Bluffton University

Security

The Clery Act

The Campus Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990 (The Clery Act) requires colleges and universities to a) publish and distribute through publications or mailings an annual report of campus security policies and crime statistics to all current students and employees, b) provide copies of the annual report to any applicant for enrollment or employment upon request and c) upon request, submit a copy of the annual report to the secretary of education. The crimes to be reported are: murder, sex offenses (forcible or non-forcible), robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft and crimes involving bodily injury to a victim because that person was intentionally selected because of their actual or perceived race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity or disability. A crime is considered to be reported when the police officer or the vice president of student affairs has been notified that a crime has occurred. Bluffton must also report the number of arrests for the following crimes that occur on campus: liquor law violations, drug abuse violations and weapons possession. An arrest has occurred when a law enforcement officer has detained an individual with the intention of seeking charges against the person for a specific offense and a record is made of the detention.

As stated in the Bluffton University Academic Catalog and the Student Handbook, all members of the campus community are expected to obey local, state and federal laws. Failure to do so may result in referrals to the university through the campus judicial system and the appropriate law enforcement agencies. Victims of any crimes are urged to inform the Bluffton police immediately about the criminal activity.

 Reporting procedures

The vice president of student affairs and athletics is responsible for monitoring and maintaining records on criminal activity occurring on campus. Students, faculty and staff should notify the vice president of student affairs and athletics immediately about any criminal activity. Residential students may obtain report forms from the hall directors for this purpose. Any type of criminal activity considered to be a threat to the safety and security of members of the campus community will be shared with members of the campus community via announcements posted on the bulletin boards, email or voice mail. An annual report on crime statistics will be compiled by the vice president of student affairs and athletics and printed in the Student Handbook each September (see crime statistics) and it will be made available to prospective students and prospective employees upon request.

Security for the campus is provided by night security personnel and the Bluffton police patrol the campus on a 24-hour basis. The night security personnel are not police officers and, therefore, report all suspicious activities to the Bluffton police. The night security personnel and the vice president of student affairs and athletics work closely with the Bluffton police in dealing with criminal activities on campus.

If you experience theft, please report this immediately to vice president of student affairs and athletics 419-358-3226. If you do not reach him, please contact the Student Life Office (419-358-3247) or Buildings & Grounds department (ext. 3236) and they will direct you to the appropriate person. Additionally, an incident report should be filled out on my.bluffton.edu.

Any non-life-threatening security issues experienced by faculty and staff during work hours should be reported Buildings and Grounds Department (419-358-3236). 

Any non-life-threatening security issues experienced by students should be reported to the hall director on duty (419-303-0816). If you do not reach the hall director, contact the student life office (419-358-3247).

Any non-life-threatening security issues experienced by faculty and staff between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., contact campus security, 567-395-2830.

If a life-threatening emergency occurs, immediately call 911 for assistance.

Security escort

Anyone wishing to have a security escort from assigned parking lots or other areas on campus after 8 p.m. should call campus security at 567-395-2830.

 Annual crime statistics report

In compliance with the Campus Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990 (The Cleary Act), compilation of the information in this report and reporting of crime statistics is the responsibility of the vice president of student affairs and athletics. Crime statistics for the calendar year are based on what has been reported to campus security or the student life office, as well as any information provided by the Bluffton Police Department. The statistics include only those incidents that have occurred on-campus, in the residence halls and on public property adjacent to the campus. All campus members (faculty, staff and students) will be reminded annually at the time of distribution of this report to report all crimes.

For the calendar year 2023, there were no murders, aggravated assaults, robberies or crimes involving bodily injury to a victim because that person was intentionally selected because of his/her actual or perceived race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity or disability on campus that were reported to the vice president of student affairs and athletics or to the police. For the calendar years 2021, 2022 and 2023 there were no murders, aggravated assaults, robberies, or crimes involving bodily injury to a victim because that person was intentionally selected because of their actual or perceived race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity or disability on campus that were reported to the vice president of student affairs and athletics or to the police.

[1] On campus includes the figure from residence halls within the aggregate. [2] Public areas are mainly the city streets and sidewalks bordering the campus.  [3] Most burglaries are non-forcible unlawful entries involving petty thefts. 

Definitions of crimes for this report are based on the Uniform Crime Reporting Handbook published by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

2024 Annual Hazing Report

last updated 7/31/2024

 

Annual fire safety report

Fire safety: 
Instructions and procedures are posted in the residence halls and on all building bulletin boards. Residents should check their parents’ insurance policy for coverage of their personal possessions. Bluffton cannot be responsible for items destroyed in a fire, tornado, water damage or for stolen items. All students are expected to leave their rooms when the fire alarm is sounded. Hallways are to be kept completely free of all belongings at all times. Fire doors in the halls are to be kept closed. Fire safety policies in the residence halls are listed in fire safety, residence life section.

Fire safety for the campus community:   

• In the event of a fire, the college expects that all campus community members will evacuate by the nearest exit, closing doors and activating the fire alarm system (if one is present) as they leave. Once safely outside a building, it is appropriate to contact 911. Students and/or staff are informed where to relocate to by staff if circumstance warrants at the time of the alarm. In the event fire alarms sound, college policy is that all occupants must evacuate from the building, closing doors as they leave.
• Fire safety education and training programs are provided to students and employees.
• Fire safety education trainings are provided for all resident assistants living in on-campus student housing during the fall semester before students arrive on campus. These programs are designed to familiarize everyone with the fire safety system in each housing facility, train everyone on the procedures to be followed in case there is a fire and distribute information on the college’s fire safety policies.
• Fire safety education and training programs are taught by local fire authorities as well as the director of student residence life who is experienced in fire safety matters.
• Notification of fires: All fires that occur in the residence halls will be reported to the residence assistant of the floor as well as the hall director of the building. These staff members will then fill out an incident report which is then sent to the director of residence life and the

  vice president of student affairs and athletics

  .
  
  

2023 fire safety statistics

Missing student policy & procedure

All Bluffton University students will be offered the opportunity to provide missing person contact information at the start of the academic year or at the start of the spring semester for students who begin attending in the spring. Missing person contact information will remain on record, kept confidential and it may not be disclosed, except to law enforcement personnel in the event of a missing person investigation. If the student is under 18 years of age and not emancipated, the legal guardian or custodial parent will be contacted within 24 hours.

•  If a member of the Bluffton University community has reason to believe that a student who resides in on-campus housing is missing, he or she should immediately notify the

  vice president of student affairs and athletics

  at 419-358-3226 or email studentlife@bluffton.edu. The vice president will initiate an investigation.
• If it is determined that a residential student has been missing for more than 24 hours, faculty and staff should notify the

  vice president of student affairs and athletics

  by calling 419-358-3226 or emailing studentlife@bluffton.edu. The vice president will contact the Bluffton Police Department and the emergency contact designated by the student. If the student is under 18 years of age and not emancipated, the legal guardian or custodial parent will be contacted within 24 hours.

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