Card Access to Campus Facilities
CCS’s SMART Card for academic and residential buildings is intended to provide greater security and access control throughout the campus. Students, faculty and staff are required to present a CCS identification card directly in front of a proximity reader or, during regular business hours, must show the identification card to Campus Safety personnel upon request. Authorized cardholders will be granted access. Proximity readers can detect when a reader-controlled door is forced or held open. If a door is forced or held open for too long, it will alert Campus Safety. Card access falls under the umbrella of Campus Safety and is subject to the rules and regulations of Campus Safety relative to access privileges.
The CCS campus is designed to serve the needs of the CCS community, and several areas of the campus are open to the public as well. These areas include the CCS galleries, the CCS Bookstore, and certain dining facilities among other locations. The Conference Center located on the 11th floor of the Taubman Center is often used as a public venue, in which case a member of the safety staff is stationed in the lobby to monitor entry and exit by members of the public.
Building security is the responsibility of the entire community; please do not treat it lightly. If you observe a door that is propped open, close it and advise the Campus Safety Office at 313-664-7444 (Ford Campus) or 313-664-1444(Taubman Campus). If you are issued keys, be aware of the responsibility that comes with them. A missing key could be used by anyone at any time. CCS residence halls and campus buildings are accessible with a CCS ID card. If your CCS ID card is lost or stolen, please report it to Campus Safety immediately. Your missing card will need to be deactivated to prevent someone who finds. it from gaining unauthorized access to CCS buildings. Campus Safety will issue you a new card to replace your lost or stolen card.
Safety Walk and Motor Vehicle Assistance Program
Safety Walk
During the winter months daylight fades fast and although the campus area is safe, there are times when you might feel uncomfortable walking to your car. In order to assist you the Campus Safety Department is offering a program called “Safe Walk”. Simply put, if you feel uncomfortable walking to your vehicle alone at night just call Campus Safety at 664-7444 (ext 7444 on any campus phone), or stop by the office and make arrangements for a safety officer to walk with you to your vehicle. The officer will make sure that you get to your vehicle safely and that it starts. The program is available for students, staff and faculty of the College.
Motor Vehicle Assistance Program
Dead car battery? Don’t worry. The Campus Safety Department has a portable battery pack capable of “jump starting” your vehicle in case your battery died. To take advantage of this service call the Campus Safety office and let them know you need assistance.
Security Awareness and Crime Prevention
CCS offers a variety of programs designed to inform students and employees about campus security procedures and practices and to encourage students and employees to be responsible for their own security and the security of others. CCS strives to be proactive rather than reactive in preventing crimes from occurring. Whenever possible, crime prevention programs are conducted in concert with educational programs sponsored by College organizations. The College’s crime prevention program takes a two-part approach to the prevention of crime and criminal misconduct. It is designed to minimize opportunities for crime on campus and to create an atmosphere in which students and other community members become more responsible for their own security and the security of others. Below is a list of programs and services provided by the CCS Campus Safety and Student Affairs:
Safety Tips
- Be observant. Make sure that you are aware of your environment. It is advisable that you familiarize yourself with campus buildings and landmarks.
- Know the route to your destination. When you are lost you naturally feel vulnerable. Locate and memorize the locations of the Emergency Intercoms your campus route.
- Stay in populated areas of campus buildings and walkways. Criminals thrive on anonymity. Your chance of depriving them of that is increased in well-populated areas.
- After dark, walk in well lighted areas of campus and the surrounding area. Always remain on campus walkways and city sidewalks. Cutting between buildings and through alleys takes you out of the public eye.
- Walk in groups. There is safety in numbers.
- Try to “travel light” around campus. Carry all your belongings in one bag. Numerous backpacks, purses, cases, umbrellas and boxes weigh you down. If you need to run or defend yourself, you will want to be able to react quickly.
- If you carry chemical defense spray have it ready. A criminal or would-be attacker is not going to wait for you to retrieve it from your purse, or briefcase.
- Walk with purpose and attitude. Display confidence. Even if you are lost, act like you know where you are going.
- Keep your head up and don’t be afraid to make eye contact with people.
- Study in groups when possible. If you seek solitude while studying, try studying at home or in a designated study area provided in CCS Libraries. Always remember that tucking yourself away, off the beaten path, may make you an easier target.
- Never leave property unattended in any campus building or in your car. Theft is common on any campus. However, it can be avoided if you are constantly mindful of your property.
- If you need to step out for a bathroom break or to get a snack, leave your property under the supervision of someone you trust, or take it with you.
- Park your car in CCS parking structures. CCS structures are routinely patrolled by Campus Safety. However, the biggest benefit is the natural surveillance provided by all the students driving in and out or walking to and from their cars.
- If you use a cellphone, or other electronic devices in your car, conceal it or take it with you. If it uses a lighter jack, hide the jack out of site.
- Keep anything of even minimal value, in the trunk, if you do not take it with you.
- If you see any suspicious activity or person, call Campus Safety at 313-664-7444 (Ford Campus) or 313-664-1444 (Taubman Center) or the Wayne State University Police at 313-577-2222.
Additional Tips for Faculty and Staff
Staff and faculty members often spend a lot of time here on campus. Your office and/or classroom can easily become your “home away from home”. You should consider and take the same security precautions and security measures, here on campus, as you would in your own home. Some of these precautions are discussed below:
- Be Aware of Your Surroundings: Police officers use this term frequently. It means nothing more than simply being aware of what is going on around you and whether or not that activity is normal and expected for the setting. If something seems strange, unusual or suspicious, you are asked to contact the Campus Security immediately at 313-664-7444 (Ford Campus) or 313-664-1444 (Taubman Center). Campus Safety personnel will be dispatched to check out the activity.
- Maintain the Security of Your Building: CCS is a private institution and its facilities (including all campus buildings) are reserved for the exclusive use of its students, staff, faculty, guests and visitors. Contrary to what some think, CCS buildings are not “open to the public.” Only authorized persons are allowed access to campus buildings, even during regular business hours. If you see anyone who does not appear to have legitimate business in a campus building, please contact the Campus Security immediately.
- Please do not prop open building doors. While propping a door open may provide some level of convenience, it can also increase risks to persons and property. Please do not admit persons you don’t know to campus buildings. While it may be courteous to open a door for someone, this action can also place persons or activity at risk.
- When you are not in your office or work area, strongly consider closing and locking your office door. It takes a couple of seconds to close and lock a door – about the same amount of time for a thief to walk in and steal a purse, laptop or other valuable items.
- It is fairly common knowledge, among both police officers and thieves, that about 85 percent of female staff members, working in an office setting, will keep their purse in a bottom right hand desk drawer in their office or work area. How long would it take for a thief to walk up to your desk and open the bottom right hand drawer, remove the purse and walk out of your office? The answer – about as long as it took you to read this last sentence! A suggested solution would be to either lock your desk or always lock your office every time you leave it.
- When Working Late: If you are working late in any campus building and few coworkers are around, please feel free to notify Campus Safety.