Faculty and Staff Handbook: Safety and Security

Safety Management Statement

The administration of Coffeyville Community College recognizes its responsibility to provide a safe working environment for all of its employees.  The College’s objective is to commit its management resources to attain zero accidents.

The safety of our employees and the protection of College property are paramount. Establishment and maintenance of a safe working environment is the shared responsibility of all employees from every level of our organization.  The College will attempt to do everything within its control to ensure compliance with federal, state, local and industry safety regulations.  All employees are encouraged and expected to correct unsafe conditions as promptly as possible.

All accidents that result in injury must be reported to the appropriate supervisor, regardless of how insignificant the injury may appear.

Alert Now

Coffeyville Community College provides an emergency notification system via phone and text messaging.  This is a rapid communication service which will deliver voice messages automatically at no charge to students, faculty and staff.  All employees are required to keep an updated phone number on file with the Human Resources office.

Security

Any College employee who believes any of the following has occurred at College, on College property or at a College-sponsored activity shall immediately report this/her information to local law enforcement:  an act which constitutes the commission of a felony or a misdemeanor; an act which involves the possession, use or disposal of explosives, firearms or other weapons as defined in current law.
    
It is recommended the appropriate supervisor and Vice President also be notified.

Anyone making a report in accordance with applicable law and without malice shall have immunity from any civil liability.

Crowd Control at College-Sponsored Activities

Disorder and disruption of College activities will not be tolerated, and persons attempting such action shall be held accountable.  The Board will not allow persons with disruptive intent to endanger the safety of students, College personnel or others; to damage College property; to interfere with activities or the educational process.  College administration and staff are responsible to handle or summon assistances to handle any student or problems caused by adults.

Dangerous Equipment and Materials

Coffeyville and Columbus Technical Campus Firearms Policy

According to the Federal Gun Free School Zones Act, it is unlawful for an individual to possess a firearm within 1,000 feet of an elementary or secondary school, and the Technical Campus Offices and main instructional buildings are within such a gun free school zone.  Exceptions to this prohibition are made for possession in the case of:

  1. Individuals with a Kansas Concealed Carry License;
  2. Where the firearm is unloaded and in a locked container or locked firearms rack in a vehicle;
  3. Where the firearm is possessed or used by a law enforcement officer acting in his or her official capacity.

Main Campus Weapons Policy

All other Technical Campus buildings, Main Campus Buildings or instructional facilities NOT within 1,000 feet of an elementary or secondary school shall abide by the Main Campus weapons policy and adhere to concealed carry restrictions, storage, safety measures, enforcement or reporting measures as described below.

CCC is committed to providing a learning environment which will allow each student the ability to focus on reaching his/her education objectives.   As such, policies are structured to support behavior which eliminates barriers so that a safe, non-disruptive and harassment free climate exist.  CCC prohibits open carry of firearms and the possession or use of any item being used as a weapon, or destructive/dangerous device, or any facsimile of a weapon in a manner that harms, threatens or causes fear to others on Campus and at Off-Campus Activities other than as set forth in the Kansas Personal and Family Protection Act, K.S.A. 75-7c01, et seq and amendments or other applicable federal/state laws.

Each individual who lawfully possesses a handgun on Campus shall be wholly and solely responsible for carrying, storing and using that handgun in a safe manner and in accordance with the law and this Policy. Individuals who carry a handgun on campus must carry it concealed on or about their person at all times.   “Concealed” means completely hidden from view and does not reveal the handgun in any way, shape or form.  “About” the person means that an individual may carry a handgun if it can be carried securely in a suitable carrier, such as a backpack, purse, handbag or other personal carrier designed and intended for the carrying of an individual’s personal items.   The carrier must at all times remain with the exclusive and uninterrupted control of the individual.  It shall be a violation of this Policy to openly display and possessed handgun while on campus.

Handgun storage is not provided by CCC.   An individual may store a handgun in the individual’s vehicle when the vehicle is locked and the handgun is secured in a location within the vehicle that is not visible from outside the vehicle.  Handgun storage by any other means is prohibited.  Specifically, it is prohibited for any individual to store a handgun in a vehicle that is unlocked or when the handgun is visible from outside the vehicle, in an individual’s office, in an unattended backpack/carrier, in any type of locker or in any other location and under any circumstances expect as specifically permitted by this Policy.

The term “weapon” or “dangerous device” includes but is not limited to:

  • Any object or device which will, or is designed to, or may be readily converted to expel bullet, shot or shell by the action of an explosive or other propellant.
  • Any handgun pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun or other firearm of any nature, including those that are concealed or openly carried.
  • All BB guns, pellet guns, air/CO2 guns, or any device such as a Taser, which is designed to discharge electric darts or other similar projectiles, however a personal self-defense stun gun that does not fit within the preceding definition shall not be considered a weapon for the purposes of this policy.
  • Any explosive, incendiary or poison gas (a.) bomb, (b.) mine, (c.) grenade, (d.) rocket having a propellant charge of more than four ounces, or (e.) missile having an explosive or incendiary charge of more than ¼ ounce.
  • Any incendiary or explosive material, liquid, solid or mixture equipped with a fuse, wick or other detonating device.
  • Any tear gas bomb or smoke bomb, personal self-defense items containing mace or pepper spray shall not be deemed to be a weapon for the purposes of this policy.
  • Any knife, commonly referred to as a switch-blade, which has a blade that opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in the handle of the knife, or any knife having a blade that opens or falls or is ejected into position by the force of gravity or by an outward, downward or centrifugal thrust or movement.
  • Any straight-blade knife of four inches or more such as a gagger, dirk, dangerous knife or stiletto; except an ordinary pocket knife.
  • Any martial arts weapon such as nun chucks or throwing stars.
  • Any longbow, crossbow and arrows or other projectile that could cause serious harm to any person.
  • Any other dangerous or deadly weapon or instrument of like character. 

Suspected violations of this policy should be reported to a Vice President or Dean of the College.

Any individual violating this Policy will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, including but not limited to suspension/expulsion, termination of employment, immediate removal/trespass from the premises and/or arrest.

Keys

Faculty and staff members will receive keys to the main classroom building or to the building in which their classrooms and offices are located.  Lost keys should be reported to the Director of Maintenance immediately.  Faculty and staff members will be asked to periodically inventory their keys.

Staff Protection

Each employee is encouraged to assist in maintaining proper control and discipline in the College.   An employee may use reasonable force necessary to ward off an attack, to protect another person, to quell a disturbance which threatens physical injury to others.   Nothing in the College’s Weapons or Firearm Policy shall be interpreted to require individuals who lawfully possess a handgun to use it in the defense of self or others.

Student Accidents

Generally, College employees are not trained to administer medical treatment to students.

In the event of a student accident which appears to require medical treatment other than emergency first aid, only qualified College employees may provide emergency, temporary care for a student suspected of injury other than attempting to make the student as comfortable as possible while waiting for competent medical treatment.  Qualified employees, for the purpose of this/her policy, are those employees who have successfully completed an approved Red Cross first aid program or who have otherwise been approved by the President to administer treatment.

Primary first aid procedures to be followed include visually determining, if possible, the extent of the injury and having a designated representative call the parents.

First Aid

First aid may be administered to students only by those College employees qualified by training approved by the College and then only in case of emergency.  College employees shall not attempt to treat any student injury after the initial treatment of emergency first aid.  The College will not assume liability for employees acting outside the scope of their authority under these policies.
    
First aid will be limited to the applying of simple bandages or infection prevention and to any justifiable emergency aid such as stopping excessive bleeding to prevent further injury, disability or death.
    
Neither diagnosis or treatment, except under emergency conditions, are within the responsibilities of the College, since College personnel are not trained to make medical decisions, nor does the College assume any financial liability for professional medical treatment the injured student may receive as a result of injury.

Emergency Closings

The Board delegates to the President the authority to close the College whenever any condition exists which, in the opinion of the President, warrants the closing of the College.
    
Emergency closing situations are, but not limited to: snowstorms or other weather conditions, heating failure in the buildings, health reasons (epidemics), budgetary problems, etc.  Hourly (classified) employees who are unable to report to work due to an emergency closing will be paid up to a maximum of 16 hours for any one occurrence.

Crisis Management Team

The President of the College will serve as the coordinator of the Management Team.  There will be core members, but other individuals will be utilized on an as-needed basis.  Individuals included could be Director of Student Life, Athletic Coaches, Activity Sponsors, Coordinator of International Students, Athletic Director, etc.

Purpose

To establish a core group of administrators and other necessary personnel to move quickly and efficiently to put in motion procedures in response to a campus emergency situation.  The team’s primary concern is the safety and security of all individuals on all campus locations.  The team will coordinate with community and county resources to secure a safe campus.  After the emergency situation is under control, the team will review and evaluate the actions taken.  A written report will be kept on file in the office of the Vice President of Operations and Finance.

The Crisis Management Team will be put on alert in the event of any one of the following or any other unforeseen crisis:  illness or death, food poisoning, suicide threat, building explosion, power lines down, animal attack, sexual assault, civil disturbance, blizzard, fire, flood, thunderstorm, tornado, hazardous materials, bomb threat, blood borne pathogen exposure, dangerous individual on campus.

Core Members

President,  Vice President for Academic Services, Vice President for Operations and Finance, Vice President for Innovation and Business Initiatives, Dean of Students, Dean of Institutional Research and Enrollment Management, Sr. Director of  College Relations, Marketing and Recruitment,  Director of Human Resources, and the College Attorney.  The core members will be kept informed of the crisis and take action to insure the safety and security of faculty, staff, and students in their respective areas.

Implementation Steps

  1. In the event of a crisis, any individual first to respond should contact emergency personnel.  Every effort should be made to see that no disturbance to the scene is permitted until the proper authorities have assumed control.
     
  2. The Coffeyville Community College Employee, after securing the appropriate emergency personnel, will contact their immediate supervisor and the Vice President to whom their area reports.
     
  3. The Vice President will immediately contact the President and other members of the Crisis Management Team if the accident or incident is likely to produce an accidental or natural death or a major emergency.
     
  4. The President may call a meeting of the appropriate personnel outside of the Crisis Management Team to provide relevant information and to identify issues to be addressed and services to be provided.
     
  5. The President, in consultation with the Crisis Management Team, will immediately contact the family members of all individuals involved in the incident. (Make sure there are positive identifications prior to making any calls.)
     
  6. The Vice President for Innovation and Business Initiatives or the Dean of Institutional Research and Enrollment Management will make sure that if there is a student/individual with the same name (but not involved) their family is contacted and informed their student/individual is safe and not involved in any incident reported by the media.
     
  7. The Sr. Director of College Relations, Marketing and Recruitment will coordinate all information released externally by the College and respond to all requests for information from media personnel.  This will insure accurate and consistent information.  College personnel must observe this/her requirement.
     
  8. The President will contact, when appropriate, Board Members and area Legislators, etc., informing them of the circumstances and answering any questions they may have.
     
  9. A core member of the Crisis Management Team will be assigned to serve as the primary contact person for the family who has had an individual involved in the situation (i.e. meet with family if they choose to travel to campus, return personal possessions, etc.)
     
  10. If a death of a student has resulted, the Dean of Institutional Research and Enrollment Management will make sure that all academic, financial aid, business office and foundations records are closed.  If a death of an employee has resulted, the Director of Human Resources will assume those responsibilities.
     
  11. The Dean of Students ,Director of Student Life, Vice President for Academic Services, Vice President of Operations and Finance, and College Nurse will be responsible for coordinating any counseling or emotional support needed for students as a result of the incident.  If the incident involves an employee, the Director of Human Resources, the Vice President of Operations and Finance and the College Nurse will assume these responsibilities.
     
  12. The Crisis Management Team will continue to review progress of the team and activities during the initial resolution of the incident.  A written report will be kept on file in the office of the Vice President for Operations and Finance.

Communicable Diseases

In the event a student, staff, faculty member of CCC has been diagnosed by a physician as having a chronic and communicable disease, the individual shall report the diagnosis and nature of the disease to the College Nurse so that proper reporting may be made to county or joint Board of Health.  In addition to placing a high priority on preventing the spread of the communicable disease on the campus, the President may appoint a Review Board to evaluate each documented case on an individual basis. The Review Board may consist of, but not necessarily limited to, the individual’s physician, county health personnel, College Nurse, Vice Presidents and Deans.  Strict confidentiality shall be maintained by College personnel to protect the rights of the individual.

Pandemic Outbreak 

Point Person(s): President, Student Health Service Director, Student Health Nurse, Vice President for Academic Services, Vice President for Operations and Finance, Vice President for Innovation and Business Initiatives, Dean of Students, Dean of Institutional Research and Enrollment Management, Sr. Director of  College Relations, Marketing and Recruitment, and Director of Human Resources .
                             
Additional Members of the Incident Management Team:  Director of Maintenance & Housekeeping, Director of Student Life,  Food Service Director, Director of Athletics, Head Athletic Trainer, Director of the Columbus Campus.    

  1. Workforce Planning: All departments will identify essential employees, functions which are vital to operations of campus.  Prepare and develop a plan to replace key individuals should they be unable to work.  Temporarily eliminate the procedure of requiring a doctor’s note for students, faculty or staff to validate their illness or ability to return to work.

    Potential impact on workforce.  It is estimated that around 20% to 60% of the overall workforce will be affected during a Pandemic.  If a pandemic begins in a community, the illness is predicted to last at least eight (8) weeks.  Businesses in general can expect employees who contract the flu to be out of work for at least two-to-four weeks.
     
  2. Employee Communication: The Director of Human Resources will disseminate information to employees about the campus’s preparedness, response plans and incident.  Continuously review and recommend temporary revisions on sick leave policies to remove barriers for faculty staying home when they are ill or caring for an ill family member.
     
  3. Academic Contingency Planning: The Vice President for Academic Services will recommend adjustments in the academic calendar. Consider postponing and/or canceling classes. The Vice President may determine opportunities for online teaching and/or alternate teaching sites, as well as examine the possibility of altering policies on absenteeism and accepting late assignments in an effort to prevent students from returning to the classroom while still infectious.
     
  4. Technical Campus Contingency Planning:  The Vice President for Innovation and Business Initiatives will work closely with Superintendents of the various high schools which CCC serves regarding their procedures and plans in an effort to minimize the situation,  in addition to alerting and maintaining constant communication with these Superintendents regarding strategies, policies, plans and conditions on our campuses.
      
  5. Programs and Activities:  The Vice President for Academic Services, the Dean of Students and the Director of Athletics will recommend postponing and/or canceling all extracurricular activities or programs outside the normal classroom instruction.  This may also include closing or suspending use of various campus locations such as computer labs, student success center, library, gymnasiums, etc.  In addition, since we have some groups who travel to various locations across the United States, the supervisor of the group who is anticipating travel should verify the regional assessment of flu in that specific area before authorizing the trip.
     
  6. Supplies / Equipment: Director of Maintenance & Housekeeping will provide available infection control supplies (e.g. hand hygiene products, tissues and receptacles for their disposal) in all occupied areas of campus and will disburse adequate supplies of cleaning and disinfecting products. Employ equipment for use of cleaning and disinfecting (e.g. power sprayers, disposable towels) and plan for waste disposal. Prepare to intensify environmental hygiene during an infectious disease emergency for essential personnel. Monitor heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC); prepare for shut down.
     
  7. Communication:  Sr. Director of College Relations, Marketing and Recruitment will establish various communication and public relations strategies that will be used to update and disseminate information. This includes, but is not limited to, web information, newsprint, radio, Raven Access and AlertNow.
     
  8. Health Care: The Student Health Service Director and College Nurse will anticipate an increased demand for services. The College healthcare facility shall have inventory available for a two-week operation and will effectively communicate with public health officials, other local health care professionals and key medicinal suppliers regarding the College’s needs and situation.  They will establish a communication link so that all entities will know who to contact if there are changes in severity and the extent of flu-like illness in the area.
     
  9. Counseling: The Vice President for Academic Services and the Dean of Students  may establish counseling services for students and employees.
     
  10. Residential Life: The Dean of Students and the Director of Student Life will identify accommodations if self-isolation or quarantine is recommended for students who are unable to return to primary and/or permanent residences.  The Dean of Students and the Director of Student Life may recommend suspension of visitors to the various Residence Halls. The Dean of Students , Director of Maintenance &Housekeeping and the Director of Student Life will work collectively to insure adequate equipment/supplies,   including items that help minimize the spread of infectious diseases, should be available to keep students for a prolonged period of time.
     
  11. Food Service: Vice President for Operations and Finance will work with the Director of Food Service regarding additional services required beyond contracted agreements.  A meal delivery system should be established for those who may be quarantined.  Food Services should maintain a ten-day supply of food on location and be prepared for additional food deliveries, as necessary.
     
  12. Financial: Vice President for Operations and Finance will develop a system for rapid procurement and reimbursement for needed supplies/equipment and services from vendors.  A financial reserve should be available in case of disruption/cancellation of College operations during a semester and the necessity of implementing a business recovery plan that includes resumption of billing/payroll functions.
     
  13. Local Government: Plan for local government to become inundated with external logistical needs and disease containment measures.  Maintain an open line of communication with local, county, state and federal agencies and health agencies.  The State Health Department and Emergency Management Agency will more than likely determine isolation locations.
     
  14. Prepare for return of standard operations: The Incident Management Team will meet to plan a systematic recovery of operations.  Priorities will be established in preparation for normal operation.

Considerations for Specific Student/CCC Populations

  • Communicate plans, policies, and strategies to partner K-12 schools regarding their students who attend CCC.
  • Determine if any special communication strategies are needed to meet the needs of students with disability.  

(Strategies to be instituted in addition to above procedures when the severity of conditions increases due to influenza type illness)

The Student Health Services Director, the School Nurse, Montgomery County Health Department, Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency or the CDC may recommend additional strategies to help protect CCC students, faculty, and staff if global, national, or regional assessments indicate that flu is causing more severe disease.  These strategies, in addition to strategies listed above will be instituted at CCC if influenza severity increases.

Permit high-risk students, faculty, and staff to stay home when flu is spreading in the community.

  • If flu severity increases, people at high risk of flu complications may consider staying home while a lot of flu is circulating in their community.  Such people should make this/her decision after consulting with their physician.
  • CCC will explore ways to continue educating students who stay home through distance learning methods.  CCC will review and revise policy accommodations that might be necessary such as allowing high-risk students to withdraw from the semester, tailoring sick leave policies to address the needs of faculty and staff, or modifying work responsibilities and locations.

Increase social distance: CCC will explore innovative ways to increase the distances between students (for instance, moving desks apart or using distance learning methods).  Ideally, there should be at least 6 feet between people at most times.  At minimum co-workers should be at least three feet apart and no hand- shakes should be exchanged.

Campus events:  Consider whether to suspend or modify public events such as theatre presentations, sporting events, or commencement ceremonies.  This may also include closing or suspending use of various campus locations such as computer labs, student success center, library, gymnasiums, visitation in the Residence Halls, etc.

Off Campus Activities:  Consider whether to suspend or modify large groups of students who gather together for various extracurricular activities.  In addition, off-campus activities that require travel may need to be cancelled.  Since we have some groups who travel to various locations across the United States, the supervisor of the group who is anticipating travel should verify the regional assessment of flu before authorizing the trip.    

Extend the self-isolation period:  If flu severity increases, people with flu-like illness should stay home for at least 7 days after the onset of their symptoms, even if they have no more symptoms.  If people are still sick after 7 days, they should stay home until 24 hours after they have no symptoms. 

Consider Suspending Classes

  • CCC should work closely with Montgomery County Health Department and other health officials in the community to balance the risks of flu before suspending classes that cause disruption in both education and the wider community.
  • Use multiple channels to communicate a clear message about the reasons for suspending classes and the implications for students, faculty, staff, and the community.
  • Reactive class suspension might be needed if CCC cannot maintain normal functioning, i.e., healthy instructors, 
  • adequate students in classes, etc.
  • To decrease the spread of flu, CDC may recommend preemptive class suspension if the flu starts to cause severe disease in a significantly larger proportion of those previously affected.
  • If classes are suspended preemptively, large gatherings, such as sporting events, dances, commencement ceremonies, will be cancelled or postponed.  Only faculty and staff can continue to use facilities when classes are not being held in order for essential functions to continue such as faculty might be developing lesson plans and materials for distance learning, etc.
  • CCC should plan for ways to continue essential services such as meals, custodial services, security, and other basic operations for students who remain on campus. When possible, dismiss students who can get home – or to the home of a relative, friend of the family, or host family – by private car or taxi. International students and others without easy access to alternative housing should stay on campus, but increase the distance between people as much as possible.
  • If classes are suspended then the recommendation would be for a minimum of at least five-to-seven calendar days. At the end of this time, CCC, in collaboration with public health officials, should reassess the epidemiology of the disease and the benefits and consequences of continuing the suspension or resuming classes.

How to decide on a course of action

CDC recommends a combination of strategies applied early and simultaneously.  Strategies should be selected by the following criteria.

  1. Based on trends in the severity of disease, virus characteristics, feasibility, and acceptability.
  2. Course of action will be selected through collaborative decision-making with public health agencies, CCC faculty and staff, Board of Trustees, students, students’ families, and the wider community.  CDC and its partners will continuously look for changes in the severity of flu-like illness and will share what is learned with state and local agencies.  However, states and local communities can expect to see a lot of differences in disease patterns from community to community.

CCC will balance a variety of objectives to determine the best course of action to help decrease the spread of flu.  Those objectives are:

  • protecting overall public health by reducing community transmission
  • reducing transmission in students, faculty, and staff
  • protecting people with high-risk conditions

Expenses to consider:

  • thermometers for isolated residential life students so they can monitor temperature to determine end of isolation (free of fever for 24 hours)
  • masks for ill students to wear when others enter rooms
  • hand sanitizer and/or sanitizing wipes

1. Review:  Following the return to normal operations, a complete evaluation and review of procedures should take place.