Annual Security Report

Each college of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System is responsible for the preparation of the Annual Security Report in cooperation with Legal Affairs, Campus Security Authorities, and local police agencies. The statistics include alleged and attempted crimes. All crimes reported in “good faith” and occurring on-campus, on public property surrounding our campuses, or in off campus college-owned buildings or property is recorded for inclusion in the annual crime statistics. This report provides statistics for the previous three academic years. The statistics are requested annually from local law enforcement agencies and submitted to the Security Director for collection and analysis. For statistical purposes, crime statistics reported to any of these sources are recorded in the calendar year the crime was reported.

The report includes statistics submitted by Legal Affairs, Student Affairs, Human Resources, Campus Security Authorities, and local law enforcement agencies. These reports are reviewed, and if reportable under the Clery Act, are included in the annual statistics. Police arrest statistics and campus disciplinary referral data for weapons violations, drug violations and liquor law violations are analyzed by Campus Security to avoid duplicated reporting. Our colleges do not have any student organizations at Off-Campus locations, therefore incidents related to off-campus activities of student organizations are not reported.

All of these statistics are gathered, compiled and reported to the campus community via the Annual Security Report which is published each year. Campus Security submits the annual crime statistics published in this report to the Department of Education (ED) each year. The statistical information gathered by the Department of Education is available to the public through the ED web site.

By October 1 of each year, all enrolled students and employees receive an email notification regarding a summary of the content and the availability of the report via the college website, as well as how to request a printed copy of the report. Prospective students and employees receive information regarding the report from the head of security.

Campus Security Authorities are defined as individuals having significant responsibility for student activities, including administrators and student services personnel such as, Deans, Directors, Legal Affairs, athletic team coaches, and faculty and/or student advisors. Although crimes should be reported to campus Security or the Title IX Coordinator (sexual violence only), if these individuals receive a report of a crime listed under the Clery Act they are obligated to report it to campus security for purposes of disclosure in the annual crime statistics. 

KCTCS colleges do not have a campus police department.  No campus personnel have arresting powers. If physical measures are needed to ensure the safety and security of persons on campus, state or local police agencies shall be contacted. 

While there are no Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with local or state enforcement agencies. KCTCS Colleges maintain a strong working relationship with state and local police through training, meetings and communicating with local and state police agencies in the investigation of criminal offenses.

Off-Campus Student Organizations

HCC does not have any recognized student organizations at off-campus locations.

Student Housing

HCC does not operate student housing facilities.

Procedures for Campus Crime Reporting

Students, staff, faculty, and guests are strongly encouraged to promptly report all criminal actions or other emergencies occurring on Campus to campus Security Authority or local police agencies, if necessary.

Crimes should be reported to the Campus Security Authority for purposes of assessing the crime, for distributing potential timely warning notices, and for disclosure in the annual crime statistics. Crime reporting is critical as it may prevent future crimes, protects the community, and increases the likelihood of apprehension and adjudication of perpetrators.

Although Campus Security strives to maintain a safe and open environment for victims to report crimes, individuals may not feel comfortable contacting the police.  In these instances, reporting to other campus security authorities are available. As an example, sex offenses may be reported to the college Title IX Coordinator.

To Report Crimes and All Other Emergencies:

Cell Phone Use: Emergency 9-1-1 calls made on campus from an IP phone are routed to Henderson Police Dept. We recommend programming the primary campus reporting number, crime reporting phone # , into your cell phone to reduce emergency response time and provide quick dialing in any emergency.

Dial x19616 or 270-831-9616 and tell the Help Desk Operator the nature of the emergency so they can notify administration (especially if a  911 mid-dial).

Campus Emergency Not Requiring 911 Help:

Days: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.—4:30 p.m., call  the Help Desk at x19616 or 270-831-9616

Evenings/Saturday: Monday-Thursday, 4:30-10 p.m., Friday 4:30-9:30 p.m., Saturday 7:30 a.m.—3 p.m. dial M&O staff at 270-823-3350.

Crime Reporting

Procedures for survivor/victim or witness to report voluntarily and/or confidentially

If you wish to report a sexual assault, domestic 
violence, dating violence, or stalking incident on a completely confidential basis, you may report the crime to:

Dean of Enrollment Management (Dr. Chad Phillips): 270-831-9614

 If a crime survivor/victim or witness chooses not to file a police report or to pursue action against the perpetrator within the college process, they may still consider making a confidential report. In certain circumstances, the victim may request that the Title or a designee file a report of the details of the incident without revealing the victim’s identity. The purpose of a confidential report is to comply with the wishes of the victim/survivor to keep the matter and/or their identity confidential, while allowing the Chief Student Officer and/or other officials to take action to protect the future safety of the crime survivor/victim and others. With this information, The Chief Student Officer can potentially determine a pattern of crime and alert the campus community to potential threat or danger. Reports filed in this manner are counted and disclosed in the annual crime statistics. The Chief Student Officer will review confidentiality options with the reporting party prior to taking the report.

HCC does not have professional nor pastoral counselors available on campus.  

Students experiencing academic or personal problems that need special attention should contact one of the counselors available on campus. 

These counselors are here to help and make referrals when necessary. Evening appointments may be arranged if needed. 

Ms. Angie Watson, STC Room 213, 270-831-9671

In some cases, the Director of Safety and Security (or equivalent official) will make timely warning reports to members of the campus community regarding criminal activity. The criminal activity must be serious in nature and likely to pose an ongoing or continued threat to the safety of students, staff, faculty, and guests. The decision to make a timely warning report will be made by the Campus Security Authorities. Notification is generally made through a campus-wide email bulletin to all members of the campus community.  Flyers may also be placed in the common areas of the buildings used by the campus community.  Timely warning information may be posted on the applicable KCTCS college websites and/or digital banners.

It is the consistent practice of the KCTCS community to notify the Campus Security Authorities and/or designee, who then confers as necessary with appropriate KCTCS System Office administrators, Public Relations, Legal counsel and neighboring law enforcement agencies after a violent crime or Clery Act crime is reported.  This is done to determine if the circumstances and facts represent a serious or ongoing threat to members of the community.

The Campus Security Authorities will prepare and arrange to disseminate a timely warning as soon as pertinent information and resources are available. The Campus Security Authority is primarily responsible for issuing timely warnings. Timely warnings may be developed in partnership with appropriate campus departments, KCTCS Office of General Counsel, and KCTCS Safety and Emergency Services. The crime bulletin is reviewed and approved for release by Campus Security, Marketing and Communications, KCTCS Office of General Counsel or some combination. This collaboration is sometimes necessary when a bulletin for crimes of a more serious or immediate nature is needed to prepare consistent information for release on the website and/or digital signage to the campus community.

HCC is an open campus. Business hours are: 7 a.m.. to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday. Buildings in use on the weekends are the only buildings open.

Weekend classes are generally held in the Administration Building (ADM) and the Henderson Fine Arts Center is often open on weekend for events. Most areas and rooms on campus are open access but some areas, such as computer labs, science labs and mechanical areas, are only open as necessary. Depending on the necessity of access, most faculty and staff are given office keys and keys to their classrooms and possibly the outside door of their building. Approximately 33 employees are issued building master or grand master keys, allowing access to buildings and doors campus-wide. Employees working after dark on second shift review exterior lighting and report problems to maintenance for bulb replacement or repair. HCC encourages the campus community to report equipment failures to Maintenance & Operations staff to ensure a safe and secure campus. 

If you need assistance after 4:30 p.m., the evening phone number is 270-823-3350. For immediate help in an emergency dial 911. 

All special events scheduled by on or off campus groups must have prior authorization. Contact The President’s Office at 270-831-9626 for information on special event policies and procedures. Events may require additional approval, staffing and coordination.

KCTCS makes every effort to ensure that the campus facilities and grounds are designed and maintained to promote safety, prevent crime, and minimize hazardous conditions. Attention is paid to the design and maintenance of facilities, landscaping and exterior lighting. The Maintenance and Operations (M&O) Dept. maintains the buildings and grounds. Campus facilities are inspected on a regular basis and repairs impacting safety and security are made promptly. Campus M&O are mindful of security and safety concerns, keeping vegetation controlled around lighting fixtures and along campus walkways and roadways on a regular schedule. Strategies and concepts of crime prevention through environmental design are considered in the design and construction of new facilities.

M&O personnel regularly patrols the campus and reports malfunctioning lights and other unsafe physical conditions to M&O Supervisor for correction. We encourage community members to promptly report any security concern, including concerns about locking mechanisms, lighting, or landscaping to the Campus Security Authorities.

Information Sharing

HCC security awareness and crime prevention programs have an overall goal of creating and maintaining a safe environment to support the academic mission of the college and ensure the well-being of campus community members. 

The goal of sharing this information is to inform students and employees about security procedures, the practices to promote safety and eliminate or minimize criminal opportunities, and to encourage students/employees to take responsibility for personal and community safety. 

Programs and Prevention

HCC encourages students and employees to be responsible for their own security and the security of others. Every employee is provided a Crisis Management Plan flip chart with emergency procedures and emergency contact information. This flip chart is updated annually. 

HCC uses various methods such as presentations by local police, BAT members, newsletters, and employee meetings to educate the campus community on specific programs designed to inform students and employees about the prevention of crimes. 

Henderson Community College has established a Behavior Assessment Team that consists of key faculty and staff who receive reports from trained observers on campus about any individual exhibiting any behavior that could be a concern for campus safety, disruptions or the welfare and personal safety of anyone on campus. The BAT meets monthly and has called meetings when a Behavior Report Form is submitted. 

Articles on personal safety and emergency 
procedures are included periodically in both The Buzz, a weekly electronic newsletter to students and The Green Street, a weekly electronic newsletter to faculty and staff. 

CPR and AED training is provided to employees on a regular basis in order to ensure employees are ready in case of need.

KCTCS Drug and Alcohol Policy

KCTCS is committed to providing a healthy and safe environment for its students, faculty, and staff. KCTCS has defined conduct in relation to the unlawful possession, use, dispensation, distribution, or manufacture of alcohol or illicit drugs. Conduct which is in violation of this definition poses unacceptable risks and disregard for the health, safety, and welfare of members of the KCTCS community and shall result in disciplinary action up to and including suspension or termination.

As a recipient of federal grants and contracts, KCTCS gives this notice to students, faculty, and staff that it is in compliance with, and shall continue to be in compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendment of 1989. Students, faculty and staff are herein notified of the standards of conduct which shall be applicable while on KCTCS property, on KCTCS business, and/or at KCTCS sponsored activities.

Sanctions

Under KCTCS policies and procedures, students who violate this standard of conduct are subject to disciplinary action from a minimum of a warning to a maximum of suspension from KCTCS.

Faculty and staff are subject to disciplinary action from a minimum of a warning to a maximum of termination from KCTCS employment.

Under state and federal drug laws, the gravity of the sanction depends on the classification of the controlled substance, the particular activity involved (possession or trafficking which includes manufacture, sale, and possession with intent to sell), and whether or not multiple convictions are involved.

Under Kentucky law, the most severe penalty for a drug law violation involves trafficking. On a first offense conviction, one may receive a fine of up to $10,000.00 and/or a sentence of up to ten years in the penitentiary; for subsequent offenses, the penalties may be doubled.

Under federal law, for simple possession of a controlled substance, one may be imprisoned for up to one (1) year and/or fined up to $1,000.00. For subsequent offenses, one may be imprisoned for up to three (3) years and/or fined up to $5,000.00. Under federal law, one may be fined up to $8,000,000.00 and/or may be sentenced from not less than 10 years up to life in prison for drug trafficking. For violations of other federal drug laws, one may receive life in prison or the death penalty.

Under both state and federal laws, one may suffer the loss of whatever property (house, farm) or possessions (vehicle) which one may have used in the drug trade.

Sanctions for violation of state alcohol laws vary from a fine of $10.00 to $2,000.00, a sentence of forty-eight (48) hours to twelve (12) months in jail, and/or suspension of one's operator's license.

Students are encouraged to contact the Chief Student Officer at 270-831-9789 for information and appropriate referrals. 

Other counseling, treatment, and rehabilitation services are available in the Henderson area.

Students, faculty, staff, and visitors to campus are encouraged to annually review and be familiar with the KCTCS Sexual Misconduct Policy.

Review of this policy is required for faculty, staff, and student employees yearly for continued employment.

SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY

In compliance with the Federal Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act of 2000, KCTCS, through the Kentucky State Police, makes information available to the campus community concerning registered sex offenders who may be employees or students at your college.

The Kentucky State Police provides sex crime offender registration information to the public through the Sex Offender Registry website. Search the KSP Sex Offender Registry Website.

According to the Kentucky State Police, this website is for public safety and awareness. Pursuant to KRS 525.070 and 525.080, use of information from this website to harass a sex offender is a criminal offense punishable by up to 90 days in the county jail. More severe penalties apply for more severe crimes committed against a sex offender.

Security and Crisis Management 

KCTCS Safety and Emergency Services assists Campus Security departments with developing, maintaining, and implementing emergency operations plans, developing and conducting exercises, hazard and risk education, and building partnerships with external response agencies. KCTCS Procedure 523-P is followed for Critical Incidents and other preparedness measures.

The System Office Crisis Management Team staffs the System Office Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and may be activated to provide resource and support services to college EOC, if needed. The System Office Crisis Management Team is equipped to provide the following services to colleges when requested:

• Public and media relations support
• Facilities support
• Temporary alteration of administrative and business policies and procedures
• Procurement of resource and support services
• After-action incident evaluation

Not all incidents will require an activation of your EOC. For smaller, routine campus incidents response operations may be managed virtually by several members of your Crisis Management Team. 

Emergency Action Plans detailing evacuation routes are provided in every building and classroom on KCTCS campuses. 

KCTCS regularly works with local law enforcement to ensure any incidents reported in the area, that may affect the college, are communicated. 

Emergency Notification

KCTCS uses a Safety Notification Alert Process (SNAP) for communication information quickly. Students are automatically signed up when they enroll at an KCTCS college. Faculty, staff and interested individuals can sign up to receive SNAP messages online. 

In the event of an incident that requires the immediate notification to the campus community, a SNAP Alert will be issued, that will provide text, voice, broadcast and e-mail messages to all members of the college community.  Face-to-face communication will be used in the event technology fails.   

Each KCTCS College has a SNAP Team and uses a consultation approach to confirm there is a significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of student or employees occurring on campus.  The college President is responsible for confirming an emergency, with the assistance of college administrators, local first responders and/or the national weather service.  Upon confirmation, the college will, without delay, and taking into account the safety of the community, determine the content of the notification and initiate the notification system, unless issuing a notification will in the professional judgment of responsible authorities, compromise efforts to assist a victim or to contain, respond to or otherwise mitigate the emergency. 

The KCTCS College team and/or designated personnel, when possible, will determine the content of the notification, considering the scope of the notification based on the segment of the community at risk (e.g. targeted areas, campus wide, building specific)

SNAP Team Members

Dr. Jason Warren, President/CEO; Todd Gray, KCTCS Director of Security; Karen Guess, Administrative Assistant to the President; Dr. Chad Phillips, Dean of Student Services; Mike Knecht, Interim Chief Academic Officer; Brian McMurtry, Director of Knowledge Management; Kat Lea, Chief Business Officer; Zach Charville, M&O Supervisor; Officer James Elliott, Campus Security Officer; Michelle Dixon, Coordinator of Public Relations; Melisa Hedgepath (Audubon); Allison Horning, Directory of Library Services; Cheryl McKendree, LAPS Administrative Assistant; Gil Morales, Welding Instructor; Dana Walker, Allied Health Administrative Assistant; Stacey Williams, STEM Administrative Assistant; Sonya Parker, HCC Bookstore Manager; Jon Reidford, Distance Learning/Web Coordinator;  Heather Roy (MSU); Shawna Scott (SMC); Micki Shelton (VOC REHAB); Mary Steely (MSU); Jeanna Ramage (Audubon).

SNAP is not the only means the College uses to communicate emergency information to the College community. KCTCS Colleges may use their website, local TV, radio, newspaper, and various social media.

Follow-up information will be provided to the campus community using some or all of the systems described above. The larger community, parents, neighbors, and other interested parties can access emergency information through the college website or the media. 

Training, Drills, and Exercises

Each semester, the campuses conducts drills, exercises and appropriate follow-up training.  These activities are designed to improve emergency response on an ongoing basis. After action report briefings and corrective action plans are developed and conducted for each exercise or activation. Documentation of past exercises which include exercise descriptions, date, time, whether the exercise was announced/unannounced are available for review upon request. Contact the Safety and Security office for more information or to make a request. 

The IT Department documents and files each SNAP Alert test. This includes a description of the drill or exercise, date, time of test, and how the test was announced or it was unannounced.