Security, Health & Safety Information
Security, Health, Safety & Emergency Information
Safety and Security
We at St. Thomas realize that a campus is only as safe as we make it. Living in residence halls is a privilege and one of the responsibilities for living in a community is that we act with vigilance, for ourselves and for the health and safety of others. Policies and procedures are in place to make our residence halls safe, but it is student involvement and awareness that creates a safe community.
Here are some policies and procedures we have in place to ensure safe residence halls:
- Card access is used for all residence halls except for Grand Avenue Apartments. Resident students may access all residence halls with their I.D. card from 10:00am-8:00pm . After 8:00pm, residents may enter their hall only, and all residents entering a different residence hall must check in at the hall Night Access desk.
- Resident Assistant duty is from 8:00pm-8:00am the next day with typical rounds at 8:00pm, 10:00pm, 12:00am, with an additional round at 2:00am on Friday and Saturday evenings.
- Public Safety officers do routine checks of the residence hall common areas and outside buildings at staggered times on each shift throughout the day.
| The University assumes no financial responsibility for damages to, or loss of, personal property of students. Personal property insurance coverage is recommended for all students. Students not covered by parent or guardian's personal property insurance policy should consider securing such insurance. To facilitate students in obtaining insurance, the University has established an insurance program through NSSI ( National Student Services, Inc.) website: www.nssinc.com ) |
What’s that mean?
Electronic card access means greater security for University of St. Thomas residence halls without restricting student freedoms. It provides more flexibility for resident students to enter the halls at a wider variety of hours.
Your UST ID allows you 24 hour a day access to your hall at designated doorways without the use of a key, as well as access to other residence halls during daytime hours. Plus, lost or stolen cards can be deactivated almost immediately, day or night, providing increased security for the halls.
Each residence hall is equipped with an access reader, a small box outside a designated entry door, which reads the magnetic strip on the back of your ID.
To gain access through the entry door you will need to run your card through the reader with the magnetic strip to the right. A status message will then appear and you will have four seconds to open the door. If you experience difficulty, change the speed at which you draw the card through the slot.
Propping the door open for more than 30 seconds will alert the UST Public Safety Department.
Residence Hall Card Access Schedule
Residents Entering Their Own Hall
Resident students may enter their own residence hall on a 24 hour basis at the following entrances:
John Paul II --------------------- South Door
Ireland ---------------------------- North and South Doors
Dowling --------------------------- East, West and South Upper Level Doors
Brady ------------------------------- North Door
Cretin ------------------------------- East Door
Grace ------------------------------- East Door
Morrison Hall -------------------- East Door
Resident students may enter their own residence hall from 6 am to 8 pm at the following entrances:
John Paul II ---------------------- North Door
Ireland ----------------------------- East Doors
Cretin ------------------------------- West Door
Grace ------------------------------- West Door
Murray Hall resident students may enter their hall on the following schedule:
South Door -------------------------- 6 am - 12 Midnight
North Door -------------------------- 24 Hours
Residents Entering Another Hall
Resident students may enter other residence halls through the above designated doors from 10 am to 8 pm .
Cretin residents may enter Grace, and Grace residents may enter Cretin from 8 am to 1 am .
Dowling and Brady residents may enter from Koch Commons on a 24 hour a day basis, via the upper level entrances. Lower level entrance from Koch Commons is from 7 am to midnight .
What if the ID card is lost, stolen or doesn’t work?
Report inoperable, lost or stolen cards in person to the Card Office, 258 Murray - Herrick Campus Center , and a new card will be issued to you. The Card office business hours are 8 am to 4:30 pm , Monday through Friday and the phone number is 962-6060.
During evening hours or on weekends contact your Residence Hall Director and an emergency card will be issued to you. It will only work in your own residence hall and will be deactivated after one business day.
For security purposes, lost or stolen cards should be reported immediately to either the Card Office or the UST Public Safety Office so that a report can be filed and the missing card can be deactivated.
Residence Hall Evening & Night Time Check In Policy
In addition to the electronic card access system, UST residence halls offer further security during evening and night time hours through the use of Night Access Attendants and the Check-In Policy.
Night Access Attendants will be on duty at entrance doors during the following hours:
Sunday-Wednesday -------- 9 pm - 1 am
Thursday ------------------------ 9 pm - 2 am
Friday & Saturday ----------- 8 pm - 3 am
Anyone entering the residence halls during the above hours will be expected to show a proper form of identification.
Resident students may enter any hall without a resident host escort during the following hours:
Sunday - Thursday --------- 10 am - 9 pm
Friday - Saturday ----------- 10 am - 8 pm
During the first weeks of school special stickers indicated assigned residence hall will be distributed to students to affix to their ID cards.
Non-resident guests arriving after 8 pm must sign the logbook and be escorted by a resident host. Residents of a hall who cannot produce proper picture ID will be expected to identify themselves as requested by the Night Access Attendant and will be reported to the Hall Staff for further action.
Non-resident UST Students, Visitors & Guests
After showing proper photo ID (either UST ID, driver’s license, or state or school ID) to the Night Access Attendant non-resident guests will need a resident host escort to enter the residence halls between the 8 pm and 10 am Guests under the age of 16 do not need to present picture ID.
All non-resident guests to the hall will be registered in a logbook at the Night Access Attendant's Station. After entrance has been gained with proper ID the following guest information will be recorded in the log book: name of guest, date and time of arrival, name of host and room or other destination guest will visit.
While the University of St. Thomas can assume no responsibility for risks associated with participation in programs or activities, the university attempts to provide a safe environment for its students. Historically, few students have been injured while participating in program-related activities, yet none of us are immune to injury in the course of our daily lives, work, play, or field of study. Students should conduct themselves with due and reasonable care in their actions. Student status creates no special relationship between the student and the university, and the university is not a custodian of the safety of students.
Confidential Emergency Information Cards
Information collected on the confidential emergency cards provides medical professionals the important information necessary during an emergency. Student will be asked to complete information regarding insurance plans, prescribed medications, health problems or disabilities and an emergency contact person. This information is kept confidential.
Resident students can volunteer to be emergency assistants on campus. These students can be of invaluable assistance by volunteering to help evacuate their floor during fire alarms or when the civil defense siren sounds, assisting with CPR or first aid (if properly certified) or to drive students to the hospital. The Campus Living staff can provide additional information.
Due to the anticipated increase in food products and the presence of numerous food preparation areas in Morrison Hall, health and safety inspections of the kitchen, bathroom and common areas will be conducted in all apartments each semester; the staff will notify students at least four days in advance. It is very important that all residents take precautions to prevent problems with pests. Food waste should be properly and promptly discarded in the trash room near the elevator. In addition, keep food containers closed and food products refrigerated when appropriate.
During inspections the university staff will look for excessive amounts of food waste, inattentiveness to basic cleaning practices, the presence of pests caused by insufficient cleaning, and poorly maintained food-preparation equipment. As always, residents should practice fire safety procedures. Extension cords, halogen lamps and candles are not allowed. The bathroom areas also will be inspected to ensure that shower and tub units, toilets and sinks are clean.
If an apartment unit does not meet sufficient minimum standards of cleanliness or safety practices, citations will be issued to residents of the unit, and they will be given 72 hours to respond and improve the situation. Failure to properly respond by cleaning and maintaining the unit could result in minimum $25 up to maximum $50 fines, additional disciplinary sanctions and relocation to other housing.
Medical care is available to all residence hall students through Health Services located in the west end of the Brady Hall basement. Students are responsible for providing their own health and accident insurance. An optional insurance program is available from the university.
Health Services weekday office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There are extended hours during the semester, when classes are in session. Check with Health Services to verify those hours.
Walk-ins will be accepted to see the physician during morning hours. Emergency medical care is available at St. Joseph 's Hospital at I-94 and 10th Street . Contact Health Services or the Campus Living Office for information regarding transportation to the hospital. IF PARAMEDIC ASSISTANCE IS WARRANTED FOR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION, DIAL 5555.
Students are strongly encouraged to use the services of the university and the community if they become victims of sexual assault. Victims are urged to report crimes to the UST Public Safety office and the St. Paul Police Department. Because a crime such as this is so personal, the university is sensitive to the needs of complainants for privacy and confidentiality. However, the obligation to protect others in the university community from sexual violence means that the university cannot guarantee anonymity to complainants. We also believe it is important that victims retain control of the decisions which face them. The university has the means to link victims with medical and psychological care, if they so choose.
Because students in the university environment are subject to possible unwanted physical or sexual contact, all are encouraged to learn how to approach possible situations and seek solutions to consequential problems.
The university's policies and procedures regarding sexual assault and sexual harassment are included in the publication Student Handbook.
Further information and help is available from the Dean of Student Life Office, Campus Living Office, Health Services, Personal Counseling and Public Safety.
Students are strongly encouraged to report criminal activity. The university, by federal law, cannot guarantee complete confidentiality. If a university staff member becomes aware of a crime, he or she may be obligated by federal and state laws to file appropriate reports.
All criminal reports are forwarded to the St. Paul Police Department. Criminal statistics are published weekly and distributed to university offices. Annual crime statistics are published and distributed to all faculty, staff and students
* Dial ‘8’ first to reach an outside line
|
Fire, Police, Medical ( Paramedics) |
911 |
|
U.S.T. Public Safety Office |
5555 |
|
St. Joseph ’s Hospital Emergency Room |
651-232-3348* |
|
Regions Hospital Emergency room |
651-221-2121* |
|
U.S.T. Campus Health Services |
2-6750 |
|
Poison Center (Minneapolis/St. Paul) |
1-800-764-7661* (1-800 POISON1) |
|
United Hospital |
651-220-8000* |
Fire drills, false alarms, and genuine fire alarms are indistinguishable. Follow the fire evacuation procedures whenever you hear the alarm.
When a fire alarm sounds:
- Close all room windows.
- Depart from the room immediately, but come dressed to exit outdoors.
- Close your door, but do not lock it.
- Walk to the nearest exit and go outside. Keep all entrances clear.
- Never use the elevator when the fire alarm is sounding.
- Make sure all of your guests evacuate the building.
- Do not return to the inside of the building until the alarm is silenced and Public Safety gives the all clear.
It is recommended that residents familiarize themselves with the brochure Fire Safety in our residence halls.
Residents should expect at least one practice evacuation drill in fall semester. Each student will be expected to cooperate with the staff and public safety officers in all phases of the evacuation procedure. Students must evacuate their building completely during the alarm. It is a state law to exit anytime the alarm sounds. Failure to evacuate will result in disciplinary sanctions, including fines. The St. Thomas chapel and Binz Refectory will be opened during an extended evacuation.
Cooperation is expected from all resident students during a power failure on campus. It is advised that resident students remain near their rooms during this time. Special precautions should be taken when arranging temporary light sources. Due to the hazards of fire, it is not recommended that candles be used. Where possible students should turn off or unplug less important electrical items during a power failure so that the surge when electricity is restored can be minimized.
Depending on the nature and extent of the power failure, students can contact the main desk in their residence hall for information concerning the anticipated restoration of power. Call boxes in the entrances of buildings will work during power failures.
Tornados
Two types of tornado alerts are issued by the National Weather Service. The first is a tornado watch. A watch indicates that because of certain atmospheric conditions a tornado could possibly develop. The only action required under watch conditions is to listen to the radio to be aware of changes in the weather. Radio Station WCCO, 830 AM, will broadcast that information.
The second type of alert is a tornado warning. This means, generally, that a tornado has been sighted in the vicinity of St. Paul or that one is moving in the general direction of St. Paul . The civil defense siren on top of Murray-Herrick Campus Center will sound continuously when a warning has been issued. It also will sound during periods of severe winds.
At this point everyone must evacuate his or her room. When leaving the room, the windows and door must be shut. Then move to the basement areas and sit near interior walls. Stay away from windows. Flying glass is very dangerous. If time does not permit, try to move to the bottom of the stairwells or sit against interior walls in your corridor. Again, ensure the safety of your guests and make sure they take safety precautions.
