The Safety Services Department is a support service department charged with enforcing
Ashland University policies and maintaining a safe and secure environment for the campus community.
A director, secretary, dispatchers and officers staff the Department, which reports to the Vice
President for Student Affairs. Located on the first floor in the Hawkins-Conard Student Center, the
Safety Services Department operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Around-the-clock service is
provided by a dispatcher and at least one uniformed, unarmed officer conducting foot, bicycle and/or
vehicle patrols of the campus. During the holiday breaks, the Safety Services Department may use student
patrols or Residence Life staff in place of officers to patrol the residential units and campus. Safety
Services Officers not only enforce University policies, they aid local police in the enforcement of state
and local statutes for incidents that may occur on campus. Safety Services Officers do not have arrest
authority. The Safety Services Department may notify the Ashland City Police Department for any on-campus
incidents as the campus is within the jurisdiction of the Ashland City Police. Persons found to be in
violation of University policies and/or state and local laws will be processed through the Safety Services
Department and, if necessary, the Ashland City Police.
Safety Services Officers are trained in emergency first aid and CPR. Officers also participate in an
ongoing program of in-service and on-the-job training including, but not limited to, emergency response
(including fire response) and patrol duties. Officers are the first response to emergency calls for fire,
medical, disturbances, etc. Officers also enforce traffic and parking regulations, conduct crime investigations
and handle routine service calls.
While the Safety Services Department responds to all types of emergency
situations on campus, we also provide a variety of other services to the campus community, including:
- Registration and distribution of parking permits
- Response to reports of crime or criminal behavior
- Escort service - 24 hours a day
- Lost and Found repository
- Assist motorists with jumpstarts and vehicle lockouts
- Assist students locked out of their room/residence hall
- Monitor electronic building access status
- Routine safety/security patrol of campus, including residence halls
- Provide crime prevention and personal safety seminars
Seminars on crime prevention and personal safety can be scheduled with the Director of Safety Services. Seminars are designed to suit the needs of the audience and can include topics from self-defense and crime prevention to fire safety.
Ashland University has on staff a Life and Safety Technician who maintains the security and fire alarms in the residence halls and other campus buildings. The Life and Safety Technician also conducts scheduled fire safety inspections of the fraternities and residence halls. The Safety Services Department works with the Physical Plant Department to help maintain adequate exterior lighting. Safety and security considerations are employed in the maintenance of both the facilities and the landscaping. Members of the campus community are encouraged to report any maintenance issues to the Physical Plant staff. This can be done by contacting them directly, notifying the Safety Services Department or contacting a residence hall staff member.