Sam Houston State University (SHSU) takes reasonable steps to provide a healthy, safe, and secure environment for all members of the campus community. SHSU has multiple systems in place to ensure the health, safety, and security of all students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Responsibility for ensuring health, safety, and security is spread across a variety of divisions and departments on campus.
University Health and Safety
The University Facilities Management is primarily responsible for campus facilities. The mission of Facilities Management is to support the University’s instruction, research, and public service programs by operating and maintaining the facilities both effectively and efficiently. The University Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Office is responsible for administering safety programs designed to assure a safe and healthy campus environment for all students, faculty and staff. These programs include fire, health, and occupational safety. The Safety Coordinator prepares a plan of action for all identified unsafe conditions.
Policies and procedures are currently in place to provide for the security and maintenance of University buildings. Security measures include policies for locking buildings, offices, and rooms; re-coring door locks; and key distribution and inventory [1] [2] [3]. The University has procedures related to building maintenance and repairs, including a preventative maintenance schedule that is implemented throughout the year and managed through a facility management software, FAMIS [4].
The University’s facilities are periodically inspected by the State Fire Marshall’s Office. Pursuant to the findings in the Fire Marshall’s Safety Inspection Report dated July 26, 2017 [5], the University has developed a comprehensive corrective action plan [6] to further ensure the safety of persons and facilities. Additionally, a fire protection policy [7] is implemented through the EHS Office [8]. Additional policies/procedures that support fire safety include building inspections [9], fire drill protocols [10], fire extinguisher evaluations [11], and fire alarm callout procedures [12].
In addition to the State Fire Marshall’s inspection, the EHS Office at SHSU conducts inspections of SHSU buildings on a cyclical basis. EHS staff inspect for items covered under all applicable regulatory agencies such as the National Fire Protection Association, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, American National Standards Institute, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Food and Drug Administration, National Research Council, etc. [13]. Findings from these inspections result in the identification of corrective actions and timelines for completion. Sample EHS building inspection reports are provided [14].
SHSU has developed policies and procedures to ensure that its employees are safe, especially those persons working in potentially hazardous conditions. These policies and procedures include such topics as protective wear (e.g., hard hats) [15], hazard communication [16], hot work [17], lockout/tagout [18], and specified radio channels [19].
Proper handling of biochemical and hazardous materials is governed through the University Safety Office. Policies regarding the use of these materials and a biohazard cleanup protocol [20] are included as part of the University Physical Plant Policies and Procedures. These address issues regarding chemical hygiene [21], compressed gas [22], hazardous waste [23], lab inspections [24], and lab spill response procedures [25].
In addition to the above referenced publications and procedures, SHSU provides an online training course that provides further information relating to employee safety, employee health, workplace security, and workplace privacy [26].
Student Services and Residential Living
The Divisions of Student Services and Enrollment Management are the primary university divisions responsible for student activities on the SHSU campus. Programs from these divisions are designed to promote student health and wellness and provide for student safety.
The Division of Student Services [27] offers a multitude of programs designated for the promotion of student safety and health to include the following:
Students’ physical and mental health is served by the Student Health Center [35] and the Counseling Center [36].
Physical fitness is an important contributor to a lifelong commitment to overall wellness. The University supports student participation in a variety of physical fitness activities. These opportunities are available through the Department of Recreational Sports [37]. The mission of the Department of Recreational Sports is to provide students safe recreational programs and facilities that enhance their educational experience and quality of life. Recreational Sports consists of seven program areas: Aquatics, Club Sports, Informal Recreation, Intramural Sports, Outdoor Recreation, Special Events, and the Wellness program. The department also manages eight recreational facilities. The Wellness Program, which debuted in 2001, offers comprehensive wellness programming for SHSU students, faculty, and staff. Group Fitness Classes (formerly known as Aerobics), Personal Fitness Training, Wellness Workshops, and Dietary Counseling are just a few of the programs and services currently being offered.
The Department of Residence Life [38], within the Division of Enrollment Management, is charged with maintaining the safety of all students living in on-campus housing. Policies for residence hall safety inspections, lock down procedures, and evacuations are in place to ensure student and staff safety [39] [40]. To further enhance safety in the residence halls, residents must use University identification cards to enter their building. Students are informed of other safety-related policies and procedures through the Residence Life Resident Handbook [41].
Emergency Response and Public Safety
The University Police Department (UPD) is the primary responder for campus emergencies, including those that occur at the University’s The Woodlands Center location [42]. UPD employs 15 commissioned and licensed peace officers, which include the director, assistant director, two police supervisors, and nine patrol officers. UPD provides police services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (including holidays). Additionally, the department provides a number of other services and safety measures, such as emergency call boxes located around campus, police escorts for students during the evening and night time hours, vehicle jump starts, crime prevention/awareness programs, and publication of campus crime statistics [43] [44]. UPD has a support staff of one full-time telecommunications operator and employs 50-60 part-time student assistants as telecommunications operators, parking control officers, and foot patrol officers.
University police officers are authorized by State statute to enforce federal, state, and local laws and/or any regulation issued by the Board of Regents of SHSU on property under the control and jurisdiction of SHSU. Section 51.203 of the Texas Statutes Education Code states that “the governing boards of each state institution of higher education and public technical institute may employ and commission peace officers for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this subchapter” [45]. The primary jurisdiction of peace officers commissioned under this section includes all counties in which property is owned, leased, rented, or otherwise under the control of the institution of higher education or public technical institute that employs the peace officers or otherwise in the performance of their duties.
The institution’s Emergency Response Plan [46] provides the University community with the appropriate course of action in the event of a natural disaster, civil/campus emergency, or other catastrophic event impacting campus or the local community. An Emergency Procedures Quick Reference is posted in all academic classrooms and other appropriate locations on campus [47]. As part of SHSU’s development of its emergency response plans, the institution has developed a relationship with a third-party vendor (Connect-ED) to provide the SHSU community with a mass notification system to include emails, texts, desktop alerts, phone calls, social media posts, and an outdoor warning system. The system, known as KatSafe, has been in use since the fall 2008 semester and allows SHSU community members to receive real-time notifications in emergency situations occurring on or off campus that impact the daily operations of the University [48]. UPD coordinates the KatSafe system.
The Critical Incident Management System (CIMS) established for SHSU is the management system used for incidents that primarily originate and occur external to the University [49]. These natural or manmade incidents could include, but are not limited to, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, terrorist acts, power outages, fires, mass medical situations, or other critical situations. The CIMS establishes protocols and procedures for the University in order to respond in an organized and systematic manner to the incident. The plan requires that the University work in tandem with the Governor’s Division of Emergency Management in addressing the response needed for the incident [50]. The plan was created in direct response to the difficulties in dealing with the evacuations caused by Hurricanes Rita and Katrina in 2005.
To educate the campus community on SHSU emergency protocols, the University also publishes guides and educational videos for such emergency events as active shooters, bomb threats, evacuations, fires, hazardous materials, hurricanes, and tornadoes [48]. Additionally, new employees are required to view training videos for the KatSafe program [51] and the SHSU Police Department [52] as part of the required new employee orientation.