This report is a comprehensive campus safety document required under the Jeanne Clery Act. It outlines Central College’s campus safety policies, crime statistics, reporting procedures, and emergency protocols, while emphasizing prevention, transparency, and shared responsibility for safety in compliance with federal law.

 

CRIME AWARENESS AND STUDENT SAFETY ACT ANNUAL REPORT

This report includes campus safety policies, crime statistics, prevention programs, and emergency procedures in compliance with the Clery Act.

Table of Contents

• Campus and community resources for students and employees (Counseling, Emergency/Safety, Health, Legal, Mental Health, Financial Aid, Title IX, Victim Advocacy, Visa/Immigration Assistance)
• Being safe at Central
  • What you should know about crime on campus
  • Incident reporting
  • Confidential reporting
  • Training, educational programs, safety protocols
• Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act (CSPA)
• Missing Student Notification Policy
• Law Enforcement
• Building Access
• Campus Emergencies
  • Emergency Response Procedure
• Reported Incidents, Arrests and Violations
• Definitions
  • Reportable incidents including Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) offenses
  • Disciplinary referrals
  • Reportable arrests
  • Hate Crime
  • Location definitions
• Central College Reported Occurrence Data
  • Central College Hate Crime Data
• Drug and Alcohol Policy
• Equal Opportunity, Harassment and Nondiscrimination Policy
• Fire and Life Safety Information
  • Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008
  • In case of fire
  • Fire safety-related definitions
  • Staff and student training
  • Fire policies
  • Central College fire and safety equipment by facility
  • Central College fire data

Campus and Community Resources

Central College provides various campus and community resources for student and employee safety, including partnerships with local law enforcement and emergency services. A full list of resources can be found here: College and Community Resources for Students and Employees.

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Being Safe at Central College

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT CRIME ON CAMPUS

The safety and welfare of all members of the campus community is a primary goal at Central College. Although the campus and Pella are considered safe places to live and work, they are not exempt from dangers that exist in other areas of the country. Therefore, normal precautions for safety and well-being are encouraged, promoted and, hopefully, exercised.

Crime is a campus-wide concern and everyone on campus plays an important role in preventing and reporting crime. All members of the Central community must cooperate with each other and law enforcement agencies to maintain a safe campus.

As required by the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act, previously the Student Right to Know and Student Safety Act of 1990), the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 and the Department of Education’s final regulations (§ 668.46 Institutional security policies and crime statistics., 34 C.F.R. § 668.46) this text is designed to inform current and future members of the Central College campus community about:

• Crime statistics on properties controlled, maintained or adjacent to Central College
• Methods for reporting crime
• Resources, support and assistance available to crime survivors within the institution and in the community
• Prevention and awareness training, educational programs and safety protocols
• Policies relating to crime and campus emergencies

Compliance with these provisions does not constitute a violation of section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 123g), commonly known as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA).

Information and an increase in personal awareness are the most powerful weapons you have to protect yourself. We hope that this information will increase your safety awareness, ultimately contributing to fewer crimes on campus.

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INCIDENT REPORTING

If you are the victim of any crime, we encourage you to report the incident to the proper law enforcement agency as well as to student development staff who are prepared to respond. Consistent reporting by all members of our community can often assist police and college officials to discover patterns of crime. Reporting crime is also an important way of deterring offenders from continued activity that hurts others.

The vice-president for student development and dean of students, Title IX coordinator, deputy Title IX coordinators or assistant deans of students can help you report a crime to the police. Their contact information is provided here. Confidential help is available and discussed in the next section for those who prefer not to report an alleged crime, though all individuals knowledgeable of such occurrences are encouraged to do so.

College administrators also provide the college community with timely warnings of reported crimes that are considered to be an immediate threat to students and employees. Crime alert notices will be posted on the website and sent via email and cell phone text message to all students and those employees who have chosen to use this service. These notices may also be posted in appropriate areas. These notices generally do not include the names of individuals involved, but do describe the crime and circumstances surrounding the crime, to assist the campus community in protecting itself and in apprehending those accused of committing the crimes.

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CONFIDENTIAL REPORTING

Confidential help is available to those who prefer not to report an alleged crime. Contact information for campus counselors and mental health providers in the community are provided here. The Central College counselors are knowledgeable about referral resources that are necessary when a student’s needs exceed staff qualifications or when students would prefer to work with off-campus professionals.

Faculty, other employees and paraprofessional staff such as student orientation leaders and student resident advisors, are not confidential report takers but are trained regarding referral information and the process of making referrals. Confidentiality is not guaranteed by these professionals and paraprofessionals as they are required to inform non-confidential administrative professional staff when they become aware of criminal activity or victimization on campus.

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TRAINING, PREVENTION AND AWARENESS PROGRAMS/CAMPAIGNS AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS

Central College is committed to providing a safe environment for students and employees. This is an ongoing process that includes training, prevention and awareness programs/campaigns to reduce the risk of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.

TRAINING

• “Get Inclusive” has been contracted to provide primary prevention and awareness online training for employees and students that complies with federal requirements under Title IX, VAWA and the Campus SaVE Act.
  • Current Central employees complete annual training.
  • Incoming and returning students complete training each summer or fall.
  • Training for all new employees is an on-going process at the time of hire.
• The Title IX team, including administrative staff and faculty who serve as deputy Title IX coordinators and members of the grievance process pool completed annual training. As required by law (34CFR, Part 106), materials and summaries of the training content are posted on Central College’s website at central.edu/about/title-ix.
• Emails are sent to employees in the fall with website links to employee policies on discrimination and harassment (including sexual harassment) and how to report concerns as well as the drug-free schools law and Central College policies on drug and alcohol use.
• The student development areas of residence life (RAs) and student leadership/involvement (orientation leaders and campus activities board) are provided training on the Equal Opportunity, Harassment and Nondiscrimination policy, referral responsibility, bystander intervention (using Mentors in Violence Prevention curriculum), alcohol awareness and resource availability during training prior to the commencement of fall and spring classes.

PREVENTION AND AWARENESS PROGRAMS/CAMPAIGNS

• Required attendance for all new students (first-years and transfers) at the “Can I Kiss You” program with Mike Domitrz from the Center for Respect has become an annual program. The Title IX coordinator and equity officer is introduced, the student body president speaks and the president of the college offers remarks after the program. Topics covered include sexual harassment and assault, active consent, bystander intervention, recognizing domestic violence, dating violence and stalking. Crisis Intervention Service (CIS) and college counselors are present prior to and after the event to distribute educational literature and to address student concerns.
• Welcome Week discussions in residence communities reviewing community standards and students’ role in creating a safe and welcoming environment.
• Annual August residence life staff meetings within residence communities reviewing escort service, policies, procedures for reporting crimes and the need to protect self.
• The periodic posting in living units, in the daily email bulletin of announcements and through email correspondence of safety reminders and processes for confidential and non-confidential reporting of sexual and relationship misconduct.
• Distribution of a Title IX Resource Card for all students and employees at the beginning of each academic year that is designed for use either by someone reporting an incident and/or by someone receiving such a report. Posters with this information are placed in residence halls, academic buildings and public spaces.
• Multiple alcohol education programs throughout the year for students are conducted by residence life staff, including social norming posters.
• Topical annual training on emergency response conducted and practiced by the Central emergency management and response teams.

SAFETY PROTOCOLS

• Practice student fire response through residence hall fire drills each semester.
• Annual assessment and response to needs in emergency phone placement and lighting.
• Student Safety, Residence Life and dean of student staff members confront and document student behavior that violates campus policies. The Central College student policy website contains a complete description of the student conduct system and its procedures as well as details on college policies and procedures. Students are responsible for reviewing, understanding and abiding by the material in the student policy website.
• On-call residence life area coordinator, student safety and Central student development staff member each carries a cell phone for responding to emergencies.
• Personnel are available on the campus 24 hours per day, 7 days per week to assist in keeping the campus safe. Student Safety personnel do not have the power to detain or arrest, but have cell phone access to the local police department. They can monitor activity on a police radio that they carry. They also report violations of campus regulations to the campus student conduct officer and/or residence life staff member.
• Student safety personnel provide escort services on campus upon request during their scheduled hours (call 641-628-9000). A Safety at Central link is located in the footer of every page of the Central College website and includes information such as the Title IX coordinator, emergency planning, resources on- and off-campus, the Equal Opportunity, Harassment and Nondiscrimination policy and Clery Annual Security Report.

While the college works to prevent crime on campus, students also share the responsibility for protecting themselves and for ensuring that their environment is safe. Students are reminded to lock doors, walk and study in well-lit and well-traveled areas, store money and other valuables in safe places and avoid the use of intoxicants that may impair judgment.

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Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act (CSPA)

The Campus Sex Crimes Act was established October 28, 2002. The law, sponsored by U.S. Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona, was intended to “guarantee that, when a convicted sex offender enrolls or begins employment at a college or university, members of the campus community will have the information they need to protect themselves.” Specifically, this act amends or extends a number of federal laws, including the Jacob Wetterling Act, Megan’s Law and the Jeanne Clery Act by requiring that:

• Sex offenders who are already required to register in a given state provide notice, as required under that state’s law, of each institution of higher education in that state in which that person is a student or at which the person is employed or carries on a vocation.
• State procedures ensure that this registration information is promptly made available to law enforcement agencies having jurisdiction over the area where the institution of higher education is located.
• States enter this information into appropriate State records or data systems.
• Institutions of higher education issue a statement, in addition to other disclosures required by law, advising the campus community where the law enforcement agency information provided by a State concerning registered sex offenders may be obtained.

In addition, the Campus Sex Crimes Act amends the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) by clarifying that nothing in FERPA may be construed as prohibiting an educational institution from disclosing information provided to the institution concerning registered sex offenders; and requires the Secretary of Education to take appropriate steps to notify educational institutions that disclosure of this information is permitted.  You may obtain information for Iowa, and specifically the Pella area, by accessing the following link: http://www.iowasexoffender.com/.

Missing Student Notification Policy

All individuals should notify either a residence life professional staff member or student safety staff member any time they believe a person to be missing by calling 641-628-9000.

The Missing Student Notification Policy can be found here.

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Law Enforcement

The campus is under the jurisdiction of the Pella Police Department, the Marion County sheriff’s office and the Iowa State Patrol. These agencies provide official law enforcement for the campus, including crowd control and management at large events.

The college has a close working relationship with law enforcement agencies, and the dean of students meets with a liaison of the local police department to discuss crime issues. Through the student development office or student safety, the College is typically informed by local police and/or local newspapers of alleged criminal activity of students occurring off the Central campus. In reviewing the nature of the alleged violation and corresponding evidence, the dean of students may refer the situation to the campus student conduct system for consideration with outcomes/sanctions appropriate to the levels of violation and student involvement. Likewise, all state and federal laws are enforced on campus, frequently in conjunction and cooperation with local authorities. Members of the college community are encouraged to utilize area law enforcement agencies to the fullest extent possible and can expect full support and guidance from campus staff.

Students may also pursue charges through the College’s student conduct system against individuals or groups of students for possible violations of student rights or of college regulations and standards. However, the College’s student conduct system is not a court of law and makes no effort to approximate courts of law. An investigator, conduct officer, hearing board, or review committee (as applicable) does have the right to sanction students appropriate to the offense and appropriate to the academic community. Central College will disclose to the alleged victim of a crime of violence, or a non-forcible sex offense, the results of any disciplinary hearing conducted by the college against the student who is the alleged perpetrator of the crime or offense. If the alleged victim is deceased as a result of the crime or offense, the college will provide the results of the disciplinary hearing to the victim’s next of kin, if so requested.

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Building Access

Campus Emergencies

VAWA OFFENSES

ARRESTS

DISCIPLINARY REFERRALS

*Note: These numbers represent the total number of students (minor or of age) charged in violating Central’s alcohol policy. According to the Clery act, though, the College must report the total number of students charged with violating liquor laws for which they could be arrested by police.

UNFOUNDED CRIMES

Central College does not employ sworn or commissioned law enforcement officers. This category represents those crimes that occurred but that were determined to be unfounded by Pella Police.

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CENTRAL COLLEGE HATE CRIME DATA

OC: On-Campus Property
NC: Non-Campus Property
PP: Public Property

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The United States Office of Post Secondary Education provides a direct link to reported criminal offenses for 6,000 colleges and universities in the United States. You may access this information at ope.ed.gov/campussafety

Alcohol and Drug Policy

The Alcohol and Drug Policy can be found here.

Equal Opportunity, Harassment and Nondiscrimination Policy

The Equal Opportunity, Harassment and Nondiscrimination Policy can be found here.

Fire and Life Safety Information

HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY ACT OF 2008

On August 14, 2008, President George W. Bush signed the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008.  This law requires any institution maintaining on-campus student housing to issue an annual fire safety report.  The report is to include statistics regarding the number and causes of fires, number of fire injuries and deaths and value of property damage.  It must also include information on each on-campus student housing fire safety system, the number of regular mandatory fire drills, fire safety policies, education programs, and plans for any needed fire safety improvements.

Central College developed its Fire Evacuation Plan to ensure all students and employees are safely and rapidly evacuated from a facility.  This report is designed to inform the Central community – students, prospective students, parents, and employees – on how fires have affected the College’s residential facilities during the specific time period listed.

IN CASE OF FIRE

In the event of a fire, explosion, or release of hazardous material, pull the nearest fire alarm and dial 9-911 (from a campus phone). If dialing from a cell phone, also call 641-628-9000 to notify Student Safety and the Information Center Operator who will contact residence life staff on-call, the dean on-call and facilities staff on-call.

When the fire alarm goes off:

• Exit the building quickly;
• Proceed to designated meeting area.  Look for signs posted throughout each campus building.

In case of fire or any other emergency, all media inquiries shall be referred to the Central Emergency Management Team. For details about Central College’s Emergency Response Procedure and associated teams, see the “Campus Emergencies” section in the Clery Annual Security Report, go to the Safety at Central webpage.

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FIRE SAFETY-RELATED DEFINITIONS

Fire – Any instance of open flame or other burning in a place not intended to contain the burning or in an uncontrolled manner.

Fire Drill – A supervised practice of a mandatory evacuation of a building for a fire.

Fire-related injury – Any instance in which a person is injured as a result of a fire, including an injury sustained from a natural or accidental cause while involved in fire control, attempting rescue, or escaping from the dangers of the fire.

Fire-related death – Any instance in which a person is killed as a result of a fire, including death sustained from a natural or accidental cause while involved in fire control, attempting rescue, or escaping from the dangers of the fire, or deaths that occur within one year of injuries sustained as a result of a fire.

Fire safety system – Any mechanism or system related to the detection of a fire, the warning resulting from a fire, or the control of a fire including:  sprinkler or other fire extinguishing systems, fire detection devices, stand-alone smoke alarms, devices that alert one to the presence of a fire such as horns, bells, or strobe lights, smoke-control and reduction mechanisms, and fire doors and walls that reduce the spread of a fire.

Value of property damage – The estimated value of the loss of the structure and contents, in terms of the cost of replacement in like kind and quantity, including contents damaged by fire, related damages caused by spoke, water, and overhaul;  however, it does not include indirect loss, such as business interruption.

Fire log – a record of every fire that occurred in an on-campus residence that includes information such as the nature, date, time, and general location of each fire.  Central’s fire log is kept in the Student Development Office and is open to the public during normal business hours.  Fire log entries are made within two business days of the receipt of information.

On-campus student housing facility – Any student housing facility that is owned or controlled by the institution, or is located on property that is owned or controlled by the institution, and is within the reasonable contiguous geographic area that makes up the campus is considered an on-campus student housing facility.  Central College refers to these housing units as residence halls or residence facilities.

Fire Watch – A Fire Watch is a continuous inspection initiated and conducted by Central College staff in order to provide fire and smoke detection and emergency warning to occupants when a building’s fire alarm and/or sprinkler system is not operational.  Once called, a Fire Watch will continue until the fire alarm/sprinkler system is fully functional.  Fire Watch Patrol personnel serve as a “human smoke detector” and notify 911 (Pella Fire Department) and Central College Student Safety, 641-628-9000, of smoke or fire.

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STAFF AND STUDENT TRAINING

Each fall safety staff as well as residence hall staff, professional and paraprofessional, are provided training that enables them to prevent, escape, report, and/or handle fire emergencies occurring within the residence facilities. Training consists of fire alarm systems, evacuation procedures, extinguisher locations, types of extinguishers, hands-on experience with portable extinguishers.

Fire safety training is conducted in on-campus residence halls and facilities during the first weeks of each semester by residence life staff members. This training covers the following policies and procedures:

• Required fire safety drills for all residence facilities (halls and townhouses)
• Residence life staff responsibilities
• Resident student responsibilities
• Student conduct sanctions for not evacuating
• Fire extinguisher location
• Fire incident reporting
• General fire safety
• Fire alarm and sprinkler policy
• Fire evacuation assembly area

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FIRE POLICIES

The following information is available to each student through the Student Policies section of the Central website.

Individuals should not be in violation of state, local, or campus fire policies, including:

• Improper use of fire alarms, fire equipment and sprinkler systems;
• Failure to evacuate a college-owned building during a fire alarm;
• Tampering with or improperly engaging a fire alarm in a college building;
• Use or possession of firecrackers, fireworks or incendiary devices on campus;
• Tampering with smoke detectors;
• Possession of a live or previously living Christmas tree in any housing unit;
• Unapproved decorations in a hallway;
• Possession of a halogen lamp in any housing unit;
• Possession of candles or incense in any housing unit. A candle refers to any wax or oil, with or without wicks and either burnt or un-burnt. Candles still in their original packaging are also not allowed in campus housing; confiscated candles will not be returned to the student. Hot plate wax warmers are also not allowed in college housing.
• Possession of any appliance with an exposed heating coil (hot plates, etc.) in any housing unit

Fire hazards and safety

Candles (with or without a wick), hot plate candle/wax warmers, halogen lamps, incense, and any items with open flames or open elements (such as toasters, pizza wheels, toaster ovens) are not allowed.

Extension cords must be surge-protected and Underwriters Laboratory (UL) approved.

Electric cords may not run under carpets or through doorways.

Personal charcoal or gas grills are not allowed on campus.

All persons must evacuate the building when a fire alarm sounds. All persons may face disciplinary action if they:

• fail to evacuate;
• cause false alarms;
• interfere with the proper functioning of a fire alarm system;
• tamper with or remove fire hoses, extinguishers, smoke or heat detectors, or fire safety apparatus;
• disable room, pod, or house smoke detectors or alarms; or
• fail to inform the staff when a smoke detector or alarm is malfunctioning.

Fire Watch

A Fire Watch is a continuous inspection initiated and conducted by Central College staff in order to provide fire and smoke detection and emergency warning to occupants when a building’s fire alarm and/or sprinkler system is not operational.  Once called, a Fire Watch will continue until the fire alarm/sprinkler system is fully functional.  Fire Watch Patrol personnel serve as a “human smoke detector” and notify 911 (Pella Fire Department) and Central College Student Safety, 641-628-9000, of smoke or fire.

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CENTRAL COLLEGE FIRE AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT BY BUILDING

RESIDENCE FACILITY FIRE PREVENTION AND NOTIFICATION INFORMATION

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CENTRAL COLLEGE FIRE DATA

Residence Facility Fire Data, 2021

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Last Revision Date: 07/07/2026

Policy Owner: Student Development