Good Morning,
I hope that everyone managed to stay safe during the heavy rainfall and flooding over the past few days. As the campus continues to dry, here are a few things to pass along from Public Safety:
- Students, faculty, and staff on college campuses use the Internet for a variety of reasons including doing homework, social networking, as well as communicating and posting lesson plans and grades. October has been declared National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM – not to be confused with National Campus Safety Awareness Month, which is in September) through presidential proclamation. This is an opportune time to recognize the importance of cyber security by educating and engaging campus community members through activities, events, and training that will raise cyber security awareness and promote safe online habits.
- Attention all bicyclists! Public Safety needs your help. Bicycle larcenies continue to be one of the top crimes on the College of Charleston campus. This semester, our officers are noticing more and more bicycles that are not properly locked, or not locked at all. As a reminder, it is important that your bicycle is locked to a designated bicycle rack at all times, even if you are just stepping away for a moment. For more information on how to properly secure your bicycle, stop by Public Safety, or visit this webpage.
- On the topic of bicycles, the Department of Public Safety, in collaboration with Physical Plant and the Office of Sustainability, has been working on improving bicycle parking on campus. We are looking to identify areas that have a high volume of bicycles and a need for additional parking options. If you have any suggestions, or would like to be involved with this process, please contact me at sloanm1@cofc.edu
- Due to the change in the academic schedule, we will be altering the dates of our Saturday RAD classes in October. Please take note of the dates and times below. To sign up, or if you would like more information, please visit our website or email rad@cofc.edu.
Saturday Class Weekday Class
10/24/15 10am-4pm 10/13/15 5:30pm-8:30pm
11/07/15 10am-4pm 10/15/15 5:30pm-8:30pm
10/19/15 5:30pm-8:30pm
10/22/15 5:30pm-8:30pm
- The Department of Public Safety, Fire and EMS, and Emergency Management has teamed up to offer training for the various departments on campus. In this training, we will review emergency response procedures in potential situations such as active shooters, bomb threats, gas leaks, and fire alarms. Those who have attended this training found it to be extremely informative and helpful. In addition to reviewing emergency response procedures, we will also be available to answer any specific questions or areas of concern your team may have. We can attend a staff meeting, or make arrangements to come at another time that works best for your department. Please let me know if this is something you are interested in, or if you have any questions.
- Moped thefts, motor vehicle thefts, and thefts from motor vehicles are still on the rise in the Charleston area. Please take necessary precautions to protect your personal property. Never leave the vehicle running while unattended. Be sure to park in well-lit areas and avoid leaving valuable property inside your vehicle. Most importantly, always lock your vehicle. Trends in auto thefts indicate that over half of vehicles stolen are left unlocked at the time of theft. More information can be found here.
- Be social with us! If you have not already, please follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for departmental news, upcoming events, and other important information. If you are having trouble accessing our pages, please make sure you are signed into your social media account.
Crime Prevention Tip:
Did you know that every area on campus is assigned a community-oriented police (COP) officer? If you haven’t done so already, take a moment to get to know your COP. They are a great resource and have a wealth of information to share.
As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions, comments, or concerns.
Take Care and Be Safe,
PSO Madeline M. Sloan
Crime Prevention Specialist
Department of Public Safety
Office of the President
89 St. Philip Street
Charleston, SC 29424
(843)953-5609