10-Point Safety Enhancement Plan

Tennessee State University

 

  1. Safety PlanIncreased visibility of the TSU police force.

    We have a partnership with Metro Nashville Police, who have already joined with TSU PD in providing increased patrols on campus. We have also begun the process of hiring more TSU Police and Security Officers to fully implement the increased activity.

  2. The opening of a new TSU Police satellite office in the Floyd Payne Campus Center, near the courtyard area.

    This satellite office will be fully operational beginning November 1, 2015.

  3. Strict enforcement of the TSU ID policy, requiring students, faculty, and staff to wear IDs at all times.

    We will strictly enforce TSU’s ID policy, which requires students, faculty, and staff to wear their campus-issued ID at all times. IDs must be worn visibly and not contained in a pocket, book bag, or handbag.

    Fines will be imposed for individuals not wearing IDs. (The first time there will be a warning or referral. The second time is a $25 fine, and the third time is a $50 fine).

    The same policy will also apply to parking. Students and employees must show a campus-issued decal and ID to come on campus. Special IDs and parking passes will be issued to campus visitors.

  4. The incorporation of a tip hotline, through our Red Flag System, that will allow individuals to report information anonymously. We also have a mobile TSU Safety App which can be downloaded to cellular phones.

  5. We are offering cash awards to students as a part of our See Something Say Something campaign.

    This initiative encourages students to report suspicious activity to the TSU PD.

  6. The initiation of a Student Safety Patrol staffed by volunteers from student organizations—which include fraternities, sororities, service organizations, and other related campus groups—to accompany individuals across campus.

    The TSU Student Safety Patrol will consist of uniformed volunteers that will be strategically located across the campus for added patrol and provide assistance to students when requested. Recruitment has begun and will continue throughout the semester.

  7. More frequent health and safety room inspections in campus housing.

  8. Enhanced surveillance on campus, including cameras and lighting will continue.

  9. Increased access control on campus through proximity readers.

    We began this initiative with our classrooms and expand the program to include the Floyd Payne Campus Center, in approximately 3 weeks. Other campus buildings will come on-line throughout the year.

  10. The completion of Phase II of the fence project on TSU’s campus.

    Phase I is approximately 75% complete. It is the existing fence with gates and access control from Kean Hall  on 33rd to Hale Hall  on Albion.

    In Phase II – we will continue the fence to other parts of the campus. It will start from the existing chain link fence behind the Torrence Hall Engineering Building to the TSU steam plant area .

 

FUNCTIONING EMERGENCY CALL BOXES AND INCREASE OF CODE BLUE PHONES ON CAMPUS

Each of the newly installed traffic control gates have a call box incorporated into the gate controller with a direct connection to TSUPD.  These new traffic gates are located at the John Merritt Lot, the Ford Apartment Complex entrance, and Humphrey Lot. We will begin installing new traffic gates this month in the Engineering lot, the lot behind the Powerhouse, and the new gate planned for John L. Driver Street between the Powerhouse and Holland Hall.  All upcoming traffic gates will have call boxes as well, with the same connection to TSUPD.

All Code Blue Phones are functioning with the exception of four. These units will be taken out of service by the end of the week and be replaced based on the availability of funds. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to use the TSU Safety app. You can download the app for Android or iPhones devices.

RECREATIONAL CENTERS

The Floyd Payne Student Center has extended operating hours and is open Monday-Friday 7a.m.-11p.m., and from 9 a.m. -11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Hours may be extended based on the availability of funds.

MORE POLICE AND SECURITY

TSUPD is continuing to hire police officers and other personnel to carry out the mission of the department to serve and protect. The department is hiring additional communication workers as dispatchers and video surveillance personnel to operate and monitor new equipment scheduled to arrive in late March.

The University has enhanced the Security Program with the addition of a private contractor and the expansion of the Parking Services Unit.  TSUPD will phase out the Security Guard Program to Allied Barton Security. Additional personnel have been hired to take on the increased responsibilities of the Parking Services Unit. The TSU Parking Unit will provide coverage for all of the guard booths during the day shift, 6:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. The Parking Unit will also take over coverage at the Avon Williams Campus.

MORE VISIBILITY FROM ADMINISTRATION

Administration and University officials are visible and accessible throughout campus. One suggestion is that SGA invite The President’s Cabinet along with faculty and staff to meetings and other student sponsored events. The University Newspaper, the Meter, will occasionally do a profile piece on an administrator.  

ID SCANNERS ON BUILDINGS AND CAMPUS ENTRY POINTS

Facility Management is currently in the process of installing access control on entrance doors for two additional buildings, the Indoor Practice Facility, and the Dairy Barn. Other buildings will follow, pending available funding.

GUESTS PASSES

Visitors/Guests include all persons that are not faculty, staff, students not currently enrolled in courses at Tennessee State University. In general, visitors can obtain one (1) day visitor badge from the following location: Campus Police (Headquarters, Queen Washington Building);  Events and Conference Services (Jane Elliott Hall); Information Desk (Floyd-Payne Campus Center); One Stop Center (Kean Hall); Parking Services (Hankal Hall, 1st Floor); and Security Booths (John A. Merritt Blvd; 33rd & Alameda). You will be required to present one of the following forms of government-issued photo identification in order to obtain your visitor badge: Passport (USA or International), Driver’s License (USA only), State Issued (Non-driver) ID, US Military ID, INS ID (Green Card). In general, visitors will receive a badge that will be valid for a designated time of access to the campus. If a visitor requires extended access to the campus, an authorized university official should e-mail a completed ID/Access Request Form to the ID/Access Center idcenter@tnstate.edu prior to sending the individual to the ID/Access Center.

HIRE MORE QUALIFIED SECURITY AND POLICE PERSONNEL

This is an on-going process for the University as it seeks to fill vacancies in the department.
Security Guard staff will be the responsibility of our contractor. The University will closely monitor their services and contract based on performance.

EQUIP SECURITY AND POLICE OFFICERS WITH A ROSTER OF CAMPUS STUDENTS INFORMATION

A current student roster was provided to TSUPD at the beginning of the semester. This will become a standard practice each semester. Additionally, Facility Management will provide TSUPD with (2) hand-held ID card readers.  The inventory will be increased based on the availability of funds. 

PURCHASE LAND AROUND TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY

TSU is currently in the process of purchasing three properties that border the campus and will continue land banking as funds are available.

INSTALLATION OF A FULLY GATED COMMUNITY

Installation of fencing and gates along the west side of campus is 70 percent complete.  The installation of fencing is complete.  Installation of the fence gates and traffic control gates will be completed in March.