campus security policy & campus crime statistics report

Austin's School of Spa Technology regularly publishes its Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Report.

Crime Statistics Report

Austin's School of Spa Technology posts its crime data yearly with the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education. To view a three-year report, please follow these steps:

  1. Go to http://www.ope.ed.gov/security
  2. Click on the link Get Data For One Institution/Campus
  3. In the text box Name of Institution, type in Austin's School of Spa Technology
  4. Click the Search button
  5. Click on the link Austin's School of Spa Technology Main Campus

Campus Security Plan

Emergency Action Plan Objective:

This plan outlines the actions deemed necessary to provide a safe environment for the students, visitors, faculty and staff of the Empire Education Corporation, D.B.A. Mildred Elley and Austin’s School of Spa Technology.

Corporate Philosophy

It is the policy of Empire Education Corporation, Mildred Elley College and the Austin School of Spa Technology, “the school” to provide for the safety and security of all members of its campus community. The School believes that pursuit of academic excellence can only flourish in a safe environment where everyone on campus is treated with respect and courtesy. To this end, the school is committed to maintaining a safe learning environment free from disruptive behavior or dangerous conditions. In as much as it is possible this action plan seeks to be proactive when dealing with emergency conditions on campus. The key elements set forth in this plan will ensure that adequate procedures are in place to respond effectively to emergency conditions.

The following areas will be addressed in this plan:

  • Facility location and description
  • Faculty, staff, student and visitor identification
  • Visitor protocol while visiting the campus
  • Parking policies, Safety and Regulations
  • Fire safety, prevention, and emergency evacuation procedures
  • Disaster preparedness and procedures
  • Criminal activities reporting
  • Emergency notification procedures
  • Assignment of emergency duties
  • Documenting and reporting procedures for accidents/incidents
  • Notification of pending disasters or potential life threatening incidents
  • Hate crime, sexual harassment identification and reporting

School Location

Empire Education’s primary location is 855 Central Avenue in Albany New York. This three story office style building houses the Mildred Elley College and the Austin School of Spa Technology.  Located in a commercial office park the campus is approximately one mile from the center of the city.  Empire Education does not provide student housing or sponsor any off-campus activities, so no other property is included in this emergency management plan. The corporation maintains a campus at 505 East Street in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. This location will be handled separately in an addendum to this emergency management plan.  The Albany campus is surrounded by public and private parking areas, retail establishments and commercial properties.

Campus Access / Parking

The campus is typically accessed by public transportation or private passenger vehicle. Three contiguous parking areas surrounding the campus building are available for student, faculty and staff parking. These parking areas provide approximately 400 parking spaces that are accessed on a first come first serve basis. The Capital District Transportation Authority operates the public city bus system in Albany and makes stops at regular intervals throughout the day and evening hours. The bus stop is located on the Central Avenue side of the office park property located approximately 400 feet from the main entrance of the school.

The parking lots available to the school do not have any designated parking for students, faculty or staff. The only parking that is reserved is the required handicapped parking spaces adjacent to the south side or Central Avenue side of the building. All parking is provided on a first come/first serve basis and all students, faculty and staff are required to place an identification sticker on the inside rear window, or place it in another prominent position on the vehicle’s glass. Vehicles not displaying a parking permit sticker will be subject to a written warning that instructs them to register their vehicle with the student services department. Students who refuse to register their vehicles will be subject to towing. Parking permits are provided free of charge and are distributed during orientation for new students. The stickers are available at any time throughout the semester by registering at the student services office. Any cars parked in fire access lanes or in front of loading areas or any other marked “no parking areas” or who are illegally parked in a handicapped space will be subject to immediate removal. The parking areas are regularly patrolled by the Albany Police Department as part of their daily and nightly rounds.

Identification

A key component to campus security is the identification of all persons entering or utilizing the facility throughout the week. Both schools have a combined enrollment of approximately 1,000 students who are accessing the facility during the day, evening and weekend hours.  For this reason it is very important that all students, faculty and staff be easily identifiable. All students, faculty and staff accessing the building are required to display a photo identification badge which must be prominently worn on a lanyard or a lapel clip so that it is plainly visible to any security personnel, faculty and staff or any other school official.

All visitors entering the facility are required to sign in and register at the front desk reception in the Admissions Office or the Spa reception area. Visitors must present identification and receive a visitor’s badge before proceeding to any area of the building. All visitors must have an official reason for visiting the school. No visitor is permitted to move about the building unescorted.  Upon leaving the facility all visitors must sign out at the reception desk and turn in the visitors pass.

Fire Prevention and Workplace Hazards

It is the responsibility of all faculty and staff to alert the safety manager or floor marshals of any and all conditions that could potentially pose a fire hazard or other unsafe condition in or around the building. No smoking is permitted in the building and flammable chemicals are confined and stored in a locked area, meeting all OSHA requirements. Good housekeeping practices will be the responsibility of all faculty, staff and students. Waste materials are to be discarded in their proper places and all aisles, doorways, hallways and exit doors are to be kept clear at all times.

Timely Warnings

A condition or incident that could compromise the safety and well-being of any member of the Empire Education campus community will result in an appropriate timely warning being issued. Depending on the nature of the condition or incident, the warning will be initiated through a variety of methods.

Fire Alarm or Emergencies Requiring Building Evacuation

The building is equipped with a state-of-the-art fire detection and alarm system that is directly connected to the Albany City Fire Department. Though it is not expected or encouraged, fire extinguishers are provided throughout the building and are prominently marked so individuals may, at their discretion, use them when appropriate. Emergency phones are also provided on each landing or “area of rescue” on the second and third floors adjacent to the elevator doors. These phones are a direct line out of the building and are to be used on an emergency basis only.

The fire alarm system is fully automatic and meets all building and fire code requirements. Emergency fire alarm controls are positioned throughout the building at all doors that exit the floor or exit the building. Individuals detecting fire can manually pull any of those alarms initiating the alarm and fire department response. In the event that the alarm system is activated all occupants are required to vacate the building in an orderly and expedient manner. When activated, the alarm will be an incredibly loud, shrieking siren accompanied by powerful strobe lights. This call to evacuate the building is designed to be virtually impossible to ignore.

In the event of an evacuation, key staff have been designated on each floor as emergency marshals. These marshals will be responsible for ensuring that all occupants of the floor and/or their section of the building vacate the premises in an orderly and expedient manner.

Marshals will be responsible for ensuring that all classrooms, offices and lavatories are vacated and that all occupants have vacated the building. Once it is verified that the building is vacated, all evacuees will be instructed to stand a minimum of 100 feet from the building, allowing fire or other emergency personnel access to the property. Yearly fire drills will be scheduled to ensure that all occupants of the building are familiar with evacuation procedures.

Reporting Criminal Activities / Emergencies

Any individual student, faculty or staff member witnessing a crime or criminal activity, or any potentially dangerous condition on campus, should immediately report the incident to the Campus Security Director or the designated security and safety marshal located on the floor they occupy. In the case of imminent danger, it is appropriate for any and all witnesses to contact 911 if it is in their best judgment that the situation warrants the call. In the event that a witness does contact 911 to report an emergency condition, that person must also contact a college or school official or safety marshal to allow the school to initiate any additional proper emergency actions.

Campus Lockdown Procedures for Reporting Dangerous Persons on Campus, Weapons or Shots Fired:

  1. Contact the security leader or floor marshal on campus and identify yourself and the location of the dangerous person, weapon or shots fired.
  2. The security teams will initiate action that will be appropriate for the condition. If warranted, text and e-mail blasts will be initiated to alert the campus community.
  3. If imminent danger exists on campus, an alarm distinctly different from the fire alarm will sound, indicating that a lock-down condition exists in the building. Should that alarm sound, all offices, classrooms and clinics are to lock the doors and turn the lights off and locate the students out of sight of doorways and windows. (Hallway wall, if possible). Cell phones are to be set to vibrate mode and all non-essential talking should cease.
  4. The lockdown condition alarm will sound until circumstances are resolved. All phones and e-mail addresses registered in the school data base will receive text messaging and/or an e-mail blast to update conditions when available and appropriate.
  5. All students, staff and faculty are to remain in locked rooms until released by the police department or designated campus safety/ security marshals. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD ANYONE LEAVE the relative safety of a locked room until conditions are resolved and occupants are properly advised to resume normal activity.
  6. A campus emergency lockdown drill will be scheduled annually to ensure that all students, faculty and staff are familiar with this emergency procedure.

Procedures for Addressing a Bomb Threat if Received by Telephone:

  1. Upon receiving the call, determine if the call was placed from within or outside the building. Call the lead safety officer, front desk security or appropriate floor marshal immediately.
  2. Try to determine the time frame associated with the threat. Make a written notation as to when the caller stated the bomb will go off. This information will assist in determining how fast the building must be evacuated.
  3. The safety officer contacted will be in charge and will make the determination to initiate the alarm to evacuate the building. Designated floor marshals will clear the building.
  4. The person in charge will trip the fire alarm and notify emergency agencies, if possible, by calling 911.
  5. Students, faculty and staff will evacuate the building following the same procedures as a fire alarm evacuation. All persons must leave the building.  There are no exceptions!
  6. Floor marshals will be responsible for evacuating everyone in their respective zone and will check all rooms before leaving the floor.

Reporting Emergencies:

Day Division: To report incidents or emergencies or to find out about conditions on campus contact any one of the following Safety Marshals listed below:

For first floor incidents or emergencies, contact:

  • George Chakmakas, Director of Admissions… 518-786-0855, ext. 1102 or
  • Greg Pouliot ,Senior Financial Aid representative… 518-786-0855, ext. 1130 or
  • Amber Caruso, Austin School Director… 518-438-7879, ext. 1201.

For second floor incidents or emergencies, contact:

  • Stephen Quick, Business Information tech, chair… 518-786-0855, ext. 1304 or
  • Benjamin Barnard, Digital Media Arts Chair…518-786-0855, ext. 1350.
  • Melissa Lurie, Dean Academic Affairs…518-786-0855 X 1350
  • Chris Diamantopoulos Executive Assistant…518-786-0855 X 1352

For third floor incidents and emergencies, or any other location on campus, contact:

  • Joe Moltzen, Security Leader, at 518-786-0855, ext. 1429.
  • Bettyjo Bouchey, Vice President Campus Operations…518-786-0855 X 1423

Evening Division: All evening faculty, staff and students should contact the security guard at the front desk in the event of any emergencies. The emergency phone number to call is 518-810-5311.

Weekend Division: All weekend faculty, staff and students should contact the onsite security guard located at the front desk in the admissions department in the event of any emergencies.  The emergency phone number to call is 518-810-5311.

Electronic Messaging

With the sophistication of cell phone technology and the nature of today’s communication trends, cell phones and computers have become an important means of rapid communication.  In the event that the school finds it necessary to initiate a campus-wide alert e-mail and /or text message “blast”, one will be sent to all cell phones or e-mail addresses registered with the school. It is for this reason that all faculty, staff and students are strongly encouraged to provide an electronic means of contact ensuring the largest possible number of contacts to spread critical information. New students will be asked to provide this information during orientation before classes begin and new faculty and staff will be asked to provide information through the Human Resources department. Periodic questionnaires will be distributed to enrolled students to update information throughout the length of their program. The electronic messaging system will perform yearly test to determine the effectiveness of the messaging systems.

Local Television and Radio News

In the event that the school has important information to convey to the campus community regarding weather emergencies, school closings or other circumstance that effect the operation of the campus, information will be broadcast on all major local television and radio news channels. For a listing of these stations, individuals can access the Mildred Elley website or company intranet to obtain the information.

School Standards of Conduct

Empire education attempts to provide a safe, comfortable academic and social environment - and our academic community has a long and cherished tradition of expecting its members to conduct themselves in accordance with the highest standards of  ethics and personal behavior. The school does not attempt to define all "student conduct." It relies on students to assume the responsibility and obligation of conducting themselves in a manner compatible with the purpose of the school as an educational institution and the community as a place of residence. In addition to school rules and regulations, all students are subject to the same local, state, and federal laws as non-students and are beneficiaries of the same safeguards of rights as non-students.

The school relies on its faculty and staff to set high standards of conduct as examples for the student body to follow. Committed to the fundamental belief that all people should be treated with dignity and respect, the school has zero tolerance for harassment in any context.  All members of the college community have the basic right to work and learn in a comfortable environment, free from derogatory remarks, unwelcomed sexual advances, hate speech, racist or sexist comments or any other verbal or physical conduct deemed inappropriate by the school or its administration.

Any and all of this inappropriate behavior is condemned by the school and swift and immediate action will be taken to investigate any credible complaint.  If it is determined through proper investigation that disciplinary action is warranted, the school reserves the right to remove the person or persons from campus through expulsion from school or termination of employment. Should additional legal action be sought by the victim, the school and its officials will assist in any way possible to see that justice is served.

Inappropriate Behavior:  Definitions

Sexual Assault – Inflicting sexual contact or sexual intrusion upon or engaging in sexual penetration with any person without that person's consent. Such conduct is "without consent" when no clear consent is given; when inflicted through force, threat of force, or coercion; or when inflicted upon a person who is unconscious or otherwise without the physical or mental capacity to consent, e.g., when someone is under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Sexual Harassment – Either from a supervisor, co-worker, faculty, staff or fellow student, when:

  • Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term of an individual's employment or academic status;
  • Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an employee is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting such individual;
  • Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an employee's work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, offensive work or academic environment;
  • Such conduct stereotypes a gender into a degrading, less than desirable status within the work place, creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment;
  • Any deliberate, unwanted or unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature or sexual stereotyping, whether verbal, non-verbal or physical.
The behavior must satisfy these three (3) legal requirements:
  1. Unwanted,
  2. Unsolicited (prior behavior and dress are not indications of solicitation), and
  3. Deliberate. (It is important to understand that sexual harassment need not be repeated. A one-time-only offense may constitute harassment.)

Sexual Harassment may include, but is not limited to:

  • Verbal harassment or abuse
  • Subtle pressure for sexual activity
  • Sexist remarks about a person's clothing, body or sexual activities
  • Unnecessary touching, patting, or pinching
  • Leering at a person's body
  • Constant brushing against a person's body
  • Demanding sexual favors accompanied by implied or overt threats concerning one's job, promotions, performance evaluation, grades, etc.
  • Physical assault
  • That which comes from a person of either sex against a person of the same or opposite sex, from peers, supervisors, or subordinates, or which is directed toward any of these.

What to Do If You Are Assaulted:

DO: Victims of a sexual assault are encouraged to seek medical help, report the crime, and tell someone such as a counselor, friend, authority figure, parent or a campus security authority.

DO NOT: Medical help is important for your safety after a sexual assault. Until you are examined by a medical professional do not douche, bathe, shower, or throw way or wash clothing or bedding.

Remember, it is critical to preserve medical and criminal evidence for a future judicial case.  The decision is up to you to pursue criminal and/or school disciplinary charges. All information taken from a victim of a sexual assault is kept confidential.

Referrals

Any person may refer a victim or a student suspected of sexual assault and/or sexual harassment to any campus security marshal for assistance in filing an incident report with the appropriate authority. In cases of sexual assault/sexual harassment, which involve student-to-student misconduct, the same processes as other violations stated above will be followed. Where sexual assault and/or sexual harassment involve staff to student misconduct, the incident will be investigated by the Human Resources department and the security director.

Law Enforcement

Legal options for victims of sexual assault include filing a criminal complaint with the Albany Police Department or pursue a civil action against the accused through an attorney. Legal options for victims of sexual harassment include all criminal and civil remedies, as well as filing complaints with school administration. Information about community legal services for victims can be obtained by calling a private attorney or the Legal Aid Society of North Eastern New York at 518-462-6765.

Emergency Contact Service on Campus

Ms. Bettyjo Bouchey, Director of Campus Operations, will serve as the primary referral point for students who need to be contacted due to an emergency. She can be reached at 518-786-0855, ext. 1423. Although any and all campus personnel are free to deliver emergency messages to students when expedient, Department Chairs should be notified in order to assure appropriate follow up and documentation.

Determining messaging for "emergencies" while students are in class will be handled on a case by case basis. It is important to note that we cannot guarantee contact with any student due to their highly mobile behavior, but a good faith effort will be made. Keep in mind that we will not become a messaging service for non-emergency situations. Depending on the type of emergency, a message will be delivered to the faculty member or work supervisor asking for the student to be dismissed and to:

  1. Immediately contact the source of the message or;
  2. Immediately proceed to the director of campus operations or the department chair for the program that the student is participating in.

Alcohol and Drug Policy

In the State of New York it is illegal for any person under the age of twenty-one years to possess, consume, or purchase any alcoholic beverage. Empire Education Corporation strictly prohibits the possession of alcoholic beverages by any individual on campus-controlled property.

Illegal Drugs on Campus

Post-secondary students found in possession of illegal drugs on campus will be subject to immediate removal from their program. Empire Education has a zero tolerance policy for possession (including drug paraphernalia), use, distribution or sale of illegal drugs. Those students convicted of illegal drug possession of any kind will be immediately dismissed from the program.