Disclosure of Campus Police Policies and Statistics
The information contained in this disclosure document is provided by Coastal Alabama Community College in compliance with The Campus Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990 (Title II of Public Law 101-542). Inquiries regarding the information contained herein should be directed to the Dean of Operations.
Emergency Notification System & Timely Warnings - Emergency Response Policy
Students at Coastal Alabama Community College will be notified of emergencies, inclement weather and other safety messages through the College’s mass notification systems. Students are encouraged to sign up on these systems and to maintain accurate information on their student accounts to ensure they will receive these important messages.
Coastal Alabama Community College uses the RAVE Mobile Safety Alert System to notify students (both pre-registered and registered) and faculty/staff of emergency situations and important College notices. The Coastal Alabama Police Department works closely with the Marketing and Communications Office to determine when and how an alert will be issued. The current situation will be monitored, and College officials will determine the type of notice, if any, that will be sent. The Marketing and Communications Office staff has the charge of issuing an alert upon the decision of College Police, select administrators or the President of Coastal Alabama Community College. The Student Services Office monitors affects on students; the Operations Office monitors weather and campus situational analysis; the College Police Department monitors the safety and security of the College community; and, the Marketing and Communications Office, which houses the Public Information Office, communicates with each individual or office to stay abreast of developing situations. The President is notified and informed of situations throughout the lifetime of the occurrence(s).
In the event of a significant emergency situation, Coastal Alabama Community College will send an emergency notification via text message, voice-to-text and/or e-mail. The Clery Act defines a significant emergency situation as an immediate threat, such as a fire, health outbreak, inclement weather, gas leaks, etc.
Some situations do not require an emergency notification if they are not causing imminent danger to the College community. Examples of these situations include power outages and strings of larcenies, as defined by the Clery Act. Students may receive a notification through the RAVE Alert System, even in the event of a non-emergency situation. These types of notifications are called Timely Warnings. The Marketing and Communications Office with other key College officials, will determine what type of alert should be sent.
Any type of emergency notification or timely warning will include pertinent information for the College community to respond to or to be aware of a current situation. Information included in notifications do not compromise any type of criminal investigation but do include information to allow individuals to respond appropriately. For instance, if there is a suspect of a crime on campus, descriptive details regarding the individual’s appearance or attire will be included. Evacuation or lockdown information may also be included should the situation require those types of responses.
Coastal Alabama Community College, without delay, and taking into account the safety of the community, determines the content of the notification and initiates the notification system, unless issuing a notification will, in the professional judgment of responsible authorities, compromise efforts to assist a victim or to contain, respond to or otherwise mitigate the emergency.
Testing Emergency Procedures and Notifications - Coastal Alabama Community College frequently tests emergency procedures and notifications. Each fall, the College sends an annual notice to students, faculty and staff via the RAVE Mobile Alert System. In addition, the College performs routine drills and evacuations annually. The College may choose to coordinate these tests, announced or unannounced. The Coastal Alabama Police Department also performs active shooter drills for faculty, staff and students. These exercises are performed during professional development sessions for employees and during training for specific student groups, such as Resident Assistants. All drills will be documented through the College Police Department.