Annual Safety Report

Statement Addressing Preparation of Disclosure of Crime Statistics

This information is provided annually as information sharing with our campus community. This report is to share pertinent information with our university community but also in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act.   

Wisconsin Statutes also require the provision of specific information about sexual assault and sexual harassment issues. In passing these laws, the Federal government and the State of Wisconsin have made a commitment to enhance safety by requiring the university to provide specific information to you.

UW-Stout and Menomonie Police Department have a formal mutual aid agreement that includes an information exchange to ensure statistics are current and those off-campus activities involving student organizations are monitored and criminal activity is reported to the university.

Several campus staff members are identified as “Campus Security Authorities”. They have been made aware that their job description requires them to report Clery Act incidents to the Dean of Students office to be included into the statistics within this report. A list of those “Campus Security Authorities” will be available upon request through the Dean of Students office.

Each year, an e-mail notification is made to all enrolled students which provide the web site to access this report.  Faculty and staff receive similar notification in their all-campus faculty/staff distribution list.  Copies of the report can be printed from a PDF format off of the web version at the end of the report.  All prospective employees are provided the link to the report in either the job announcement or accompanying paperwork with an application packet.

Statement Addressing Campus Law Enforcement

Campus Police Authority and Jurisdiction

UW-Stout Police Department is a vital component of campus security efforts. In accordance with s. 36.11(2) Wisc. Stats., UW-Stout’s campus police are state-certified peace officers who have complete police authority to apprehend and arrest anyone involved in illegal acts on-campus and areas immediately adjacent to the campus. If minor offenses involving university rules and regulations are committed by a university student, the University Police may also refer the individual to the disciplinary division of Student Affairs.

The campus also works closely with the City of Menomonie, Dunn County Sheriff’s Department, and Menomonie Police Department to ensure that areas away from campus are as safe as possible. In accordance to the Mutual Aid/Service Agreement between University Police and Menomonie Police Department, information will be exchanged to insure statistics are current and that off-campus activities involving student organizations are monitored and criminal activity is reported to the university. This information will be provided to the Dean of Students Office for any action or follow-up that may be required. 

Incidents such as homicide or suicide will be worked in conjunction with the appropriate agency, either the Menomonie Police Department, State Crime Lab Department of Justice or the FBI. University Police will provide any assistance, staff and/or equipment requested by the chief investigative officer of those agencies.

Statement Addressing the Encouragement of Accurate and Prompt Crime Reporting

Community members, students, faculty, staff, and guests are encouraged to report all crimes and public safety related incidents to the University Police in an accurate and timely manner.  This publication focuses on University Police because it patrols the majority of the Stout campus. 

Dispatchers are available at these respective telephone numbers 24 hours a day to answer your call. In response to a call, the police will take the required action, dispatching an officer or asking the victim to report to the University Police Department to file an incident report.  If you would like to remain anonymous, confidential reporting is available. 

If assistance is required from the Menomonie Police Department or Menomonie Fire Department, University Police will contact the appropriate unit.  If a sexual assault or rape should occur, staff on the scene will offer the victim a wide variety of services.

On campus crimes should be reported to the University Police Department to ensure inclusion in the annual crime statistics and to aid in providing timely warning notices to the university community, when appropriate.  The University also utilizes the crime statistics to assist with organizing of crime prevention programming and information to the University community.

Statement Addressing the Reporting of Criminal Offenses

General Procedures for Reporting A Crime or Emergency

Contact University Police at 715-232-2222 (non-emergencies), dial 9-911 (emergencies only), or push the 911 button on campus phone located at each Residential Hall entrance.  Any suspicious activity or person seen in the parking lots or loitering around vehicles, inside buildings or around the Residential Halls should be reported to the university police department. In addition you may report a crime to the following areas:

On-Campus

Off-Campus

Students off-campus may call 9-1-1 or Menomonie Police Department for assistance. University Police and the local Police Department have a mutual aid and working agreement to maintain a flow of information between their agencies that will facilitate the effectiveness of their organizations. Each department augments the other within their jurisdictions during mutual investigations, arrests, and prosecutions. The university must keep record of incidents occurring on adjacent streets and in recognized university organizations that maintain an off-campus address for compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Statistics Act. The University Police personnel attend regular meetings with local law enforcement agencies to exchange ideas and problems which may be of concern for the university community.

Statement Addressing Voluntary Confidential Reporting

If you are the victim of a crime and do not want to pursue action within the University System or the criminal justice system, you may still want to consider making a confidential and/or anonymous report. A report can be made with the Dean of Students Office, by calling University Police, visiting their web site, http://www.uwstout.edu/police/report_form.html  or the University Counseling Center.  Should the victim choose to press charges later, a report to the Dean of Students Office or University Police will significantly increase the possibility of successful prosecution.

The university cannot take disciplinary action solely on this report.  The purpose of a confidential report is to comply with your wish to keep the matter confidential, while taking steps to ensure the future safety of yourself and others. With such information, the university can keep accurate records of the number of incidents involving students, determine where there is a pattern of crime with regard to particular location, method, or assailant, and alert the campus community to potential danger.  Reports filed in this manner are counted and disclosed in the annual crimes statistics for the institution.  

Statement Addressing Counselors

According to professional ethical guidelines and state law, all counseling records are kept strictly confidential and are not part of university records. Information is only shared with a person’s written permission, or in the rare instances when sharing information is required by law (such as to save a life, to report child abuse, or to comply with a court order). Due to these restrictions, “Professional Counselors” are exempted from serving as campus security authorities for mandatory reporting purposes.

That said, professional counselors recognize the importance of crime reporting and have developed processes for facilitating anonymous reporting. If a student reports being a recent victim of sexual assault to a “Professional Counselor” on campus, counselors as a matter of practice will discuss the procedures to report crimes and encourage them to report the crime on a voluntary basis. A report may be made anonymously and confidentially with the Campus Violence Prevention Project, Dean of Students Office, by leaving a message for University Police, 715-232-5076 or by visiting their web site. http://www.uwstout.edu/police/report_form.html.

Regardless of a student’s decision to seek pursue legal or disciplinary action through reporting, a referral to a Campus Violence Prevention Project staff member should be offered for further information, support, advocacy, and referrals.  If accepted by the student, this referral will ensure that the incident gets reported according to federal requirements, that legal, medical, and support services are coordinated, and that the counselor can maintain role clarity. 

Campus “Professional Counselors,” when acting as such, are voluntarily cooperating as campus security authorities so that crimes are reported for inclusion in the annual disclosure of crime statistics. 

Professional Counselor

An employee of an institution whose official responsibilities include providing psychological counseling to members of the institution’s community and who is functioning within the scope of his or her license or certification.

Statement Addressing Criminal Activity Off-Campus

When a UW-Stout student is involved in an off-campus offense the university may be contacted and will deal with each situation on case by case basis. In accordance with UWS Chapter 17.03, the university may discipline a student in nonacademic matters for conduct which constitutes a serious danger to the personal safety of a member of the university community or guest. Menomonie Police routinely work and communicate with campus officers and the university judicial advisor on any serious incidents occurring on or off-campus.   While Menomonie police have primary jurisdiction in all areas off campus, University Police Officers can and do respond to student-related incidents that occur in close proximity to campus. University Police Officers have direct radio communications with the city police, fire department, and ambulance services to facilitate rapid response in any emergency situation.

Statement Addressing Timely Warnings

Timely Warnings

In the event that a situation arises, either on or off-campus, that, in the judgment of the Chief of University Police, constitutes an ongoing or continuing threat, a campus wide “timely warning” will be issued. The warning will be issued through the university e-mail system to students, faculty and staff, and linked from the UWPD website and E-Scholar Portal page, our student’s E-Window to the Stout community.

Anyone with information warranting a timely warning is encouraged to report the circumstances to the University Police Office, by phone 715-232-2222, in person at the Police and Parking Services, or anonymously through the police department web site at www.uwstout.edu/police.  

Statement Addressing Alcoholic Beverages

Policy on Alcoholic Beverages

The unlawful possession, use, distribution, manufacture or dispensing of alcohol by students, employees or organizations is prohibited on university property or as part of university activities. The use or possession of intoxicating liquors or fermented malt beverages with an alcoholic content 0.5% or more of alcohol by weight is prohibited on university lands, except in faculty and staff housing, in specifically designated student housing units, and at suitable times under decorous conditions in conference meetings or dining facilities, subject to statutory age regulations.

Wisconsin’s Not A Drop Law, Wis. Stat. 346.63(2m), states that if a person has not attained the legal drinking age, the person may not drive with a blood alcohol concentration of more than 0.0%.Wisconsin’s Drinking Age Law states that it is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to purchase, possess or consume alcohol as well as enter premises that sell alcohol. They also cannot obtain, carry or provide an inaccurate ID card or misrepresent their age for purposes of obtaining alcohol.

Violation of the provisions of this policy by a student may lead to the imposition of a disciplinary sanction, up to and including suspension or expulsion, under s. UWS 17.06(1) (c), Wis. Adm. Code. University employees are also subject to disciplinary sanctions for violation of these provisions occurring on university property or the worksite or during work time, up to and including employment termination. Referral for prosecution under criminal law is also possible for students and employees.  In addition, violators could face possible legal sanctions resulting from civil or criminal actions. Penalties related to alcohol offenses may include fines, loss of driver’s license, jail terms and public embarrassment.

The complete text of the Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy is available from the Dean of Students Office and from the Alcohol and Other Drug Education Program, 410 Bowman Hall.

Statement Addressing Illegal Drugs

Policy on Illegal Drugs

The unlawful possession, use, distribution, manufacture or dispensing of illicit drugs (“controlled substances”) by students, employees or organizations is prohibited on university property or as part of university activities. The possession, use, distribution, manufacture or dispensing of illicit drugs is illegal under both state and federal laws. Such laws are strictly enforced by UW-Stout Police Department, which has specific policies to discourage the use of illegal drugs. An Illicit drug is defined as a drug, substance or precursor, including but no limited to opiates, hallucinogenic substances, depressants and stimulants.  Violation of policy by a student may lead to disciplinary sanction, up to and including suspension or expulsion. University employees are also subject to sanctions for violations occurring on university property or the worksite or during working time, up to and including employment termination.  Referral fro prosecution under criminal law is also possible for students and employees. In addition, violators could face possible legal sanctions resulting from civil or criminal actions. Costs related to drug offenses may include fines, loss of driver’s license, jail terms and public embarrassment.

The complete text of the Alcohol and Other Drug Policy is available from the Dean of Students Office and from the Alcohol and Other Drug Education Program, 410 Bowman Hall.

Statement Addressing Substance Abuse Education

Prevention Programs

The university has developed programs to prevent the illicit use of drugs and the abuse of alcohol by students and employees. The programs provide services related to drug use and abuse including educational programs, counseling services, referrals, supplementary reports, and printed information distribution.

University Counseling Center provides an overview of the Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Education and Employee Assistance Programs conducted on campus and in the local community. In compliance with the Federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act such services provided include:

 Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings are sponsored and advertised on campus by the AODEP and are generally held once a week in the Memorial Student Center on campus. Meetings are scheduled in response to a student or faculty member who steps forward and agrees to regularly lead the meetings. Campus AA participation tends to be light with 4 to 6 people participating per meeting. Those who use the program feel that it is beneficial and should be continued.

The Dunn County Alcohol Awareness Program (AAP) is a community effort to provide meaningful alcohol abuse prevention education for youth who receive drinking age citations. The Dunn County Clerk of Circuit Court, judges, law enforcement officers, Arbor Place (local AOD treatment facility) and the UW-Stout AODEP work together to provide these services.  Police indicate a mandatory court appearance when writing a citation and AODEP provides an orientation to the court process for young people as they arrive at the Dunn County Legal Center on Wednesday mornings. During this orientation, students are given information about the drinking age laws and instructions about the court process. Students are encouraged to sign up for the program with an offer of fine reduction and waiver of driver’s license suspension. Students are charged a fee for the program ($80 Alcohol Ed Course, $125 Drinker's CheckUp). The clerk of court is notified when students have completed the program.

Marijuana Assessment Program is sponsored through the counseling center at a cost of $125 to the student.

University Housing sponsors intentional AOD prevention initiatives for all residence hall residents of UW-Stout. Activities consider students’ development and the social and cultural aspects to college AOD use.  Specific attention is given to first year students during Orientation with an interactive tour of a “party house” that allows facilitators to stop the party and discuss areas of concern. Other hall initiatives include policy enforcement, conduct consequences, bystander intervention techniques, as well as hall and campus activities that provide information about, and alternatives to, drinking and other drug use.  These efforts are frequently coordinated with other campus and community resources.

University Police Services sponsored AOD prevention programs are available upon request. Campus police provide programming for residence halls, classrooms, and student and organizations. Programming may include the effects of alcohol on the human body, setting personal limits, identification of drugs and drug paraphernalia, indicators of substance abuse, Wisconsin law, and UW-Stout enforcement policy. Programs may utilize fatal vision simulator goggles to vividly demonstrate impairment. Programming is available to all members of the UW-Stout community, is free of charge, and is often coordinated with other community law enforcement personnel.

Local, State and Federal Legal Sanctions

Legal Sanctions- Laws Governing Alcohol

The State of Wisconsin sets 21 as the minimum age to purchase, possess or consume any alcoholic beverage. Specific ordinances regarding violations of alcohol laws, including driving while intoxicated, are available from the University Police Department. As of February 2006, the fine amounts depending on number of offenses were stated as followed:

A violation of any law regarding alcohol or drugs is also a violation of UWS Wisconsin Admin. Code Chapter 17 and will be treated as a separate disciplinary matter by the University.

Statement Addressing Sex Offender Registration

Sexual Offender Registration

The Campus Sex Crime Prevention Act (CSCPA), enacted in October 2000, took effect on October 28, 2002. As of that date, the Wisconsin Sex Offender Registration Program will be collecting and making available information about a sex offender’s enrollment or employment with institutions of the University of Wisconsin System. Several key provisions of the Act include:

Sex offenders who must register under a state offender registration program must notify the state regarding each higher education institution at which the person is employed or enrolled and any changes in that status.

State Sex Offender Registration Programs must convey promptly to an institution’s police department information regarding a sex offender registrant’s enrollment or employment at that institution.

Institutions will not request sex offender information from the state program. They will post information provided to them.  University of Wisconsin-Stout Police receives this information from the Wisconsin Department of Corrections – Probation/Parole and posts it at http://www.uwstout.edu/police/sor.htm

Building and Facility Access

General access and use of our facilities is governed by institutional policies and Wisconsin Administrative Codes, all on file in the office of the Chancellor and available on-line. Some of these procedures include policies on key access, card access, university identification cards, and limitations on building operation hours.

Building card access at the University of Wisconsin-Stout provides access to buildings and rooms on campus. Card access to buildings will be implemented to accommodate after hours entrance into buildings as well as limiting access to high secure rooms, such as computer labs. The software has been divided into divisions based on Building Supervisors’ designated areas of responsibility. Each division has a mini-operator that has the ability to create, enter, modify and delete card access requests. 

Academic building entrances and general classrooms are normally open to students, parents, employees, contractors, guests, and invitees Monday through Friday.  Over extended breaks, the doors of all halls will be secured around the clock. Some facilities may have individual hours, which may vary at different times of the year. All building opening needs which require the building to stay open later than scheduled times must be approved by the Building Dean/Supervisor and received by the Academic Custodial Services Department (dodger@uwstout.edu) no later than one day in advance of the need. All weekend building opening needs must be approved by the Building Dean/Supervisor and received by the Academic Services Department no later than noon on the Thursday prior to the weekend requested. 

Emergencies may require changes or alterations to any posted schedules. Areas that are revealed as problematic have security surveys conducted of them. Administrators from the Dean of Students Office, the Physical Plant, University Housing, University Police and other concerned areas review these results.  These surveys examine security issues such as landscaping, locks, alarms, lighting, and communications.  During the academic year, the Directors of Facilities Management, University Housing, University Police, and Maintenance meet when necessary to discuss issues of pressing concern.

Buildings and/or rooms may be secured due to an emergency or police investigation by authority of the Chief of University Police or her designee.  This procedure may be utilized as a result of a timely warning or ongoing investigation.

Statement Addressing Crime Prevention Programs

The UW-Stout Police Department provides specific attention in the area of crime prevention. Our department offers educational and training to any group requesting such services (i.e. resident advisors requesting information about sexual assaults, student groups requesting training on self-protection, staff or faculty educational workshops, etc). The department will conduct training on a variety of topics throughout the academic year to any group regarding

Apartment Security

Bomb Threat

Hotel Security

Theft Prevention

Self Defense Training

Sexual Assault Prevention

Work Place Violence Prevention

To name a few. To arrange for one of the presentations above, please complete the request form from the University Police website. Other questions should be forwarded to the University Police 715-232-2222 or Sgt. Robert Starck 715-232-5076. The police work in cooperation with other law enforcement agencies in the area to address crime prevention issues.

Tip: To enhance personal safety, and especially after an evening class, walk with friends or someone from class you know well.

Statement Addressing Security/Safety Awareness Programs

During first year student orientation, students are informed of services offered through Residence Life and Campus Violence Prevention Project (CVPP). CVPP presents “Your New Reality” to all incoming freshman regarding issues like sexual assault, Facebook and My Space safety.  Parents and new students attend an information fair during freshman registration where they can view booths and ask questions regarding safety and security.

The UW-Stout Police Department offers educational and training to any group requesting such services (i.e. resident advisors requesting information about sexual assaults, student groups requesting training on self-protection, staff or faculty educational workshops, etc). The department will conduct training on a variety of topics throughout the academic year to any group regarding security awareness programs upon request. To arrange for one of the programs offered through the department, please complete the request form from the University Police website.

University Housing sponsors intentional AOD prevention initiatives for all residence hall residents of UW-Stout. Activities consider students’ development and the social and cultural aspects to college AOD use.  Specific attention is given to first year students during Orientation with an interactive tour of a “party house” that allows facilitators to stop the party and discuss areas of concern. Other hall initiatives include policy enforcement, conduct consequences, bystander intervention techniques, as well as hall and campus activities that provide information about, and alternatives to, drinking and other drug use.  These efforts are frequently coordinated with other campus and community resources.

When on campus look for available brochures, information and specialized training programs about: campus violence prevention, workplace violence prevention, sexual assault prevention for men and women, self defense class, alcohol awareness and responsible consumption, emergency procedures, and bicycle safety and registration.

A common theme of all awareness and crime prevention programs is to encourage students and employees to be aware of their responsibility for their own security and the security of others.

In addition to brochures and flyers, crime notices are sent through the campus e-mail system to all faculty, staff and students. Notices will also be posted on the main E-Scholar Portal page, our student’s E-Window to the Stout community.

ON CAMPUS

OFF-CAMPUS