Campus Safety - District Safety Plan

Updated October 2011

This Safety Plan fulfills the requirements addressed in RCW 28B.10.569.

As part of our ongoing commitment to the health and safety of all students, employees, and visitors, the Pierce College District has compiled this comprehensive directory of policies, procedures, statistics, memorandums of understanding, mutual aid agreements, and general information and resources related to campus public safety, emergency management, and health.

Safety Plan Task Force

Pierce College District has organized a Safety Plan Task Force to continually review, update, and support implementation of the District's Safety Plan. The task force is comprised of a representative from each constituent group: students, staff, faculty, district administration, and Campus Safety from each campus.

Crime Statistics

Pierce College District, in accordance with the Jeanne Clery Act, makes crime statistics available on the Pierce College District's Web site.

Campus Enrollment

Detailed enrollment and student demographic information is available.

Non-student District Workforce Data

Type Count
Full-time faculty 124
Part-time faculty 293
Classified staff 236
Admin./Exempt 83
Hourly 158
Student/Work Study 191
Total 1,085

Campus Security Personnel

Pierce College District employs a security staff of four full-time officers and 15 part-time officers. Officers patrol both main campuses (Pierce College Puyallup and Pierce College Fort Steilacoom) on foot and by vehicle, and all are authorized to request identification from any person on district property at any time. For more detailed information on Pierce's Campus Security personnel.

Special Safety Services

Campus Safety provides a number of free services to assist students, faculty, and staff. These include: escorts from campus buildings to vehicles; disabled vehicle services; secured building access; and lost and found services. For detailed information on these services, visit the Safety Services page.

Preventing Campus Violence

Pierce College District values the safety and security of all students, employees, and visitors to any college event or facility. Ongoing efforts are being made to train employees to accurately identify persons prone to violence, and to ensure those persons are handled cautiously, with the utmost safety and compassion, and in a way that protects all persons involved. Additional information about emergency management, incident actions plans such as "Armed Intruder Response" and training resources can be found at the Emergency Management page.

Weapons Policy

The Pierce College District abides by Washington's state laws barring possession or use of any weapons on campus. The district's weapons policy is the one outlined by Washington Administrative Code 132K-126-170 (19), as outlined in the student conduct code. To view the conduct code online.

Controlled Substances Policy

The Pierce College District has implemented a program to prevent unlawful possession, use, or distribution of alcohol and controlled substances by students and employees. Details of this program are contained in the Student Conduct Code and in the Drug and Alcohol Workplace Prevention policy and an Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation policy.

Student Privacy Policy

The district complies with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) that requires student records be confidentially maintained. FERPA protects the privacy of student educational records and guarantees students certain rights with respect to those records. visit the FERPA Web site for more details.

Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, and Stalking Information

Information about these crimes is available on the Pierce College Sex Offences web page. Here, victims will find contact information for various community resources designed to assist victims with reporting these crimes, as well as managing the physical, mental, and emotional consequences. Victims are encouraged to report these crimes to local police as soon as possible.

Sexual Harassment Policy

The Pierce College District supports the dignity and worth of each member of its community and is committed to maintaining an environment free from discrimination, including sexual harassment. The Sexual Harassment Prevention policy applies to all levels and areas of district operations and programs, to students, faculty, staff, and all other personnel, and is intended to ensure that all employees and students are provided equitable opportunities to realize their goals and to function effectively within the Pierce College environment. To view the policy, visit http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/policy/manual/policyCh1.htm#1.17.0000.

Access for Disabled/Special Needs Persons

Pierce College District supports an integrated learning environment for students with disabilities and special needs by providing them services and support to ensure equal access to all college facilities, programs, and activities. For detailed information on the services, accommodations, and access options open to students with permanent or temporary disabilities, or special needs, visit the Access and Disability Services web site.

Mental Health and Community Resources

In an effort to address the variety of needs of all its students: personal, emotional, and academic, Pierce College provides mental health services to enrolled students at each college: Fort Steilacoom, Puyallup, and off-site locations. Counseling services are free to enrolled students.

Faculty Counselors at the Fort Steilacoom and Puyallup campuses are licensed mental health counselors for the state of Washington. They are trained to provide consultation with faculty, staff, and students; to provide short-term personal counseling; and to make appropriate referrals to community agencies. Faculty Counselors also provide a wide range of services, including crisis intervention and outreach presentations on issues common to college environment, such as time/stress management, eating disorders, alcohol/substance use/abuse, and relationship issues. For more information regarding community mental health resources and college counseling services, visit the Counseling web site.

Communication Procedures

In the event a situation arises, either on or adjacent to campus, that, in the judgment of the Director of Safety & Security or an Executive Team Member, constitutes an ongoing or continuing threat, a campus wide "Campus Safety Alert" will be issued. The notification will be issued through the college e-mail system to students, faculty, and staff. Depending on the circumstances of the incident, Campus Safety may also post notices on campus bulletin boards and on the college web site at: http://www.pierce.ctc.edu. Anyone with information warranting a Campus Safety Alert should immediately report the circumstances to Campus Safety, by phone or in person.

Memorandums of Understanding

The Pierce College District has begun conversations with local first responders to establish the roles and responsibilities of each agency in the event of campus emergencies.

Mutual Aid Arrangements

The Pierce College District has begun conversations with local and State resources for mutual aid.

Institutional Compliance

Chris MacKersie, District Director of Safety and Security, is responsible for monitoring and coordinating of compliance of the District's Safety Plan in accordance RCW 28B.10.569. Contact him via email at cmackersie@pierce.ctc.edu or via phone at (253) 912-3655.

Chris MacKersie
Director of Safety and Security
Assistant Director of Facilities
(253) 912-3655

Fort Steilaccom

Ben Gomes
Campus Safety Supervisor

9401 Farwest Drive SW
Cascade Building, C-311
Voice: (253) 964-6751

Hours:
M-F: 7:00 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Sat: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Puyallup

Maureen Rickertsen
Campus Safety Supervisor

1601 39th Avenue SE
Gaspard Building, Room ADM 117
Voice: (253) 840-8481

Hours:
M-Th: 7:00 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.
F: 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sat: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.