General Safety and Security Information

Campus Security Features

The campus is well-lighted with high intensity sodium vapor lights. Our Facilities Management and Planning Department regularly inspects campus facilities, makes any needed repairs, and responds to reports of potential safety hazards.

Surveillance cameras have been installed in key locations around the campus. Every entrance to each residence hall also has a closed-circuit TV camera that is monitored by the Shippensburg University Police. There are over 30 outdoor emergency telephones located across campus, and many more indoor emergency phones, which are directly connected to the University Police Operations Center.

Department of Public Safety

The Department of Public Safety is responsible for providing security and police services on our campus.

• The University Police Department has 12 full-time police officers who have received their training under Act 120 (the Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Act) and their police commission from the Governor and the Secretary of Education in Pennsylvania; and the University Safety Department, which is staffed by an Environmental Health and Safety Manager. University police officers are also required to attend annual update training under PA Act 180.
• All full-time employees of the Department of Public Safety, in addition to any mandated or specialty training, also receive annual in-service training that includes CPR and first aid training.
• University Police Officers have full authority to enforce all state and federal laws, as well as any applicable university policies. The University Police Department is the police department of jurisdiction to the Shippensburg University campus. University police authority includes the power of arrest on campus property. University police officers may also initiate campus judicial board proceedings for violations of the Student Code of Conduct, as a sole process for resolution or in addition to criminal charges.
• The University requests criminal conviction information from employee applicants. A criminal history check is done on all staff employees and a complete background investigation is performed on applicants for university police positions.
• Each police vehicle contains an AED (defibrillator). University police conduct foot, vehicular, and bicycle patrols of the campus and residence hall areas 24 hours a day. The University Police enforce all regulations and laws of the University and the Commonwealth.

• The University maintains contact with the Shippensburg Borough Police as well as the Pennsylvania State Police. This allows all departments to pass information and provide assistance. In addition, legislation Act 48 allows university police officers to act outside the campus limits under specific conditions.

Unwanted Prescription Drug Disposal

In partnership with the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office, SUPD has an Unwanted Prescription Drug Disposal collection box in the lobby of the Reed Operations Center.

• All pharmaceutical drugs that are being disposed of need to be in a sealed container such as the original bottle or a zip-lock bag. They may NOT be disposed of loosely.
• Liquid pharmaceuticals should remain in the original container
• Personal information should be removed or blotted out with a permanent marker
• Prescription and over-the-counter solid medications, tablets and capsules, liquid medications, inhalers, creams, ointments, nasal sprays and pet medications

Bicycles

Bicycles operated on the campus must be registered with the University Police. All bicycles operated on campus are subject to the University Traffic and Parking Regulations and the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code.

Skateboards, roller skates, in-line skates, etc. are not permitted for use on the University campus except in specially designated areas. The normally heavy concentration of vehicular traffic on the roadways and pedestrian traffic on the sidewalks does not provide a conducive atmosphere for the safe use of these items.

Official warnings will be issued to violators on the first offense. Repeated violations of the regulations will result in confiscation of the prohibited items or further disciplinary action by the University.