Campus Safety and Security
Pacific Oaks College is strongly committed to crime prevention. Pacific Oaks College considers the personal physical safety of its students, faculty, and staff necessary for a successful learning environment. Please see the Campus Security, Safety & Title IX webpage for additional information.
Access to Campus Buildings/Unauthorized Entry
Pacific Oaks is a private institution, and its campuses, facilities, buildings and properties are private property. Access to Pacific Oaks, its campus, facilities, buildings, offices, and properties during normal business hours are permitted only with Pacific Oaks’ consent which may be withdrawn at any time for any reason. Pacific Oaks gives implied permission to persons with genuine and legitimate purposes to enter and remain on its premises during normal business hours. That permission is, however, conditional upon the person behaving in a manner consistent with any policies or procedures Pacific Oaks may have in place. Where those policies or procedures are not observed, Pacific Oaks is within its rights to withdraw permission and request the person to leave its premises.
Unauthorized entry into Pacific Oaks property, including but not limited to, entry into Pacific Oaks’ facilities and buildings or the unauthorized use of key, swipe card, and/or access codes for access to Pacific oaks’ buildings or rooms is strictly prohibited. Students or visitors are not permitted to block or prop-open doors, tape or alter entryways to buildings in any fashion. Individuals violating this policy will be Subject to appropriate discipline and, if applicable, criminal prosecution.
Student Identification Card Policy
As of the Fall 2023 semester, Pacific Oaks College issues mobile Brivo accounts to on-campus students for building access. Students may contact the office of the Registrar at Registraroffice@pacificoaks.edu for Brivo account setup. Brivo accounts are issued in lieu of SMART Card ID badges. Students requesting a replacement of their previously issued SMART Card ID will be issued a Brivo account in place of their SMART Card ID.
Non- SMART student ID cards may be issued to Online and campus students upon request. Students must submit the appropriate request form, including an appropriate digital photo, to the office of the Registrar.
Unauthorized use, forgery, or alteration of a Pacific Oaks Colleges’ Student Identification Card and/or Brivo account is strictly prohibited and subject to appropriate disciplinary action as outlined below. The cost for ID cards is included in college fees. There is a replacement fee for lost or stolen cards.
Reporting of Crimes
Pacific Oaks is strongly committed to crime prevention, and prioritizes the personal safety of its students, faculty and staff to ensure a successful learning environment. College campuses, like all other communities, are not immune to crime. The cooperation and involvement of students, faculty and staff in campus safety is essential to prevent and minimize criminal activity and injury, as well as enhance the quality of life for members of the College community.
Pacific Oaks encourages students, faculty and staff to promptly and accurately report all criminal activity and emergencies that have occurred at a Pacific Oaks College location or at Children’s School to the local authorities, the Campus Safety Authorities as well as to the Pacific Oaks Public Safety Officer. In addition to the information provided below, Pacific Oaks also places important safety and security information on the Campus Security, Safety & Sexual Misconduct webpage.
Campus Crime Reporting (Clery Act)
Pacific Oaks complies with the Federal Student Right-To-Know and Campus Security Act of 1990, as amended by Public Law 101-542 and incorporated into the Jeanne Clery Act of 1998, Pacific Oaks publishes an Annual Security Report containing crime statistics which is accessible to all students, employees, and the public on the Pacific Oaks Campus Security, Safety & Title IX webpage.
Crime Prevention includes individual safety consciousness and awareness of personal environment. Pacific Oaks suggests the following crime prevention measures, which can contribute to the safety and security of the Pacific Oaks community.
- If anything makes you feel unsafe or threatened, dial 9-1-1.
- When using a vehicle, keep the doors always locked
- Before entering a vehicle, always look under the vehicle and in the back seat
- Keep personal keys (car, apartment, home, etc.) in your possession always
- At night, travel in well-lit areas and in pairs, if possible
- Notice and be aware of suspicious persons and conditions
- Do not leave valuable items in your car, including personal items and or school related materials, e.g., textbooks, laptop, cell phones, etc.
- Do not part in isolated areas.
- Do not prop doors open.
- Leave items of high monetary value at home.
- Do not leave personal property unattended.
- Do not carry more cash than necessary and certainly do not advertise the amount you are carrying.
- Keep your purse, backpack, or briefcase close to your body.
- Avoid giving out personal information or making appointments with strangers over the phone.
- Mark personal items that you bring on campus.
- This includes marking textbooks, laptops, and calculators with your name or some other traceable identification.
- Do not bring any kind of firearms, dangerous weapons, explosives, or lethal materials onto college property.
- Unauthorized use, possession, or storage of these or other potentially dangerous items on College premises, or at College activities, regardless of whether you have been issued a federal or local license to possess any of these items, is strictly prohibited, and you may be subject to discipline and/or criminal prosecution
Crime Log and Timely Warning Policy
In addition to the annual statistics reporting, Pacific Oaks must provide a timely warning of crimes reported to campus security and local police agencies in a manner that is intended to prevent similar crimes from recurring and to protect the personal safety of students and employees. Crime statistics for the college are available on the Campus Security, Safety & Title IX webpage.
Emergency Response and Evacuation Procedures
The Pacific Oaks community is committed to the safety and security of all its members. In times of emergency, the college will provide an appropriate campus-wide response to assure everyone’s safety and to minimize losses.
Information regarding Pacific Oaks emergency response and evacuation procedures can be found in the Emergency Action Plan, which is available on the website and provided to all entering students. The plan is intended to assist all faculty, staff, and students in responding to emergencies which may occur while they are on a Pacific Oaks campus. Such emergencies can occur at any time and without warning, but their effects may be minimized if proper emergency procedures are followed.
Students are encouraged to read and become familiar with the contents of the guide before an emergency occurs.
Reservation of Facilities
Students and student organizations requesting the use of any facility as an internal user must follow the Facilities Reservation Guidelines.
Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School facilities are not available for public events, events catering to the general public, or for non-Pacific Oaks related events. The Vice President of Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness shall have lead responsibility for implementing this policy in conjunction with the Office Services and Facilities Department. All requests for the use of Pacific Oaks facilities must be made in writing to the Office Manager, Office of Services and Facilities at least three weeks in advance of the event date. Upon written approval from the Vice President of Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness, the event may be scheduled through and cleared by the Office of Services and Facilities Department.
Classroom space is held for classes as the first priority. Efforts to accommodate all valid requests for classroom use will be made. All requestors should be aware that if their first choice of a particular room is not available, a demonstrable effort to find suitable space for courses and special events will be made.
The sponsor of an event is classified under one of the two categories: internal or co-sponsored.
- Internal: Internal events are official Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School activities.
- Internal users are required to have a representative from their department, program, or organization in attendance throughout the event. For internal activities, faculty members, administrators, and staff may reserve classrooms and other campus facilities, Subject to general availability and written approval from Vice President of Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness or a designee.
- Using facilities for personal purposes or under the pretense that there is a substantive relationship between the Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School department/program/ organization and the event is considered to be “fronting.” Fronting is not permitted.
- Students and student organizations requesting the use of any facility as an internal user must also have authorization from the Center for Student Achievement, Resources and Enrichment (CARE) Office.
- Co-Sponsorship: Co-sponsored events are defined as Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School- related events between community organizations and representatives of Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School. Co-sponsored events promote academic or professional development of students, faculty, and staff to benefit the Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School and/ or the community. It is the responsibility of the sponsoring Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School department/program/organization to:
- Be directly involved in the coordination of the event from beginning to end and to accept all costs incurred, including housekeeping, security, traffic, table and chair rental, etc. These costs will be charged to the sponsoring Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School departments/program’s budget, or the community organization.
- Ensure that the community organization adheres to all Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School policies and guidelines. Special attention shall be given to compliance with the Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School’s policies regarding alcohol use and the handling of cash.
- Have a Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School representative in attendance, from the beginning of the event until the end.
Terms of Use
General Conditions: Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School rules and regulations must be respected and followed by all users of facilities. These rules include but are not limited to the following:
- Faculty and staff members are permitted to use Pacific Oaks property for Pacific Oaks related internal or co-sponsored events only.
- Students must have a faculty/staff member, or a department head sponsor their event. That sponsor must remain onsite for the duration of the event.
- Vendors must provide a certificate of liability insurance of a minimum of $1 million coverage in advance of the event.
- The maximum number of people for an event is 250.
- Users may not engage in activity that interferes with the Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School mission.
- Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School reserves the right to dismiss any event if deemed necessary.
- Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School reserves the right to impose additional or special restrictions on facility usage as needed.
- Smoking is prohibited in all Pacific Oaks facilities with the exception of designated smoking areas.
- The use of open flame inside buildings is prohibited.
- The event site is to be cleared of all rubbish after the event. Furniture is to be returned to its original setup. If a kitchen is used, it must be cleaned.
- The sponsoring department is responsible for supplying invitations, furniture, linens, food, beverages, dishes, paper goods or plastic ware, etc. for the event.
- After receiving written approval for the event from the Vice President for Administration, all events must also be scheduled through and cleared by the Office Services and Facilities at least three weeks prior to the event date. All arrangements for room setup as well as unlocking of buildings/rooms must be cleared with Office Services and Facilities.
- Any damage caused to buildings, Grounds, greenery, furniture, or general property belonging to Pacific Oaks during the event as a result of the event’s participants is the sole responsibility of the sponsoring department.
- Promotional Disclaimer: Users may not state or imply Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School sponsorship or endorsement of their activities without the Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School’s consent.
Guidelines for classroom and buildings use
- No candles or open flames in buildings.
- No smoking.
- No personal space heaters.
- Do not block parking lots, driveways, or fire lanes.
- No unscheduled/unapproved events.
- Do not remove furniture from classrooms.
- Do not remove A/V equipment from room or form their carts.
- Clean classroom and arrange furniture after class is finished.
- Take away food if food was brought to class.
- No propping open doors leading to the outside of buildings, or to common areas.
- Do not use clear tape to hang things from walls or doors. Use only blue tape and remove it after class. All postings must comply with the Pacific Oaks Posting Policy
- Report spills or damage to Office Services and Facilities.
Student Identity Verification
Pacific Oaks College reserves the right to verify the identity of enrolled students. Upon enrollment, and at any time during a student’s enrollment, Pacific Oaks College may request proof of student identity in the form of a valid state or government issued identification. A registration hold may be placed on a student’s academic record until proof of identification has been received by the college. Students may provide notarized full-color photocopies (front and back of identification) of valid identification in lieu of in-person verification of identification.
Solicitation and Conduct of Business on Pacific Oaks Property
No student or student organization may serve as the agent or representative of any off-campus agency for the purpose of selling or promoting the sale of goods or services on the Pacific Oaks campus unless written approval is given by the Dean of Students, or designee. All fundraising must be approved by the Dean of Students, or designee.
Postings
At no time shall any materials be posted on the walls of any building (inside or out) at any site, windows, doors, glass, vehicle windshields, trees, or painted walls. Materials posted in these areas will be removed. Failure to contact Facilities prior to posting material will result in the removal of unapproved materials from campus grounds.
No off-campus individuals or groups may use campus bulletin boards without approval. The person or campus organization responsible for posting the materials will also be responsible for removing them at the posting deadline. Failure to comply with this policy may result in appropriate disciplinary action.
Please Note: Damage to any walls or surfaces, caused by posting notices in areas other than on campus bulletin boards may result in the individual, department, or organization responsible for said posting incurring burdensome repair expenses.
Pet and Animal Policy
There are significant health and safety hazards and nuisances created by unrestrained pets on campus. Other than service animals as defined by The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), no animals are permitted on Pacific Oaks Property.
- If individuals are identified as the owner of an animal on campus they will be asked to remove the animal immediately.
- Strays or unattended animals should be reported to Facilities or the on-site security service who will arrange for them to be removed.
Smoking Policy
In keeping with Pacific Oaks goals for a healthy and safe workplace as well as applicable state and local laws, smoking is prohibited inside any College or Children’s School building or within twenty-five (25) feet of all Pacific Oaks buildings. Furthermore, smoking is prohibited in all partially enclosed areas such as covered walkways, breezeways, and walkways between sections of buildings, bus-stop shelters, exterior stairways, and landings.
Smoking is permitted generally in outside grounds areas beyond twenty-five (25) feet of all campus buildings except at public gathering areas or if it unavoidably exposes people entering and leaving adjacent buildings to smoke, or when it is explicitly prohibited during a particular event or activity scheduled in the area.
Lit tobacco products must be extinguished, and tobacco residue must be placed in an appropriate ash can or other waste receptacle located outside of non- smoking areas.
The sale or promotional distribution of tobacco products on Pacific Oaks property is also prohibited. This policy applies equally to all employees, students, customers and visitors.
Parking Policy
Each Pacific Oaks location has designated student parking areas. It is critical that students use the designated areas in consideration of others as well as the communities in which Pacific Oaks resides. In some locations, parking permits may be required. No overnight parking is allowed. Vehicles that are parked overnight are subject to tow at the vehicle owner’s expense.
Parking for 45 Eureka Street is available in the Eureka complex parking lot. Parking for the Children’s School is available in the Children’s School parking lot and on California Blvd. Parking is not allowed on La Loma Road along the south end of the Children’s School.
Campus security contact information: Pasadena Police Department, 207 N. Garfield Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101 626-744-4501.
|