Our Residents’ Safety is Our First Priority
(for residents and their parents)
The University of North Texas Department of Housing and Residence Life’s highest priority is the safety & security of the residence hall community and the University community. The Department of Housing and Residence Life works closely with the University Police Department, the Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities, the Dean of Students, and University Relations, Communications and Marketing to uphold the safety of our halls. Security in the residence halls is provided in a number of ways, but it is important that students be aware of their environment and make good decisions about their own safety and that of their fellow students. The following safety/security measures, policies and procedures are in place to assist students while they attend the University of North Texas and live in our residence halls.
ID Card Access
Each residence hall on campus (except for College Inn) is equipped with an electronic id card access system. Main entry doors are locked during evening and night hours and can only be unlocked by those whose id cards are coded for access. Other than Housing staff and emergency personnel, only students who live in a particular residence hall have ID card access to that hall.
Resident Room Keys
UNT Housing resident room keys belong to a controlled lock system and cannot be duplicated. Only the Housing key shop has the ability to make keys for our buildings. Extra keys are stored in computerized key boxes to which limited staff members have access. If a key is lost, the key core is replaced and new keys are issued for the room (this is the reason for lock change charges).
E-trans (University Bus System)/Security Escort Service
Students, staff, and faculty may ride any E-trans or LINK (City of Denton bus system) bus at no cost. E-trans buses operate Monday - Thursday from 7:15 am till 10:30 pm and on Fridays from 7:15 am to 5:30 pm on most routes. The Night Rider operates around the main campus Sunday - Thursday from 5:30 pm until 2:30 am. These times are valid for fall and spring semesters; summer will have reduced hours and service. You can find the routes/schedules at http://www.unt.edu/trans/index.html. The UNT Police Department provides escort service during the hours of darkness and when the bus system is not operating.
Residence Life Staff
Each residence hall has at least one full time professional live-in hall director who is responsible for the operation of the hall and is available to assist students with safety issues. Resident Assistants (RAs) reside on each wing or floor. RAs are upperclass students who report directly to the Hall Director with a primary responsibility to look out for the residents on that wing and to build community. Both the Hall Directors and Resident Assistants are trained to handle emergencies and to contact the appropriate people on campus for assistance. There are RAs and Hall Directors on call for the buildings in our system every evening and weekend.
Housing also employs four part-time counselors (doctoral students in our counseling program) to assist with individual resident issues. Each counselor serves in an on call rotation and can be called out in the middle of the night if one of our residents is in crisis. A resident can talk to a counselor by contacting their front desk.
Our Central Housing staff serves in an on call rotation to assist the Hall Directors with issues concerning our students. If a student is in crisis Central Housing may contact parents or call emergency contact numbers either during or after the event. Central Housing staff will also respond to emergency situations on campus as needed.
Emergency Phones
There are emergency phones positioned throughout campus that have a touch button with direct line access to the UNT Police Department. These phones can be identified by the green pole, blue strobe light, and the word “EMERGENCY” stenciled on three sides. Once the talk button is activated the caller can speak directly with a police dispatcher.
Fire Safety
We take issues of fire safety seriously in a community as large as a residence hall. In cooperation with the University of North Texas Fire Marshall, we keep our halls in regulation with fire code and safety concerns mandated by the State of Texas. The residence hall staff in each building is trained in fire evacuation and response.
Mattresses
Housing developed a mattress constructed to the highest quality in safety. Each mattress meets or exceeds all of the national fire codes. The cover is flame retardant and also is designed to resist liquids and microbial contamination. We are in the process of placing these mattresses on each of our residence hall beds.
Fire/ Tornado Drill
At the beginning of each semester every residence hall conducts a fire drill and tornado drill so that our residents are aware of all procedures surrounding these possible emergencies.
Drugs
The Department of Housing and Residence Life has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to illegal drug use or possession. The full time professional staff has the authority according to University policy and procedure to conduct administrative searches in rooms where we have been notified drugs are being used or stored and/or if we have evidence (i.e., smell of marijuana) where drugs are being used. Students who use or possess illegal drugs or are caught pharming legal drugs will be referred to the Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities for alleged violations of the Code of Student Conduct. Due to the safety issue drugs present and the impact illegal drugs can have on the academic standards and community atmosphere within our halls, students who use illegal drugs (on or off campus) will be removed from the Residence Halls within 72 hours of meeting with a judicial officer no matter how minor the drug infraction. Students removed from the residence halls due to violating the ABC’s of Residence Hall Living or the Student Code of Conduct will forfeit their deposit and be charged the $500 administrative fee for breaking their housing contract. To assist in our endeavors to keep the residence halls safe we encourage our residents to report illegal drug use or possession to the hall staff or UNT Crimestoppers at 940-369-TIPS (8477).
Alcohol
Students 21 and over are permitted to consume alcohol in their rooms as long as everyone present is also 21 or over. Kegs, beer balls and progressive drinking parties are not permitted in the residence halls at any time. Under no circumstance should a resident under the age of 21 consume alcohol at any time on campus. If a resident returns to the halls intoxicated and the hall staff has to interact with that resident for being disruptive the student will be referred to the Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities. Students who violate the alcohol policy for the first time will be referred to CSRR and will receive educational sanctions from their respective Judicial Officer. One of the sanctions for the first violation is a warning: “Any additional alcohol violations will result in permanent removal from the residence halls.” Any subsequent alcohol violations result in removal from the residence halls regardless of the time frame in between. Each Judicial Officer discusses candidly the impact that underage alcohol use has on the residence hall community (roommates, floor mates, hall staff, etc.) during the first meeting and UNT believes that a second alcohol violation means a student has chosen to continue the same behavior. Students removed from the residence halls due to violating the ABC’s of Residence Hall Living or the Student Code of Conduct will forfeit their deposit and be charged the $500 administrative fee for breaking their housing contract.
Parental Notification for Alcohol/ Drug Violations
The Housing may contact parents in accordance with the Higher Education Reauthorization Act of 1998 in regards to issues of concern with student’s use of drugs and/or the use of alcohol under the age of 21. Housing will not contact parents for every violation of drugs or alcohol, only when it is severe enough the department believes the parents of the underage resident needs to be involved in the incident.
Weapons
All items deemed a weapon by state & federal law (nunchucks, brass knuckles, firearms, knives with a blade longer than 5 ½ inches, etc.) as well as bb guns, airsoft guns and CO2 guns are not permitted in the residence halls.
Confidentiality of Resident Locations
It is departmental policy that the physical room numbers of students who live in the residence halls will not be given out. Room locations will only be given to UNT Police Officers who request the information.
Confidentiality of Resident Records
Student records such as discipline files, financial records and grades are protected by the Federal Education Right to Privacy Act (FERPA). Parents may need to present documentation to our department or the University confirming that they claim their student as a dependent for income tax purposes in order to obtain access to these records. The guidelines set forth by FERPA are not established to create a barrier between parents and the university, but to educate and protect our students as our primary business client.
University Police Department
The University of North Texas Police Department consists of certified peace officers who uphold state, federal and local laws and the safety of the UNT Community. The UNTPD and the Housing Department have a strong working relationship with one another to meet the safety needs of our community. Both departments keep one another informed of issues surrounding the residence halls and the university community.
Pedestrian Safety
Our concern for resident safety extends beyond the walls of the residence halls; therefore we created a pedestrian safety campaign to make drivers and students aware of pedestrians on campus. Students should use crosswalks whenever possible and stay alert when crossing streets, as not all drivers are vigilant about watching for pedestrians.
Personal Property/Residents’ Responsibilities
In conjunction with the UNTPD, each residence hall sponsors a TAG-It program to assist residents in marking their personal property. The UNTPD provides etching pens for residents to write their name and phone numbers on their property and also assists them in registering their bicycles with the UNT Police Department. Residents who bring a bike to campus are encouraged to lock it on a bike rack with a “U lock” rather than a chain.
We strongly encourage our residents to lock their doors at all times. Some residents make the mistake of leaving their doors perpetually unlocked so that friends can come and go, but this can create an invitation for theft.
Residents are encouraged to procure renters insurance for personal belongings while living in a residence hall. Students’ belongings at college may be covered as a rider under their parents’ homeowners insurance, but in the instance that option is not available separate insurance may often be purchased for a small fee.
Missing Residents/Suzanne’s Law
If the UNT Housing Department becomes aware of a missing resident (i.e., roommate has not seen them in a few days, parents call because they have not shown up at home for Thanksgiving) it is our policy to react seriously to this event. The National Child Search Assistance Act allows police to report missing persons under 21 to the National Crime Information Center. UNT Housing and UNT Police will do everything possible in order to find the missing resident (talk with friends, call significant others, check in their classes, etc.) to make sure they are not in danger.
Safety on Facebook, Live Journal, and MySpace and other Computer Blogging
Students should keep their safety in mind when chatting on line and remember that information divulged on the World Wide Web is available to anyone. Students should never give out their room/apartment location or address, their cell phone numbers, class schedules or other personal information that would allow a stranger to locate or contact them. This kind of personal information can create issues with identity theft, stalkers and various other problems.
It is also important to remember that what one puts out in cyber space can be there forever. Even information that has been deleted may have been printed out. Many employers use the internet to check on people who apply for jobs. If you wouldn’t want your mom or a future employer to read it, you shouldn’t post it on the internet.
Megan’s Law/ Registered Sex Offenders
Housing does not allow individuals who are required by Texas law or Megan’s Law to be registered as a sex offender to live in our residence halls. Information regarding registered sex offenders and/or individuals who are convicted felons is obtained via required questions on our housing application.
Housing’s Response to Crisis
In the event there is a crisis (fire, tornado, epidemic of contagious disease, etc.) our staff has been trained how to respond. Students and parents can find out up to date information about any crisis situation by checking the Housing website. We will post information and updates as we have them. We will also make every attempt to contact students in that individual hall by cell phone or emergency contact number if there is an incident particular to one hall.
Sexual Assault/ Campus Safety Alerts
In the event an alleged sexual assault occurs on campus or off campus with one of our residents, the Housing Department will work with the Division of Student Development, University Relations, Communications and Marketing and the UNT Police to alert the campus as needed. Students are encouraged to report any knowledge of such offenses immediately, for their own safety and the safety of others.
Self Inflicted Harm
The University of North Texas is committed to maintaining the physical and emotional well-being of all students. We will involve the parents of a student who attempts to seriously harm themselves no matter what time of day or age of the student. If a student is depressed or has mentioned thoughts of hurting him or herself the Housing staff will act appropriately and involve Counseling and Testing and Student Development as needed. We do not take issues of self-inflicted harm lightly. We know students deal with a great amount of stress as college students and it is our goal to assist them the best we can.
Threats/ Harassment/ Stalking
If any student feels threatened, harassed or stalked (in person or via computer) he or she should contact the residence hall desk or UNT police immediately. We will assist the student in getting assistance and an investigation started and will also take extra measures to help the student feel safe on campus.
Bird Flu/ Avian Flu
The University of North Texas is working on a University-wide plan to react to the Avian Flu should it become a problem that could affect our community. When the plan is finalized it will be available to all members of the UNT and Denton Community.
Health Issues (Contagious Diseases not protected by law)
Should members of our community be affected by a serious contagious disease (other than HIV) Housing will consult with the UNT Health and Wellness Center and University Relations, Communications and Marketing to react appropriately. We encourage our residents to have their vaccinations up to date and to get vaccinated for bacterial meningitis.
Compliance with Clery Act
The Clery Act requires institutions of higher education to disclose information about campus safety policies and procedures annually and to provide statistics concerning certain crimes that occur on campus and on property contiguous to the campus. The Texas Education Code also requires institutions of higher education to report crime statistics to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Information about UNT security policies, programs, and crime statistics can be found at http://www.unt.edu/csrr/campus_policy/crime_security_awareness.html. All statistics are published in regards to campus as a whole as well as the residence halls in particular.
Safety Resources
UNT Police Emergency (940) 565-3000
http://www.unt.edu/police
Center for Student Rights & Responsibilities (940) 565-2039
http://www.unt.edu/csrr
Housing & Residence Life (940) 565-2610
http://housing.unt.edu/
Campus Safety Alerts
http://www.unt.edu/police/alerts.html
Student Health & Wellness Center (940) 565-2333
http://www.unt.edu/police/alerts.html
Counseling & Testing Office (940) 565-2741
http://www.unt.edu/
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