Department of Campus Safety

Services Provided by Campus Safety Include:

The Franklin Pierce Community

The Franklin Pierce University community is dedicated to the free and open examination and exchange of ideas in the pursuit of knowledge. This requires mutual trust among its members and a common respect for the rights, dignity and integrity of each person. This ambition is embraced in the University's Student Code of Conduct and the Honor Code.

Franklin Pierce University is located in the Town of Rindge, a quiet rural community. Because of our rural environment, we are not subject to all of the problems of a city campus, however we are also not insulated from crime. We urge all community members to be aware of the potential for crime and to take steps to prevent it.

The safety and security of our students, faculty, staff and guests is a priority at Franklin Pierce University and the Campus Safety Department provides a variety of programs and services aimed at achieving this. Campus Safety operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is responsible for the protection of life and property, responding to calls for assistance, facilitating the movement of persons and vehicles around campus and documenting activity that violates state and federal laws or campus policies. We commit our efforts and design our operation toward preventing and detecting crime, providing service to students, faculty, staff and guests, ensuring compliance with the policies and regulations of the university, the ordinances of the Town of Rindge and the laws of the State of New Hampshire. No safety program, regardless of its depth or breadth, can anticipate or prevent all crime.

Franklin Pierce University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, age, national or ethnic origin. The University is an equal opportunity employer and encourages minorities and women to apply, both in terms of employment and to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to its students. Inquiries concerning discrimination should be referred to the Director of Human Resources, DiGregorio Building at Franklin Pierce University.

Campus Facilities and Residence Hall Access

Franklin Pierce University buildings, grounds and parking areas are private property. Community members may use campus facilities for advertised public events or as members of the University's athletic complex. Students' guests must register at Campus Safety as a guest of a currently enrolled student. Persons visiting a specific department or facility should stop at Campus Safety to obtain a visitor pass. All vendors must be registered at Campus Safety with the approval of Student Activities or the host department. Unauthorized persons found on campus will be deemed trespassers and may be subject to criminal prosecution.

Administrative buildings are secured at the earliest possible hour, given their projected use each day. Exterior doors to residence halls are locked 24 hours a day, except those residence halls which also house meeting space or offices, which are unlocked during times the area is in use or the office(s) are open. Exterior residence hall keyways are changed annually. Campus Safety Officers and Residence Life staff periodically patrol campus to check for propped doors, as well as other safety issues.

Some areas on campus, such as computer rooms and studios, are restricted from access without authorization. Authorization must be in writing from the person in charge of the area and must be on file at the Campus Safety Office prior to access being granted. Valid FP identification is necessary to confirm authorization for access. Campus Safety reserves the right to give or deny access to any area in case of emergency.

Faculty, staff and students are required to carry the Franklin Pierce ID card at all times while on campus. The ID is required to check materials from the library, eat in the dining commons (for students on the meal plan) and use athletic facilities. Identification must also be presented to a Campus Safety Officer or other University official, upon his/her request in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct. Franklin Pierce ID cards are issued through Campus Safety and replacements can be obtained throughout the year at the Campus Safety Office (fee must be paid to the Office of Student Financial Services).

Authority and Relationships with Other Agencies

The Officers of the Franklin Pierce University Department of Campus Safety, acting as agents of the University, are authorized to enforce policies and regulations of the University and to refer those individuals in violation to the Director of Campus Safety and the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs. Officers do not have sworn police powers.

The University maintains a cooperative relationship with the Town of Rindge and Campus Safety Officers work closely with law enforcement from the Town. Campus Safety periodically works with state and federal organizations on investigations, programs and training.

Annual Crime Report

The Director of Campus Safety compiles the information for the (Clery) Crime Report and is responsible for its publication. Statistics for crimes that occurred on or near campus are gathered from the Department's incident reports and a request is made to the Rindge Police Department to supply information regarding alcohol, weapons and drug arrests in the area surrounding campus. The Director of Residential Life and Assistant Dean of Student Affairs compile statistics on disciplinary referrals for drug and alcohol violations, which are provided to the Director of Campus Safety for inclusion in the report. It is the practice of the University that all incidents reported to other offices be reported to Campus Safety for documentation and follow-up.

The annual report is prepared at the close of the academic year, however statistics reflect activity that occurred during the previous calendar year.

Crime Awareness and Prevention Programs

The Department of Campus Safety believes that crime awareness is the key to crime prevention. The following services and programs are provided by Campus Safety and Student Affairs to educate community members: