Reporting a Crime

I. Crime on Campus

Mayland Community College is concerned with the safety and well-being of its students, faculty, and staff and is committed to providing a safe and secure campus community. MCC has been fortunate in experiencing few crimes, but emergencies and crimes occasionally occur. MCC takes all incidents very seriously, but students, faculty, staff, and visitors are also responsible for taking measures to protect themselves and their possessions.

1. MCC’s Campus Security Report

   This report is required by federal law to comply with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act and contains policy statements and crime statistics for the school. Three years’ worth of statistics are included for certain types of crimes that were reported to have occurred on campus, in off-campus buildings or on property owned or controlled by the school, and on public property within or immediately adjacent to the campus. The Dean of Students prepares this report using crime statistics provided by the MCC Security Office, local law enforcement agencies, and College officials. This report is available online at http://www.mayland.edu/student-life/safetycampus-crime-report or a paper copy may also be requested from Student Services, located on the Main Campus in Gwaltney Hall. Each year, an email notification that provides the web address to access this report is sent to all enrolled students, faculty, and staff. All prospective employees may obtain a copy from the Human Resources Department, also located on the Main Campus, in Gwaltney Hall.

2. Crime Log

   A crime log is maintained at the Main Campus and the Learning Centers. The most recent 60-day period is available for review at each location during normal business hours. Any portion of the log older than 60 days is available within two business days of the request. This information can be obtained from the Vice-President of Business Administration or the Dean of the Learning Center. The information in the daily crime log includes the nature, date, time, general location, and disposition of each crime. The names of individuals will be withheld, and any information may be withheld, if its release could jeopardize an ongoing investigation.

3. Students are informed about campus security procedures through New Student Orientation and through the annual publication of the MCC Student handbook and the Campus Security Report. Employees are informed during New Employee Orientation and in the annual publication of the Campus Security Report. Crime prevention programming is held as needed.

II. Reporting a Crime

1. Mayland Community College encourages students, faculty, staff, visitors, and community members to report all crimes and public safety-related incidents on campus in a timely manner to a MCC Security Officer or the Dean of Students. If the act occurs at the Avery or Yancey Learning Center, please report it to the Dean of that particular center.
2. Students, faculty, staff, and visitors should take precautions to protect their own safety. Do not attempt to interfere with an incident except to protect personal safety and please try to note distinguishing characteristics of individuals and a description of vehicles involved, including license numbers.
3. MCC does have a Security Officer on duty during business hours. MCC Security Officers have the authority to ask persons for identification to determine whether individuals have lawful business on Campus and to issue parking tickets. Criminal incidents are referred to local law enforcement agencies. The Security Officers and College Administration maintain a highly professional working relationship with local law enforcement agencies. MCC security officers and local law enforcement agencies communicate regularly on the scene of incidents that occur in and around Campus. There is no written memorandum of understanding between MCC and local law enforcement agencies.
4. Campus professional counselors, when acting as such, are not required to report crimes for inclusion in the annual disclosure of crime statistics. Counselors are encouraged, if and when they deem it appropriate, to inform persons being counseled of the procedures to report crimes on a voluntary confidential basis for inclusion in annual crime statistics.

III. To Report a Campus Emergency or Crime

To report an emergency dial 911 or use the CALL BOX in the parking lot on the main campus.

To report a crime:

1. Any MCC employee can assist with contacting the proper authorities.
2. The Main Campus and Learning Centers are open to students, faculty, staff, and visitors during normal business hours. During non-business hours, all campus buildings can only be accessed by key. The Main Campus has a Security Office on duty during business hours who patrols the entire campus. The Main Campus and Learning Centers are equipped with surveillance cameras and the Security Officer and the Director of Facilities Services regularly check to make sure the campus facilities and property are maintained in a manner to help protect the safety of all students, faculty, staff, and visitors. MCC does not have campus residences or student organizations with off-campus locations.

IV. Confidential Reporting

1. The College will make reasonable efforts to preserve the Reporting Party’s and Responding Party’s privacy.  Although all reports will be treated with sensitivity, when a report is made to certain College officials, the College may be required to act on those reports.
2. If a Reporting Party does not wish for their name to be shared, does not wish for an investigation to take place, or does not want a formal resolutions to be pursued, the Reporting Party may make such a request to either the Dean of Students (for students) or the Director, Human Resources (for employees or community members), who will evaluate the request in light of the duty to ensure the safety of the campus and comply with federal law. In cases indicating pattern, predation, threat, weapons, and/or violence, the College will likely be unable to honor a request for confidentiality. In cases where the Reporting Party requests confidentiality and circumstances allow the College to honor the request, the College will do so.
3. If an individual desires to keep the details of an alleged incident confidential he/she should speak with a Confidential Employee (College Counselor), an off-campus counselor, or a rape crisis resource who can maintain confidentiality. Campus counselors are available to help students free of charge and employees have accept to the Employee Assistance Network. If an individual is unsure of someone’s duties and ability to maintain privacy, he/she should ask him/her before he/she talks to him/her.

   The following counseling options are available on and off-campus (several off-campus resources can be contacted on an emergency basis:

V. In the Event of a Campus Emergency or Crime 

1. The Mayland Community College Board authorizes the President to develop and implement procedures for the handling of emergency situations that may arise on campus, including when and how to warn the campus community.
2. In the event that a situation arises, on or off campus, that the President or his designee deems an ongoing or continuing threat, a campus-wide timely warning will be issued. A warning may be issued through LEO emails, LEO announcements and/or LEO ReGroup text messages.
3. If a situation on the main campus poses an immediate threat to the community, a warning and directives will be disseminated through LEO ReGroup Emergency text messages, the Lynx Messenger System on the computers of essential personnel, and/or mass notification system intercoms. If an immediate notification is necessary at one of the learning centers, a notice will be placed on the front door and individuals will be given directives by the Dean of that particular center.

VI. Emergency Evacuation

1. Spruce Pine Campus: Proceed to the assigned safety zones.
   Yancey Learning Center: Proceed to the parking lot above the Learning Center.
   Avery Learning Center: Proceed to the Avery County Schools parking lot.
2. Handicapped persons in the building should use a route without stairs. All handicapped persons on the second story of buildings who cannot go down the stairs should wait for assistance at the stairwell.
3. Emergency Evacuation/Inclement Weather plans are located in all areas. The primary exit will be marked. Proceed to the safety zone listed.
4. Each faculty member and instructor with a class should take his/her roll book and get all of their students out of the building. Faculty and instructors are to account for all students in the class once the building is evacuated. All faculty and instructors who are not in a class will help escort students who are not in classes out of the building.
5. Doors are to be closed, but not locked, and lights left on.
6. Students and college personnel are not to go to their cars or leave the campus during a fire drill or emergencies.
7. During the evening hours Campus Security will monitor the fire emergency and contact essential personnel and the President.
8. All faculty and instructors are responsible to know alternate routes of exit and instruct all of their students about the Emergency Evacuation Plan.
9. During a fire drill, the Emergency Coordinator of Buildings will indicate when reentering of the building is cleared. In a real fire, please wait for instructions from emergency officials.
10. A safety zone is defined as the location where groups will stand until the “all clear” is announced or further directions are given.
11. Evacuation of People with Disabilities
    1. Evacuating a disabled or injured person alone should be a last resort. Consider your options and the risks of injuring yourself and others in an evacuation attempt. Do not make an emergency situation worse.
    2. Some people have conditions that can be aggravated or triggered if they are moved incorrectly. If people with mobility impairments cannot exit, they should be moved to a safer area (i.e., most enclosed stairwells).
    3. Attempt a rescue evacuation only when the disabled person is in immediate danger and cannot wait for professional assistance.
    4. It may be necessary to help clear the exit route of debris (if possible) so that the person with a disability can move to a safer area.
    5. In some multi-story buildings the disabled person may be moved to the "Area of Rescue" located in the stairwells to await rescue by emergency personnel. The area of rescue has a phone system for communication with emergency personnel. For buildings that do not have an "Area of Rescue" the disabled person must be moved to the nearest stairwell to await rescue.
    6. Notify Campus Security or fire personnel immediately about any people waiting to be rescued.
    7. Two physically capable occupants should be invited to volunteer to assist the disabled during evacuation. If volunteers are not available, designate two people to assist who are willing to accept the responsibility. Ask the disabled person how he or she can best be assisted or moved, and whether there are any special considerations or items that need to come with the person.
    8. DO NOT use elevators, unless authorized to do so by police or fire personnel. Elevators could fail during a fire or other disaster.
    9. If disabled people are in immediate danger and cannot be moved to a safer area to wait for assistance, it may be necessary to evacuate them using a carry technique. Proper lifting techniques (e.g., bending the knees, keeping the back straight, holding the person close before lifting, and using leg muscles to lift) should be used to avoid injury to the rescuers. Certain lifts may need to be modified depending on the person's disability. Remember that two-person rescues are preferable.
    10. DO NOT evacuate disabled people in their wheelchairs. This is standard practice to ensure the safety of disabled people and volunteers. Wheelchairs will be evacuated later if possible.
    11. Evacuating Persons with Blindness or Visual Impairment: Give verbal instructions to advise about the safest route or direction using compass directions, estimated distances, and directional terms. DO NOT grasp a visually impaired person's arm. Ask if he or she would like to hold onto your arm as you exit, especially if there is debris or a crowd. Give other verbal instructions or information (i.e., elevators cannot be used).
    12. Evacuating Persons with Deafness or Hearing Loss: Get the attention of a person with a hearing impairment by touch and eye contact. Clearly state the problem. Gestures and pointing are helpful, but be prepared to write a brief statement if the person does not seem to understand. Offer visual instructions to advise the safest route or direction by pointing toward exits or evacuation maps.

VII. Sex Offender Information

1. The North Carolina General Assembly created the North Carolina Sex Offender and Public Protection Registry in January 1996. Under North Carolina law, certain persons who have been convicted of a sex offense or an offense against a minor are required to establish and maintain registration in compliance with the North Carolina Sex Offender and Public Protection Registration Programs. The Registration Programs are governed by Chapter 14, Article 27A of the North Carolina General Statutes. Any person who has a "reportable conviction" and who resides in North Carolina, moves to North Carolina, or is a nonresident student or nonresident worker in North Carolina, must maintain registration under Part 2 of Article 27A. This includes certain juvenile offenders. Nonresident students and nonresident workers in North Carolina also must maintain registration under Part 2, if required to register in their state of residency.
2. Faculty, staff, students, or visitors seeking information about registered sex offenders in the region may contact the local Sheriff’s Department, access the MCC webpage (www.mayland.edu/sex-offender-information), or the North Carolina Department of Justice website (http://sexoffender.ncdoj.gov/).