Health & Safety

Immunization Policy
Students matriculating at McPherson College are required to have the following immunizations:  DPT series with current Td or Tdap booster (within 10 years), polio series; and two measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) injections after the first birthday.   Immunization for hepatitis A & B, meningitis and chicken pox, while not required, are highly recommended.  Also recommended is the human papilloma virus vaccine.

Exceptions to this policy may be made for a documented allergy to substances in one or more of these vaccines or on the basis of a sincere and genuine religious belief prohibiting a particular immunization.  Such a medical or religious waiver must be submitted in writing and granted by the Office of Student Life in consultation with the on campus health clinic at the time of enrollment.

Students participating in institutional sponsored international study/travel opportunities are required to receive from the sponsoring organization/ group or a recognized travel authority such as the Center for Disease Control or similar body all immunizations recommended for travel to a particular region.  Exception to this policy will be made only for a student who has an approved immunization waiver on file with the institution from the time of initial enrollment. However, such waiver may affect ability to participate in certain international travel opportunities.   The institution retains the right to deny approval for travel for which academic credit and/or funding is being provided by the institution should it be felt that the health of the non-immunized student or other community members might be jeopardized.

All traveling students requesting exception to recommended travel immunizations must receive counseling from on campus health clinic staff concerning the risks they are assuming, must sign a special waiver application form before every international trip, and must receive approval from the Office of Student Life in consultation with the health clinic. If approval is given and disease does occur, mandatory dismissal from campus may be required until the student is disease free.
Policy as of June 19, 2015

Missing Person Policy Every student who resides in on-campus housing shall have the option to identify a confidential individual to be contacted within 24 hours of the determination that the student is missing in accordance with the procedures outlined below. Only authorized campus officials and law enforcement officers in furtherance of a missing person investigation may have access to this information.

Reason for Policy In accordance with Section 485 of the Higher Education Act (HEA), every institution of higher education that provides on-campus housing must provide a missing student notification policy for those students residing in on-campus housing.

Organizations or Persons to Whom a Report should be made The organization or persons to which individuals should report a student as missing includes: Residence Hall Directors, The Office of Student Life, or designated campus personnel.

Procedure for Informing Students During the first floor meeting of the fall semester, RAs will cover confidential contact information with students. During the first week of the spring semester, the RA will meet with all new students to provide missing person policy information. Written information describing the process of submitting the confidential contact will be included along with the form for the student to complete. Students can submit the form to the Office of Student Life. A file will be kept in each residence hall director’s office and the Office for Student Life until the beginning of the next academic year when the forms will be shredded. Students can change the information on their form at any time by asking for a new form from their Resident Director or the Office for Student Life.

The new form will be placed in the file, and the old form will be shredded.

Procedure for Determining if a Student is Missing If a student is reported missing to a staff member should be sure to obtain the reporting person’s name, relationship to the student, and contact information where the reporting person can be reliably reached. The staff member should obtain local directory information about the missing student and immediately notify the Office of Student Life.

The Student Life staff should refer to the Reported Missing Student Checklist and contact the reporting person to obtain the additional information needed. If the staff member determines at any point that there is a credible threat to the well-being of the student reported as missing, local law enforcement should be called for assistance. In addition, an incident report should be filed.

The Student Life staff member should then proceed to contact known student friends/relationships, beginning with roommates/suitemates, and the missing student’s resident assistant. The staff member should also use direct and indirect methods of leaving messages for the student to make contact immediately. The purpose at this point is to determine if the student is truly missing or has simply failed to make the desired contact with the reporting person. If the student is located or is determined not to be missing, the student should be advised to contact the reporting person. The staff member may also contact the reporting person and relay that the student is not missing and has been asked to contact the reporting person.

If pursuing known contacts has not yielded confirmation that the student is not missing, the Student Life staff member (if not the Dean of Students) should contact the Dean of Students, reporting all obtained information, and follow verbal notification with an Incident Report (IR). The staff member or Dean of Students may then authorize one or more of the following measures to determine recent activity by the student reported as missing:

• Meal plan utilization
• Mailbox activity
• Class attendance
• Social Media presence
• In-plain-sight examination of room to see signs of recent use or planned departure

If the results of these activity measures suggest that the student is indeed missing and unaccounted for, the Dean of Students or designee will immediately request law enforcement investigation. All information obtained about the missing student should be shared with law enforcement representatives. The Dean of Students is responsible for notification of the missing student’s identified contact if the student has been missing for 24 hours. If the student is under 18 years of age and not an emancipated individual (by court order, no longer under the control or responsibility of parents), the Dean of Students shall immediately contact the custodial parent or guardian.

Procedure for Notification of Missing Student If Dean of Students or designee determines that a student for whom a missing person report has been field has been missing for 24 hours, then within the next 24 hours, they must:

• Notify the individual identified by the student to be contacted in this circumstance,
• If the student is under 18 years old, notify a custodial parent/guardian and any other designated contact person, and
• Notify law enforcement.

The above procedures do not preclude College officials from making a determination that a student is missing before the student has been missing for a full 24 hours or initiating notification procedures as soon as it determines that the student is missing.
6/22/15

Sex Offender Registry & Access to Related Information
The law requires institutions of higher education to issue a statement advising the campus community where law enforcement agency information provided by a state concerning registered sex offenders may be obtained. It also requires sex offenders already required to register in a state to provide notice, as required under state law, of each institution of higher education in that state at which the person is employed, carries on a vocation, or is a student. Law enforcement agency information concerning registered sex offenders in Kansas may be obtained through the Kansas Bureau of Investigation website at http://www.accesskansas.org/kbi/, and/or the McPherson County Sheriff’s department. If you are a student who is seeking admission to McPherson College, you must disclose this information prior to acceptance to the Office of Student Life.
6/22/15

Alcohol and Drug Policy
McPherson College prohibits the possession or use, processing, distributing, manufacturing, selling or being under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs by any student, faculty, or staff person anywhere on campus or at college functions. The College believes that the use and abuse of these substances is counterproductive to the educational process and often contributes to behaviors that are disruptive to the entire campus community. In addition, health risks are associated with misuse and abuse of such substances and legal consequences for illegal drug use can be quite severe and greatly impact a person’s future.

Alcohol containers and/or drug paraphernalia including beer cans, bottles and/or shot glass collections displayed in a room are prohibited on campus. Containers being used for art class projects are exempt. McPherson College  partners with local law enforcement and will periodically use canines and other related tools to sweep for contraband. Residence Life staff will periodically and randomly perform health and safety checks, too.

Students are responsible for their guests and for any violation of these policies including disorderly conduct or damages that are associated with the consumption of alcohol or the use of illegal drugs.

Under the current Kansas statute, “no person under the age of twenty-one (21) can legally purchase, possess or consume liquor or cereal malt beverages.” In addition, “anyone who directly or indirectly sells to, buys for, gives or furnishes intoxicating liquor or cereal malt beverages to a person under 21 years of age is guilty of a Class B Misdemeanor.” Students participating in the PELL Grant Program are required by the federal government to sign the “Anti-Drug Abuse Act Certification.”

Parent/legal guardians of students under the age of 21 may be notified of community code violations involving alcohol use or possession, and/or illegal drug use or possession.

Alcoholic Beverage Policy
McPherson College does not encourage nor promote the consumption of alcohol. McPherson College’s expectations and policies have been designed to provide a positive environment to promote personal development and growth through accountability and reflective practices.

Alcohol is prohibited on McPherson College campus, including residence halls and apartments. Facilities are considered substance free. Institutional funds may not be used to purchase alcoholic beverages. Promotion or references to alcohol at institutional funded events or on institutional material is prohibited. Disregard for College alcohol policies may result in disciplinary action, including loss of residential privileges, suspension, and expulsion.

Smoking Policy
Smoking is not permitted in any College-owned residence, including individual bedrooms, suite bedrooms and common rooms, lounges, bathrooms, and hallways.

Weapons Policy
The use or possession of weapons (firearms, bows, knives, etc.), ammunition, firecrackers, fireworks, and explosives is not permitted on the College grounds or in the buildings.

Resolution of Student Code of Conduct Complaints
Disciplinary investigations and hearings cannot and will not be conducted in the manner of civil courts, and proceedings are not governed by technical rules of evidence and procedure. It is important, however, that the basic rights of members of the campus community be protected. The following Principles of Procedure set forth to protect the rights of individuals shall guide all judicial boards on campus, subject to a) the specific procedural provisions of the Community Code and b) the reasonable discretion of all such boards.

1. The individual accused shall be timely informed of the alleged violation so that he/she will have a reasonable opportunity to prepare a response.
2. The accused will have the right to select a non-attorney to accompany her/him at any formal hearing.
3. The accused shall know who lodged the complaint.
4. The accused will be given an opportunity to offer a defense. The type and scope of the defense the student may present will depend on circumstances, for example on the seriousness of the offense charged.
5. Records of hearings should be kept, but need not be verbatim or formal.
6. Suspensions or dismissals take effect.

Please refer to the student handbook for additional guidance and explanation of the process.

Emergency Notification Policy
To ensure the safety of the campus community, McPherson College uses a warning system called the “Rave System.” In the event of an emergency that threatens the campus community, students and faculty can be warned via text message and/or email. Students are encouraged to enroll in this free program during their enrollment. Students should contact the Office of Student Life or the Dean of Students for more information. Residence Life staff reserves the right to enter any resident’s room without notice during emergency situations.

Security Training Statement
McPherson College provides security training to its students, faculty, and staff at the start of each school year.  Below are the specific training topics:

Students
Security – Students agree to abide by the safety rules and procedures of the College. Residents who leave the residence hall by locked doors are responsible for leaving the doors in a locked position. Doors should never be propped open. Residents are urged to lock the windows and doors during periods of absence. During holiday periods, additional precautions should be taken to include removing small portable items and closing curtains or shades. Any losses should be reported to the Office of Student Life. The Office of Student Life will file an Incident Report that may help facilitate the settlement of insurance claims. A student has the right to file a police report with local law enforcement as well.

Crime Reporting Instructions – New students are provided information on how to report a crime to both the Office of Student Life and the local police department.  Parents of students are also briefed about loss prevention, insurance, and filing a report.

Self Defense Class – A voluntary self-defense class is put on by the local police department.

Faculty and Staff
A.L.I.C.E. – Faculty and staff are provided training each year on the A.L.I.C.E. program (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) that prepares individuals to handle the threat of an Active Shooter.