Campus Safety

All residential students have the opportunity to identify an individual to be contacted no later than 24 hours after the time that the student is determined to be missing, hereafter referred to as an emergency contact. The emergency contact designation will remain in effect until changed or revoked by the student. This emergency contact information is confidential and will be available only to the officials at the Berry College Police Department and the Office of Student Affairs leadership team.

• Students age 18 and above and emancipated minors: Students will be given an opportunity during the annual registration process to designate an emergency contact. The individual designated as the emergency contact will be contacted for the purpose of locating the student no more than 24 hours after the time the student is determined to be missing. The individual designated as the emergency contact will remain in effect until changed or revoked by the student.
• Students under the age of 18: If a student under the age of 18 is determined to be missing, the college is required to notify a custodial parent or guardian no more than 24 hours after the student is determined to be missing.

A student is determined to be missing when a report comes to the attention of the college and the college determines the report to be credible. Circumstances may include, but are not limited to, establishing that:

• A student is out of contact after reasonable efforts to reach that student by phone calls, emails, text messages and/or in-person attempts to establish contact
• Circumstances indicate an act of criminality is involved, even lacking twenty-four (24) hours in time;
• Circumstances indicate that physical safety is in danger, even lacking twenty-four (24) hours in time;
• Circumstances become known that medicine dependence may threaten life or health, even lacking twenty-four (24) hours in time;
• Existence of a physical/mental disability indicates that the student’s physical safety is in danger, even lacking the twenty-four (24) hours in time.

Any report of a missing student should be immediately directed to the Berry College Campus Police Department at (706) 236-2262. An investigation will be initiated to determine the validity and credibility of the missing person’s report.

1. The Berry College Police Department with assistance of the Residence Life staff will investigate and gather information about the missing student from the reporting person and other individuals who may provide information that will assist with the investigation. These cooperative efforts may include:
   • Conducting a health and wellness check on the student,
   • Attempt to make contact via cellular phone, email or other means to the student
   • Determine activity of card access (if applicable), meal plan usage, class attendance
   • Identify other students who may be aware of the missing student’s whereabouts (i.e. roommate(s), friends, classmates, etc.).
2. No later than 24 hours after determining that a Berry College student is missing, the Dean of Students, or designee, will notify the individual identified by the missing student as the emergency contact (for students 18 and above and emancipated minors) or the parent/guardian (for students under the age of 18 and not emancipated) that the student is believed to be missing.
3. If search efforts are unsuccessful in locating the student in a reasonable amount of time, the Berry College Police Department will continue with the investigation, including collaboration with other law enforcement agencies and utilizing all resources available.

As a requirement of the Higher Education Opportunity Act and in an effort to assist in ensuring the safety of our residential students, Berry College has established a missing student notification protocol that requires the college to alert an emergency contact designated by the student and/or the student’s parents as well as local law enforcement if the student has been missing for more than 24 hours. This protocol is established in compliance with Section 485(f) of the Higher Education Act, as amended by section 488(g) of the Higher Education Opportunity Act. This protocol must be included in the annual security report. This act and amendment requires institutions that maintain an on campus student housing facility to establish, for students who reside in an on-campus student housing facility, both a missing student notification policy that allows students to confidentially register a contact person, and procedures for notifying a missing student’s contact person.

Students, employees and others may report a missing student to one of the following college officials:

• Chief of Campus Police (706-368-6906 or Campus Extension 6906)
• Office of Student Affairs (706-236-2207 or Campus Extension 2207)

After normal business hours, Monday-Friday 8 am - 5 pm excluding holidays, such reports should be made immediately to the Berry College Police Department at 706-236-2262 or Campus Extension 2262.

Following receipt of a missing student report, college officials will immediately notify the campus police department, who will investigate to determine if the student is actually missing.

If the student has designated an emergency contact person, the college will notify that individual. Berry College students can confidentially designate an emergency contact person with the Office of Student Affairs. This information will be confidentially maintained by the Office of Student Affairs. Regardless of whether a student registers an emergency contact person, the campus police department will be notified in the event that the student is determined to be missing.

By law, the parent/guardian of students who are under 18 and not legally emancipated will be notified in the event that the student has been reported missing for 24 hours.

In conjunction with the Campus Police, Office of Student Affairs and Information Technology, an online reporting feature has been added to VikingWeb. In addition to registering a general emergency contact, students have the option to identify confidentially an individual to be contacted by Berry College in the event the student is determined to be missing for more than 24 hours.

• Hiking is permitted during daylight hours only, unless further restricted during certain hunting season events, periods of maintenance or during Berry College activities.
• Berry College Police Department staff have authority to declare any area unsafe and to further restrict access to any building, road or property as necessary.
• Non-vehicular traffic is not allowed on Lavender Mountain Road. Please use the Viking Trail.
• Sunbathing is permitted in areas adjacent to residence halls.
• Berry College students may camp overnight with campfires only at designated Victory Lake campsites and fire pits on Friday and Saturday evenings during the academic year. Registration for this use is required through Outdoor Recreation.
• Hunting and fishing are restricted on campus.
  • Hunting by students is prohibited on Berry property except in public hunting areas in accordance with hunting laws and State Game and Fish Division regulations.
  • Weapons, firearms and ammunition are prohibited in Berry’s residence halls and in automobiles on campus.
  • A valid Georgia state fishing license is required of all persons fishing in any of the lakes owned by the college. No fishing is allowed in the Old Mill Pond, Swan Lake, Mirror Lake or Eagle Lake (located near the SPIRES). All individuals are subject to state fishing laws.
  • Fishing at the Reservoir is prohibited by regulations issued by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division (EPD). Limited exceptions may be made by the EPD. Students desiring to fish at the Reservoir may contact the director of Facilities Services to determine if a special permit is possible.
  • No swimming at any time by any person will be permitted in any of the lakes owned by the college. This includes the Berry College Reservoir.
• To preserve the unique beauty of the Mountain Campus, all sporting activities are limited to the athletic and intramural facilities with permission from the Athletics department. Athletic facilities located on the Mountain Campus are restricted from use.
• Students are restricted from accessing areas leased and utilized by WinShape. Most often these areas immediately surround the WinShape Retreat, WinShape Hub and WinShape Centre. This restriction includes access to any buildings, lawn areas, recreational areas, parking areas, etc. Please observe and comply with any signs and/or requests by Winshape staff.
• Students are restricted from accessing areas leased and utilized by Amber Grace. This restriction includes access to Amber Grace buildings, lawn areas, recreational areas, parking areas, etc. Please observe and comply with any signs and/or requests by Amber Grace staff. Interested parties may contact Amber Grace to schedule a tour.
• The House o’ Dreams is available by appointment for students, faculty and staff to visit. To arrange to go to the House o' Dreams, please contact 706-368-6789.
• All vehicles must stay on roads maintained for normal vehicular travel. Vehicles are not allowed on logging roads, trails, pastures, etc.
• The Office of Public Relations will notify the campus community of scheduled hunts in the Wildlife Management Area.

To develop good safety habits, follow these security tips:

Residence Hall Safety

• Lock your door when you leave the room, even if you will be gone only for a minute. It takes about eight seconds for someone to walk into an open room and remove an item.
• Notify police promptly of any suspicious persons loitering in the vicinity of your building or room.
• Never leave purses, wallets, jewelry and other valuables unattended in laundry rooms, showers or kitchen areas.
• Mark your valuables for identification purposes
• Record descriptions, serial numbers and other identifiable information about your property

Safety in Your Car

• Always lock your car.
• Check the back seat before you get in.
• Have your keys in hand so you don’t have to linger before getting in, especially at night.

Safety Outside and at Night

• Walk confidently, directly, at a steady pace.
• Walk on the side of the street facing traffic.
• Stay in well-lit areas as much as possible.
• Never work alone in an office or classroom on campus at night
• Arrange a buddy system with someone with whom you work or study.
• While sunbathing, stay within designated areas near the residence halls.
• Stay alert to your surroundings. Trust your instincts.
• When you feel you are in danger, attract attention any way you can.

BerryALERT is the opt-out emergency communication system for students, faculty and staff. Through a contract agreement with OmniAlert, a nationally recognized emergency messaging company, college officials can communicate time-sensitive information to the entire campus community via text message and/or e-mail messaging. Students are automatically registered for BerryALERT with the cell phone number that they provide to Berry College but may choose to opt out by one of two ways: 1) Text ‘optout’ to 79516 or 2) Reply back to an alert with the word ‘optout’.

In the event of threatening weather, the campus-wide emergency notification plan will be activated. Under this plan, official statements from the National Weather Service are received through specially designed weather radio alert monitors strategically located on campus.

Upon receiving a severe weather statement, the Emergency Notification Warning Sirens strategically placed throughout the campus will be sounded. The siren warning will alert you to protect yourself by seeking shelter. The sirens are tested regularly.

The preferable place is a first floor interior area that is directly supported and free from exterior windows and glass. Places to avoid are: top floors of buildings, elevators (power may fail), food service areas, auditoriums, gymnasiums and other structures with wide roof spans. If outdoor shelter is not available and there is not time for escape, lie flat in a ditch or low spot.

During a tornado watch you should be aware of changing weather conditions and should be prepared to move to a place of safety if the tornado watch should be upgraded to a tornado warning. Warnings are issued for smaller areas and periods of time than watches. Generally, warnings cover county-sized areas or less.

Warnings indicate that a tornado has actually been sighted in the area or indicated by radar. The outdoor sirens will be sounded ONLY upon notification by the National Weather Service of a tornado warning or when a tornado has actually been sighted and moving toward the area. When a tornado warning is issued it means TAKE COVER.

Winter storms may lead to the cancellation of classes or delay of classes. Viking Fusion, Rome radio stations and Atlanta television stations will be informed of and asked to communicate changes in the class schedule. You may also call 706- 238-7830 for weather related class closings.

To stay informed of local severe weather information, listen to radio station WRGA-AM 1470 or WSB-TV Atlanta Channel 2, Weather Channel 53 or ION Channel 9.

For additional information on severe weather procedures in your specific area, contact your Resident Assistant or the Berry College Police Department.

Community members are also encouraged to download the local Floyd County EMA app.

Community members are also encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Berry College weather policy, available at www.berry.edu/about/weather.