Annual Campus Crime Summary
Wheeling University Public Safety is responsible for preparing and distributing this report. We work with many other departments and agencies, such as the Offices of the Dean of Undergraduate Students and the Wheeling Police Department to compile the information. We encourage members of the campus community to use this report as a guide for safe practices on and off campus. Each member of the University community receives an email that describes the report and provides its Web address.
Located at 316 Washington Avenue, Wheeling WV, the Public Safety Office is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The telephone number for Public Safety is X-2486 (off campus it is 304-243-2486).The department consists of Public Safety officers dedicated to providing best-in-class service to the community. Officers patrol the campus on foot and a security carts. Several officers and a supervisor are on duty 24 hours a day. The department also employs students who carry out a variety of roles, including desk attendants.
Our Mission and Values
Our mission is to enhance the living, learning, and working experience at Wheeling University by protecting life, maintaining order, and safeguarding property. We fulfill this purpose by providing our community with a full range of services that meet the highest professional standards of campus public safety. We are committed to working with the community to define our priorities and build lasting partnerships. Our core values guide us in this mission.
All students, employees, and guests should promptly report criminal incidents, accidents, and other emergencies to the Public Safety Office by dialing X-2486 on campus. Individuals also may report incidents in person at the Public Safety office located in Swint Hall on the ground level.
The University relies on its close working relationships with local law enforcement agencies to receive information about incidents involving students on campus. The Wheeling University Public Safety Office will actively investigate any crime information it receives concerning or involving a member of the campus community. If the University is notified of a situation in which a campus community member is the victim of a crime, the department may issue a Campus Safety Alert using e2Campus Alert, detailing the incident and providing tips so that other community members may avoid similar incidents. The Wheeling University Public Safety Department is notified of crime or other serious incidents occurring off campus by local law enforcement. We will forward for disciplinary action any information regarding student misconduct for any off campus incident.
The annual Public Safety Report is required by the Student Right to Know and Public Safety Act of 2000 and its amendments. The Act requires that the security report be distributed to the students and employees of the University. It contains the following information:
- A statement of current University policies regarding procedures for reporting crime and emergencies and the University’s response to such reports. This includes a statement of security personnel.
- A statement of policies concerning the security of, and the access to, campus facilities.
- A statement of policies and procedures concerning sex offenses.
- Summaries of the various prevention programs offered by the University regarding personal safety and security, drug and alcohol abuse, and sex offenses.
- Statements regarding the University’s policies on the possession, use, and sale of alcohol and illegal drugs.
- The annual summary of reported incidents.
- A list of definitions explaining the various categories of incidents reported in the annual summary. This report has been compiled by the Safety and Security Department and the Student Development Office. Any questions regarding this report should be directed to the Dean for Student Development at 304-243-2350 or to the Director of Safety and Security at 304-243-4453.
Security Procedures
Safety and Security personnel are available to assist students, employees, and visitors. Officers do not have law enforcement or arrest authority. Their responsibilities include enforcement of traffic and parking regulations, enforcement of university policies and behavioral expectations, and make rounds to inspect the campus for safety and maintenance concerns. Officers have a mobile telephone to receive calls for their assistance and to contact all outside emergency services. The Safety and Security Department maintains a close and cooperative relationship with the local police and fire authorities.
The University provides information and educational programs to the community in a variety of ways. The Director of Safety and Security meets all incoming students and their parents at each summer orientation. Each year, students are provided with handbooks that include information about security procedures on campus. Residence hall programs also include programs on personal safety and security. The department also utilizes closed-circuit television cameras at the main entrance to campus and gate to secure the rear entrance after hours.
The University also offers a campus escort service. Students are encouraged to call for an escort whenever they would be walking alone on campus at night. The escort is provided by a two-person team of Student Security Assistants equipped with a radio or a Safety and Security Officer. The University’s Wellness Program, a requirement for graduation, includes a risk prevention component, which deals in part with personal safety issues. A list of all wellness programs is available on the online calendar.
Employees are welcome to attend any of the Wellness Programs offered on campus. Security issues are discussed at each new personnel orientation coordinated at least once a year by the Human Resource Director and are included in the new employee orientation handbook that is given to all employees when they begin their employment.
No student organizations have off-campus facilities or locations. Safety and Security personnel work cooperatively with local police on any matters which involve University students in off-campus situations.
Alcohol and Illegal Drugs
The university is committed to maintaining a drug-free environment and has a Drug and Alcohol Policy in place. Counseling is readily available for students and employees in need of assistance in dealing with alcohol and other drug issues.
The university enforces the policy which prohibits the possession of alcohol by individuals under the age of 21. The university possesses a beer license and does not sell alcohol to individuals under the age of 21. It is the University policy to comply with the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988 and the Drug Free School and Communities Amendments of 1989.
Individuals who violate these regulations are subject to disciplinary action which may ultimately lead to expulsion, termination of employment and legal prosecution.
Sexual Harassment and Assaults
The University is committed to a community which respects the dignity and worth of the individual. Sexual harassment and/or sexual misconduct of students or employees in any form will not be tolerated. In cases involving student behavior, the Sexual Harassment & Sexual Misconduct Policy, found in the Student Handbook, provides detailed protocol, procedures, and on and off-campus support venues. Cases involving employee behavior should be directed to Human Resources.
Complaints of sexual misconduct cases involving students may be directed to one of five officess for prompt responses: the Dean for Student Development, the Counseling Center, the Health Center, Residence Life, or Safety and Security. The University has a network of area resources for the referral of individuals needing additional assistance. The individual may choose to file charges within the university, exercise legal rights outside the university, or both. The university will change an individual’s academic schedule or on-campus housing, if requested and reasonably available. Detailed procedures for complaints are outlined in the Student Handbook under the section Sexual Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy and include a description of the mediation process and disciplinary actions.
Fire Safety Report
All residence halls at Wheeling University are equipped with a fire alarm system and sprinklers.
Fire drills are held at least once a year in all residence halls. Policies on portable electrical devices and smoking inside residence halls are found in the Student Handbook.
In the event of a fire, the University expects all campus community members will evacuate by the nearest exit, closing doors and activating the fire alarm system as they leave. Once safely outside the building , it is appropriate to contact 911 and the Department of Campus Safety at 304-243-2486. In the event a fire alarm sounds, University policy is that all occupants must evacuate from the building closing doors as they leave. No training is provided to students or most employees in firefighting or suppression activity. Do not delay in exiting from any building in case of an alarm or fire.
Wheeling University is required to annually disclose statistical data on all fires that occur in on-campus housing facilities. Listed below are NON-EMERGENCY numbers to call to report fires already extinguished in on-campus housing;
Director of Campus Safety: 304-243-4453
Director of Housing: 304-243-2341
Campus Crime Summary
Incidents reported here are those which are required by the Student Right to Know and Campus Security Act of 1990 and its amendments. Statistics reported under items A through F are alleged criminal offenses occurring on campus as reported to the Safety and Security Department or the local police. Statistics under items G through J report the number of arrests on campus for these crimes. An “arrest” has occurred when a law enforcement officer has detained an individual with the intention of seeking criminal charges against the person(s) for a specific offense and a record was made of the detention. Statistics under items K through N were compiled by student affairs which include references from safety and security, housing and residence life staff, and other university officials. These are violations of campus policy.