Affairs.
Firearms
The unapproved procession, use, and sale, of firearms, ammunition, fireworks, explosive material and devices, and any lethal or offensive weapon are strictly forbidden. Those found in violation of this policy are subject to university discipline as well as criminal sanctions.
Sexual Assault Prevention and Response)
The Campus Safety Department and the Office of Student Affairs takes the matter of sexual assault very seriously and acts immediately when it receives any kind of complaint regarding this type of act. Students are informed about their responsibility to report these acts by the Office of Student Affairs.
Students who feel they have been a victim of any form of sexual assault should report the matter to the Campus Safety Department or the Office of Student Affairs immediately. The Campus Safety Department will refer matters concerning sexual assaults to the local police, and will do so on the behalf of a student if the student does not feel comfortable doing so themselves. The Campus Safety Department, in cooperation with the Office of Student Affairs, will handle the necessary notification and dialog with local law enforcement so as to initiate an investigation on behalf of the victim. Campus Safety understands fully the sensitive nature of this type of act and will work to ensure the victim is treated with both sensitivity and respect.
Students who feel they may be a victim of a sexual assault should do so immediately so as to preserve evidence that might be collected by law enforcement and used for later prosecution. This evidence includes, but it not limited to, bodily fluids, clothing, bed coverings, implements or items used by the assailant, and any other item or object that might retain physical evidence of fingerprints, DNA traces, hair samples, and anything that could possibly be traced to the assailant.
Students who feel that they have been a victim of a sexual assault in an off campus setting, and who may want to discuss the matter with Campus Safety or the Office of Students first, before notifying the local police, may of course do so. The Campus Safety Department will work with the Office of Student Affairs to ensure the complaint is handled in both a timely and sensitive manner. Additionally, Campus Safety and The Office of Student Affairs will assist any victim with referrals to local state and county agencies who assist victims of sexual assault.
The Office of Student Affairs, in cooperation with Campus Services and Housing, will assist resident students in gaining desired academic schedule and on-campus resident room changes if necessary.
In addition to prosecution by the Office of the Attorney general of the States of either Delaware or Pennsylvania, students who are accused of sexual assault may be liable to sanctions by the university. Procedures for students who are alleged sex offenders are outlined in the Widener University School of Law Student Handbook, Code of Conduct, pages 46-52. A copy of this handbook is available at the Campus Safety office and the Office of Student Services.
Both the accused and accuser are entitled to various protections in accordance with generally accepted rules of evidence, due process, and appeal. Both the accuser and accused are entitled to formal notifications concerning the student judicial process to include a formal notification outlining the outcome of any disciplinary judicial action.
Sanctions that can be imposed as a result of such disciplinary actions and judicial proceedings range from expulsion to suspension and are outlined in detail on page 48 of the Widener School of Law Student Handbook, Code of Conduct.
Sex Offender Registration InformationMembers of the Widener University School of Law community that desire information provided by the states of Delaware and Pennsylvania may find that information at the following websites:
Delaware: http://sexoffender.dsp.delaware.gov/ Address: Bureau of Identification
Sex Offender Registry
P.O. Box 430
Dover, DE 19903
Pennsylvania: http://www.pameganslaw.state.pa.us/ Address: Department of Corrections
Sex Offender Registry
P.O. Box 598
Camp Hill, PA 17001
In addition to these two sites managed by each state, there is a good national site managed by the private group, Family Watchdog. The site allows individuals to find information on registered sex offenders by name, address, and state.
Family Watchdog Website:
www.familywatchdog.us Note: This information is reviewed and updated on an annual basis or more frequently as required.