Safety and Security

Your campus Safety and Security department works hard to ensure that everyone in the MLC community is aware of safety issues that may affect them.  The Campus Safety Act, also known as the Jeanne Clery Act, requires college and universities to report annual crime statistics, provide timely warnings of serious crimes when there may be a threat to others, and to keep a public log of campus incidents.

MLC is in full compliance with this federal mandate, and our Safety and Security report is available below.

The Student Right-to-Know & Campus Security Act

The Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act (Public Law 101-542) was signed into law November 8, 1990.  The act contains requirements that an institution collect certain information starting September 1, 1991.  It also requires that the institution prepare, publish and distribute this information to all current students and employees beginning September 1, 1992 and each year thereafter.  The information must also be provided to any applicant for enrollment upon request.

It is Midland Lutheran College’s intent to comply fully with the Act.  The statistics provided are for the last three years, and all information is current as of October 1, 2005.  This report is prepared in cooperation with the local law enforcement agency and various offices within Student Development.

Safety and Security at Midland Lutheran College

Midland Lutheran College maintains a campus security force staffed by students and trained professionals.   The security officers have no official arrest powers.  Any arrests are made by city, county or state law enforcement officers.  Students and staff may contact the appropriate authorities directly or security will make contact on behalf of the college or individuals involved if considered necessary or requested.  Students and staff are made aware of the services offered by campus security through the student and staff handbooks and annual orientation sessions for new students.  Midland takes any reported criminal action or other emergency as an event which must be responded to promptly.  The College does rely on law enforcement authorities to investigate criminal actions and to assist with emergencies as necessary.

Campus security personnel have civil enforcement authority only.  They do, however, work closely with the Fremont Police Department should assistance be required.  The police department monitors the Midland security radio channel and communicates with security personnel.

Contact MLC Security (941-6444 or 720-5334) for immediate assistance evenings and weekends.   Among other things, students may call security to provide escort service across campus during the evening.  MLC encourages individuals to also report any crime accurately and promptly.  Please notify MLC Security: if you are the victim of a crime; to report a crime; to report a traffic accident on campus; or if you have information that would aid in solving a crime.  If you are reporting an emergency situation, you should call 911 (or 9911 if from a campus phone). Fremont’s 911 emergency phone system allows you quick access to police, fire and rescue units.

Students and employees may also report a crime on a voluntary, confidential basis by sending a detailed account of the incident to the Director of Safety and Security through campus mail or U.S. mail.  The Director of Counseling and/or the Campus Pastor, if and when they deem it appropriate, may inform persons being counseled of the procedures to report crimes on a voluntary basis for inclusion into the annual crime statistics.

In the event that a situation arises that, in the judgment of the Director of Safety and Security, constitutes an ongoing or continuing threat, a campus wide “timely warning” will be issued.  The warning will be issued through the college e-mail system to students, faculty, and staff.  Depending on the particular circumstances of the crime, especially in all situations that could pose an immediate threat to the community and individuals, the Director of Safety and Security may also post a notice on the Midland Lutheran College web site at midlandlutheran.imodules.com,   providing the college community with more immediate notification.   In such instances, a copy of the notice will be posted in each residence hall also.  Anyone with information warranting a timely warning should report the circumstances to the Director of Safety and Security by phone at 941-6444. 

The residence halls at MLC are secured 24 hours a day by means of an electronic security system.  Residents gain entry to the halls with their proximity keys.

Campus security personnel have access to substantially all areas of the campus including residence halls and individual student rooms.  Midland does, however, respect and seek to insure privacy of students living in its residence halls.  Arbitrary room searches by anyone are prohibited.  Ongoing checks of campus safety features are regularly conducted.

Crime prevention programs, including sex offenses prevention programs, are offered throughout the academic year.  These educational programs are open to the entire campus community.  Information on campus safety and security is also shared during the orientation process at early registration and during new faculty orientation.

The college currently has no off-campus student organizations; therefore, no policy for such has been developed by the College.

Alcohol/Drug Policy

Midland Lutheran College prohibits the use of illegal drugs or possession or unlawful use of alcohol.  The use, possession, sale, or distribution of alcoholic beverages or paraphernalia on the Midland Lutheran College campus is prohibited.  The use, possession, sale, or distribution of alcohol by a member (or members) of a college student organization as part of or during that organization’s activities or meetings is prohibited.  Use, possession, sale, or distribution of illicit drugs or paraphernalia by any MLC student or employee is prohibited.  A temperate personal posture is encouraged and expected toward the legal and off-campus use of alcohol for those who are 21 years of age or older and are not representing a student organization.

As an academic institution, MLC’s goal is to alleviate the problem of alcohol and illegal drug use, preferably in a manner that educates rather than one that punishes.  However, MLC is subject to the same local, state and federal laws that govern all citizens, including those laws that concern the use, sale and possession of drugs and alcohol.  Therefore, engaging in such illegal action will be subject to disciplinary procedure.  In addition, the College will cooperate with civil authorities in dealing with violations of these laws, and the College’s disposition of individual cases does not preclude criminal prosecution in accordance with federal and/or state laws.

It is to be noted that any amount of illicit drugs, residue from illicit drugs, and/or paraphernalia present on campus constitutes a violation of Community Standards.  Abuse of prescription drugs may constitute grounds for required counseling, education, and/or disciplinary action.  In addition, knowledgeable association in an environment where illegal substances are being used constitutes grounds for disciplinary action.  The College prefers to prevent alcohol and drug abuse through educational opportunities offered throughout the year.  A listing of local evaluation, counseling, and rehabilitation agencies and resources is available from Student Development.

A student may request assistance with a drug or alcohol-related use/abuse problem without risk of penalty, provided the request is not the result of a violation.  All such requests, counseling, and visitations related thereto shall be held in confidence, unless the student is in physical or psychological danger or if such behavior puts others at risk.

A voluntary request for assistance may also include referral for a perceived problem related to alcohol/other drug use/abuse by a staff or faculty member, other students, parents, or may be a referral resulting from College and NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) required testing.

Staff support will be provided.  Except in emergencies, contact to parents/advisor/coach will not be made without notification to the student.  Assistance with evaluation cost may or may not be available by the college depending on circumstances. The cost of continued counseling is the responsibility of the student.  The College reserves the right to require an evaluation and education depending upon circumstances; this may include cases of non-violation. Alcohol evaluations and counseling services are also available through Lincoln General Hospital Independence Center, Lutheran Family and Social Services, or other certified licensed agencies.

Physical Harm

Midland Lutheran College takes seriously any allegation of harassment or threat of physical harm, including sexual misconduct.  An act of physical harm will result in a disciplinary review with a review entity.  Depending upon circumstances and perceived immediate danger to a student or the college, actions may result in immediate suspension until such time a review can be convened.  If requested by the victim and reasonably available, the college will change a victim’s academic and living situations after an alleged sex offense.  

In cases when a student found responsible for physical harm is allowed to continue academic study, mediation, counseling, educational, and/or disciplinary measures may be required.  This may be in addition to civil action.  Students may be restricted from selected campus activities for a period of time as determined by a review entity or committee.  Failure to comply may result in suspension until such time requirements are met and the student is approved for readmission.

In the event of inflicted physical harm, alleged victims are encouraged to immediately seek medical assistance, in part to preserve evidence for the proof of a criminal offense.  Then they should contact the college counselor at 941-6449 and/or the Crisis Center at 721-4340, and the Assistant Dean of Students at 941-6423 or another college authority.  It is a student’s option to notify appropriate law enforcement authorities, including local police.  College personnel will assist the student in notifying these authorities, if the student requests the assistance of these personnel.

Information regarding the College Counselors and the Crisis Center may be obtained from any Residence Hall staff personnel and other Student Development staff.  This information is also available in the Student Handbook and the Campus Directories.  Residence Hall staff members have packets available of information regarding suggested care to be taken following sexual misconduct.

Midland Lutheran College is required to inform the campus community that a registration list of sex offenders is available online at http://www.nsp.state.ne.us/sor/find.cfm.   

Discipline Process for Alleged Physical Harm

The Assistant Dean of Students or his/her designee will begin the disciplinary review process.  Once a report is received describing an alleged community standard violation, the Assistant Dean will send a letter to the student explaining that a report was written and outlining the possible violation.  The student will be asked to contact the Assistant Dean within two (2) class days of receiving the letter to schedule a meeting to discuss the report.  This meeting must be scheduled within a seven (7) day time period following receipt of the letter.  Once the Assistant Dean has met with the student involved and talked with any other relevant persons, the Assistant Dean has three options:

• Find that the student was not responsible for violating the community standard.
• Find that the student was responsible for violating the community standard and determine an appropriate sanction(s) for the student.
• Refer the incident to a Conduct Review Board for adjudication.

A letter explaining the decision will be sent to the student within five (5) class days.

The Conduct Review Board shall consist of two (2) faculty members, one (1) staff member, and two (2) students.  The Board members for a specific allegation will be chosen from a pool of individuals solicited by the Assistant Dean of Students at the beginning of each academic year and provided training regarding the Disciplinary Review Process.

The student will be able to present a statement and any other information or witnesses s/he feels will support his/her position.  In addition, the student may have an advisor present from within the college community who may only speak to the student.  The student’s advisor may not be a member of the Student Development staff.  The Conduct Review Board will hear statements of involved persons and ask questions.  The Board will then deliberate and reach a final decision which will be communicated to the student by mail within five (5) class days.

Sanctions that may be imposed following a final determination of an institutional disciplinary proceeding regarding sex offenses may include:  referral for prosecution, restrictions, disciplinary probation, temporary suspension, suspension, and/or expulsion.

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