University Policies

Missing Student Notification Policy and Procedures

Scope:
This policy applies to students who reside in campus housing, defined as Bell Hall, Carlisle Hall, Hart Hall, and any and all off-campus apartments leased by Husson University for the purpose of housing residential students.

Purpose:
The purpose of this policy is to establish procedures for the university's response to reports of missing students, as required by the Higher Education Act.

For purposes of this policy, a student will be considered missing, if a roommate, classmate, faculty member, family member, or other person has not seen the person in a reasonable amount of time. A reasonable amount of time may vary with the time of day and information available regarding the missing student's daily schedule, habits, punctuality, and reliability. Students will also be considered missing immediately if their absence has occurred under circumstances that are suspicious or cause concerns for their safety.

Procedures for designation of emergency contact information:
In addition to registering a general emergency contact, students residing in campus housing as designated above, have the option to identify confidentially an individual to be contacted by Husson University in the event that the student is determined to be missing for more than 24 hours. If a student has identified such a contact, university officials will notify that confidential individual no later than 24 hours after the student is determined to be missing. A student who wishes to identify a confidential contact can do so through the Husson University Residential Life Office or the Department of Campus Safety and Security. A student's confidential contact information will be accessible only by authorized university and law enforcement officials in the course of the missing person investigation.

Official notification procedures for missing persons:
Any individual on campus who has information that a residential student may be a missing person should contact a member of the residential life staff and/or campus safety and security forthwith. Residential life staff when notified of a missing student will notify campus safety and security forthwith.

Residential life staff and campus safety and security staff will gather information about the residential student from the reporting person and from the student's acquaintances (description, clothes last worn, where the student might be, who student might be with, vehicle description, information about the physical and mental well being of the student, an up-to-date photograph, class schedule, etc.). Appropriate university staff and resources will be utilized to assist with locating the missing student.

After investigating a missing person report, should the Husson University Department of Campus Safety and Security determine that the student has been missing for 24 hours, the department will notify the Bangor Police Department and the missing student's emergency contact no later than 24 hours after the student is determined to be missing. If the missing student is under the age of 18 and is not emancipated, University officials will also notify the missing student's parent/s or legal guardian forthwith.

If it is immediately apparent that foul play is suspected (e.g., witnessed abduction), the campus safety and security officer will immediately contact the Bangor Police Department and the Director of Campus Safety and Security. The Director of Campus Safety and Security will in turn notify the Dean of Students forthwith.

Note: If a commuter or nontraditional student is believed missing, the reporting person should immediately notify campus safety and security and/or local law enforcement authorities. The campus safety and security department will utilize university resources to assist outside agencies with these investigations as requested.

Husson University Department of Campus Safety and Security
Room # 106 Peabody Hall
207-941-7911

Alcohol and Substance Abuse Policy

Husson University prohibits the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs or alcohol by students and faculty/staff on college property or at any of its college activities. In accordance with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, Husson University distributes annually a booklet that informs all students and faculty/staff of the University's substance abuse policy, sanctions for violation of the policy, and statutory prohibitions and sanctions for illegal drugs and alcohol.

Preventing and Responding to Sex Offenses Policy Statement

Definition:
The FBI's National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) edition of the UCR defines a sex offense as any sexual act directed against another person, forcibly and/or against that person's will; or not forcibly or against the person's will where the victim is incapable of giving consent.

Note: Husson University defines those under the influence of alcohol or other mind-altering substances as being incapable of giving consent.

Husson University educates its student community about sexual assaults, date rape, and acquaintance rape through mandatory freshman (Husson Experience classes HE-111) each year during the fall semester. The Department of Safety and Security in collaboration with the Department of Student Life offers Rape Aggression Defense (RAD System) Training to all interested female students at least once each semester. The university also mandates that all-female residential assistants be RAD System trained during the summer RA training period. All RAD System Training is conducted on campus by certified RAD System instructors. In addition, the department also offers "Non-Violent and Bystander Intervention" training to the university community.

If you are a victim of sexual assault at this institution, your first priority should be to get to a place of safety and obtain necessary medical attention. The Department of Campus Safety and Security strongly advocates that a victim of sexual assault report the incident immediately to campus safety and security and/or the Bangor Police Department keeping in mind that time is a critical factor for evidence collection and preservation. An assault should be reported directly to a Campus Safety and Security Officer, Bangor Police officer, or a Residential Life Staff Member.

Please note that filing a report with a University official will not obligate the victim to prosecute, nor will it subject the victim to scrutiny or judgmental opinions from said officials.

Filing a report will:

• Ensure that a victim of sexual assault receives the necessary medical treatment and tests, at no cost to the victim;
• Provide the opportunity for collection of evidence helpful in prosecution, which cannot be obtained later (ideally a victim of sexual assault should not wash, douche, use the toilet, or change clothing prior to a medical exam);
• Assure that the victim has access to free confidential counseling from counselors specifically trained in the area of sexual assault crisis intervention.

When a victim of a sexual assault contacts the Department of Safety and Security, a preliminary report will be generated which will be distributed to the Dean and Associate Dean of Students / Residential Life, the Director of Student Counseling, the Bangor Police Department (if requested by the victim) and the Director of Campus Safety and Security or his designee will be notified immediately. The victim of a sexual assault may choose for the investigation to be pursued through the criminal justice system and the university code of conduct disciplinary system, or just the latter. In any event, the university officials will guide the victim through the available options and support the victim in her/his decision.

University officials will also provide valuable information regarding counseling and support services, i.e. on-campus student Counseling and Health Services, off-campus 24-hour crisis hotline, and Rape Response Service.

Policy Statement Addressing Sex Offender Registration

The Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act (CSCPA) of 2000 is a federal law that provides for the tracking of convicted sex offenders enrolled and/or employed at institutions of higher learning. The CSCPA is an amendment to the Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Act. Federal law requires state law enforcement agencies to provide Husson University and all higher education institutions with a list of registered sex offenders who have indicated that they are either enrolled or employed at the said institution.

In addition to the aforementioned law, Husson University conducts nationwide criminal and sex offender registry background checks on all new staff/faculty and work-study hires.

The Office of Campus Safety and Security will monitor and maintain a list of local sex offender registrants which will be updated on a regular basis.

In addition, a list of all registered sex offenders in the state of Maine is available from the Maine Department of Public Safety Sex Offender Registry. Husson University is located in Penobscot County with a zip code of 04401.

The CSCPA further amends the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) to clarify that nothing in the Act can prohibit an educational institution from disclosing information provided to the institution concerning registered sex offenders.