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Regulations & Policies

Organization/General

I. OBJECTIVE & PURPOSE

The Chief of the º£½ÇÉçÇø Police Department (UPD) or his/her designee, the Public Information Officer, and the University General Counsel’s Office are responsible for issuing Timely Warnings. Depending on the nature of the Emergency Notification UPD may be solely responsible for the issuance of an Emergency Notification. If time permits, the UPD may consult with the PIO and General Counsel before issuing an Emergency Notification. Issuance of a Timely Warning or Emergency Notification will be done in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1092f) et seq.

The decision to issue a Timely Warning or Emergency Notification is made on a case-by-case basis. The timing of the notification shall be based upon whether the crime or incident poses a potential ongoing or serious threat, or immediate threat to the health or safety of students, employees or the campus community.

II. STATEMENT OF POLICY

1. Timely Warning

   A Clery Act Timely Warning is used for the purpose of informing the campus community of a Clery Act crime occurring on Clery geography (on campus, on public property within or immediately adjacent to campus or in/on non-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University) considered to be a potential, ongoing or serious threat to students and employees in an effort to prevent similar crimes from occurring. Whenever a crime is brought to the attention of the UPD or a Campus Security Authority (CSA), the crime will be reported to the UPD Chief of Police, or designee, for evaluation to determine if a Timely Warning should be issued. Timely Warnings are usually issued for the following Clery Act and Violence Against Women Act reportable crimes: criminal homicide, murder and non-negligent manslaughter, manslaughter by negligence, rape, fondling, incest, statutory rape, aggravated assault, robbery, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson domestic violence, dating violence and stalking. Hate crimes that may result in a Timely Warning being issued include any of the Clery reportable crimes and any type of larceny-theft, simple assault, intimidation or destruction/damage/vandalism of property that were motivated by bias

   The content of a timely warning will include: specific information about the crime as necessary to fully inform and safeguard the campus community, date/time of incident, location and nature of the crime, description of a suspect (if available) and crime prevention and safety tips that aid in the prevention of similar crimes At no time will a Timely Warning disclose the name of the victim of a crime unless specific consent is given by the victim or such information is deemed necessary by UPD to safeguard the University community.
2. Emergency Notification

   A Clery Act Emergency Notification will be issued by the UPD or a Public Information Officer upon confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety occurring on campus. "Immediate" in this context means an imminent or impending threat. Examples of situations that would warrant an Emergency Notification would include but are not limited to; approaching severe weather, a gas leak, a suspicious package with confirmation of a device, an active shooter on campus, hazardous materials spill, etc.

   An Emergency Notification will provide the campus community with relevant information concerning the emergency or dangerous situation, including appropriate response/evacuation/instruction procedures. It will also contain information about the portion(s) of the campus impacted.

   Such information will be released immediately to the University community unless UPD determines that doing so would compromise efforts to assist a victim or contain, respond to, or otherwise mitigate the emergency situation.

III. PROCEDURE

Whenever a crime or other incident that could result in a Timely Warning being issued is brought to the attention of the UPD, the crime or other incident will be evaluated to determine if a Timely Warning should be issued. When a determination has been made that a Timely Warning is appropriate, the Chief of the UPD or his/her designee, the PIO, and the University's General Counsel will determine the content of the notification as well as the most effective mode of communication and the segments of campus that will receive the warning. The UPD may also consult with other University officials as deemed necessary to ensure that all information is included in the Timely Warning.

When a significant emergency, or other dangerous situation that involves an immediate threat to the health or safety of the campus community, is occurring on the campus and is brought to the attention of the UPD, an Emergency Notification should be issued.

When a determination has been made that an Emergency Notification is appropriate, UPD will determine the content of the notification, the means in which the notification will be distributed and to whom the notification will be issued. The Emergency Notification will then be issued without delay and in a manner to best protect the campus community.There may be circumstances when an Emergency Notification will be made but, due to the nature of the incident, the UPD will consult with the University President or his/her designee, such as the Public Information Officer, to determine the best content for the notification and the most effective mode of communication.

Upon receipt of relevant information, both Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications, will, as circumstances warrant, be issued in a manner to best protect the campus community. Options for notification of students, faculty and staff include email, a recorded message to the phones of students, faculty and staff, text messages to students, faculty and staff, indoor and outdoor on-campus public address announcements, information posted on the º£½ÇÉçÇøhomepage (), myWings and portals, information recorded on UNF's main phone number (904) 620-1000, information on TV screens on campus, information distributed to the news media and information on UNF's official social media sites, including Facebook and Twitter accounts. Further information may be found at the website (http://www.unf.edu/emergency). The manner in which a Timely Warning or an Emergency Notification will be distributed will depend on the nature and severity of the incident.

Anyone with information regarding criminal activity that may warrant a Timely Warning or Emergency Notification should report the circumstances to the UPD either by telephone at (904) 620-2800 or in person at the UPD's office (building 41) by contacting the closest Campus Security Authority or reporting using the Safe Ospreys app through their phone. 

It is the policy of º£½ÇÉçÇøto disseminate emergency information to individuals and organizations outside of the campus community, when circumstances warrant, via the local news media, the official º£½ÇÉçÇøFacebook page and the official º£½ÇÉçÇøTwitter account. Those outside of campus may also have access to the information by viewing the University's homepage (). In cases of extreme emergency, information may be obtained by calling UNF's main telephone number of (904) 620-1000 to reach the Crisis Management Team emergency phone bank. Examples of when the above communications would be used include, but are not limited to an active shooter on campus, explosions, other loss of life or mass injury or casualties on campus, etc.

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