Safety & Emergency Information

To report a crime or emergency, members of the campus community should call the campus emergency line at 765-998-5555. All campus phones in public areas have the emergency number posted on the phone. This number is manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In the lobbies or public areas of all campus buildings there are free on-campus public phones from which the Taylor University Police Department can also be reached by dialing x85555.

The Taylor University Police Department maintains both direct telephone and two-way radio contact with Upland Police Department, Gas City Police Department, Upland Fire Department, Grant County Sheriff’s Department, Grant County Ambulance Service, and the Indiana State Police. The 911 system is also available as back-up to the Taylor University emergency phone system. Students are encouraged to dial 9-9-1-1 to ensure quicker response to an emergency.

A crime may be reported to any campus security authority or any member of the Taylor University Police Department.

Campus security authorities are:

• VP for Student Development
• Associate VP for Student Development & Director of Residence Life
• Director of Housing
• Director of Student Programs
• Director of Calling and Career Office
• Director of Intercultural Programs
• Director of Counseling Center
• Director of Taylor World Outreach
• Residence Hall Directors
• Campus Pastor
• Assistant Director for Residence Life Programs

However, for reporting of sexual assaults, members of the Counseling Center staff and faculty and staff of the Campus Ministries Office may not be required to report some crimes to the Chief of Police of the Taylor University Police Department when knowledge of the crime has come to them in the performance of their counseling duties. Information about reporting a sexual assault is listed on this page under the heading “Sexual Assault.”

Access to Campus Facilities

Most campus buildings and facilities are accessible to members of the campus community, and to guests and visitors during normal business hours, Monday through Friday and limited hours on Saturday.

All buildings are currently using a key lock, or card access system. The administrative and service buildings are locked after business hours and on weekends. The academic buildings are locked by midnight during weekdays and by the early evening hours on Saturday, except where University functions requested by authorized faculty/staff and confirmed through the Taylor University Police Department, necessitate otherwise. Almost all buildings remain locked on Sundays.

The main lounges of all residence halls are closed to members of the opposite sex at 1 am daily. Gerig Hall, Bergwall Hall, and Swallow Robin, which house both men and women, are closed to non-hall residents at this time. The main entrances of all residence halls are locked at 1 am every night. Other doors are locked from 10 pm to 2 am every night, depending on University faculty/staff needs and upon proper authorization from the Taylor University Police Department. Entrances in all residence halls are unlocked at 9 am each morning. Persons entering after halls are locked may be requested to show their Taylor ID card to the assisting staff person.

Maintenance and Security of Campus Facilities

Taylor University is committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment. In recent years, exterior lighting along the walkways, parking lots and building exteriors of the campus has been significantly improved. Periodic surveys are completed by the Taylor University Police Department and the Physical Plant Department to determine if lighting is adequate. Please report any lighting deficiencies to the Taylor University Police Department at x85396 or the Physical Plant Director at x85224.

Exterior doors on campus buildings are checked and secured each evening by Taylor University Police officers. Any door and security hardware operating deficiencies are reported by the officers to the Maintenance Department. Parking lots and facilities are actively patrolled by Taylor University Police officers every shift.

Security Awareness and Crime Prevention Programs

The philosophy of Taylor University is to prevent crime rather than react to crimes already committed. Through educational programs, alerting students and staff to previous activity, asking for voluntary assistance, and asking each person to be responsible for his/her own security and the security of others, much can be done in the area of prevention. In addition to the prevention programs listed in Sexual Assault Policy below, the following programs and projects are employed by this campus:

1. Emergency telephones: campus phones located in public areas of every building have the emergency phone number posted on them.
2. Crime prevention presentations: a number of crime prevention and safety presentations are given annually to staff and students. These usually take place in the residence halls or dining commons.
3. Students and staff are strongly encouraged to be the “eyes and“ears” of Taylor University Police Department by immediately reporting suspicious activity by calling 765-998-5555 or x85555. In addition to crime prevention, the Taylor University Police Department provides the community with timely reports of crimes committed on or off campus considered to be a threat to students or employees through campus bulletins, The Echo (the weekly school newspaper), residence hall directors, and announcements in classes and chapels.

Annual Security Report

Read our annual security report, part of the Student Right-to-Know information.

Motor Vehicle Regulations

• 2019-2020 Motor Vehicle Regulations (.pdf)*
  *Winter transportation safety information is listed below under the heading "Winter Advisory Reminders and Procedures."

Student Vehicle Policy

First-time, full-time freshman students who have been out of high school less than one year, or transfer students with less than 12 credit hours, are not permitted to have vehicles on campus until after Thanksgiving break. For students entering Taylor University at Interterm or spring semester, vehicles are not permitted until after Spring Break.

Personal exceptions may be granted for the following reasons:

• A medical or dental condition that requires frequent appointment with a doctor or health professional
• Employment off-campus (must provide proof of employment and schedule of hours)
• Illness of a family member or extenuating circumstances that may require a student to go home on an emergency basis
• In rare instances, if a student needs the vehicle to get home for Thanksgiving break the student should indicate that there is no other means of transportation available to get home.

To gain permission to use a vehicle for one of the above purposes, students must email a request to Jeff Wallace. Reviews will be done by the Chief of Police. All students must register their vehicles within 72 hours of the vehicle being on campus. The fee for a student’s motor registration is $25.

Cycling On and Off Campus

The Taylor University campus is a beautiful setting for bicyclists. The Taylor University Police Department encourages bicyclists to follow the following safety precautions:

Preventing Bicycle Theft

• Always lock your bicycle when not in use.
• Record your bicycle make, color and serial numbers.

If your bicycle has been stolen, call the Taylor University Police Department immediately.

Bicycle Safety

• Always wear an U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) approved helmet when riding your bicycle.
• Keep your bicycle in good operating condition.
• Follow ALL traffic laws when riding your bicycle, including stopping at stop signs and riding WITH the flow of traffic.
• Use hand signals for turns and stops.
• Maximize your visibility by wearing reflective clothing and attaching reflective devices to your bicycle.
• Always check for oncoming traffic before entering an intersection or merging onto a road.
• Stay in single file when riding with others.
• DO NOT assume that motor vehicles will yield the right-of-way to you.
• Refrain from using phones and other devices that will interfere with your ability to hear or see oncoming traffic.
• BE A DEFENSIVE RIDER.

Helpful Websites

• National Bicycle Safety Network
• Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center

Active Shooter Safety Training

Taylor is often referred to as a “bubble,” but we can’t pretend that we’re immune from tragedy. Although extremely rare, active shooter situations have occurred on college campuses. These events can be unpredictable, chaotic, and often over before law enforcement arrives. In this short training video, you’ll learn what you can do to protect yourself and others around you in the unlikely event of this happening. 

Tornado Disaster Plan

Statistics indicate that the State of Indiana is fifth nationally in the number of tornadoes experienced each year, based on land area percentages. Statistically the State of Indiana is second in the number of casualties per square mile. The highest frequency of tornadoes in Indiana occurs in April with June a close second. Due to these facts plus our own concern for the general welfare of the Taylor community, the following tornado disaster procedures have been developed. It should be noted that public schools and parochial schools that are commissioned have been required to prepare such a plan pursuant to Rule G-3, Section 18, as revised and adopted by the commission on General Education, July 16, 1974. (NOTE: THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PROVIDES SEVERE WEATHER ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPDATES.)

Definitions

Tornado Watch
A tornado watch indicates that weather conditions are such that a tornado could form. Normal activities may be continued, but you should “watch” for tornadoes.

Tornado Warning
A tornado warning indicates that a tornado has actually been sighted and that all persons should seek appropriate shelter. Tornado warnings are typically 45 minutes in length.

Equipment

• One siren (on top of the Reade Center)
• One mobile public address system (Campus Police)
• Emergency lighting installed in the Science Center and the Dining Commons kitchen area and residence halls where none exist
• Tornado shelter signs

For further information, please read the PDF full policy (5/20).

Emergency Text Alert System

The Emergency Text Alert System is used to immediately notify students and employees of impending life-threatening or life-altering situations. The system, named TU Alert, can send text messages to call phones and email messages to Taylor student and employee accounts. Sign up for TU Alert on myTAYLOR by searching QuickLinks.

With the cold winter months of Indiana now upon us, we find ourselves once again planning for periods of snow and ice on our beautiful campus. With this in mind, we offer these simple reminders and procedures designed to maintain a safe environment for all of the Taylor University community.

Winter Safety Reminder

Certainly, with the cold weather, comes the snow and ice on the roads, sidewalks, and parking lots. Please use care and caution when walking and driving anywhere on campus and keep in mind the "black ice" that is prevalent this time of year, may not be readily visible, but it could still be there. Leave a little earlier than usual to allow yourself more time to get to safely your destination.

Along with leaving a little earlier, take the time to warm up your vehicle and thoroughly clean off your windows of any snow and ice for proper visibility. It is not only unsafe to operate your vehicle while looking through a small hole scraped in your windshield, but could also constitute a violation of Indiana Motor Vehicle Law regarding a vision obstructions of the windows. This certainly presents a real hazard to you, other motorists, and pedestrian traffic.

Should you observe a specific area in need of immediate attention due to slick and hazardous conditions, i.e. driveways, sidewalks, parking lots, or campus roadways, please contact Campus Safety immediately, so we can advise Buildings and Grounds of the condition.

In the event that you are injured in a slip and fall anywhere on campus property, please report the incident to Campus Safety as soon as it is possible to do so.

Lastly, as a reminder during the threat of inclement weather, please tune to one of the following stations for updates and relevant information:

Radio Stations:

• WXXC 106.9 FM, Marion
• WBAT 1400 AM, Muncie
• WLBC 104.1 FM, Muncie
• WBCL 90.3 FM, Ft. Wayne
• Indiana Public Radio (WBST 92.1 FM, Muncie & WBSW 90.9 FM, Marion)

TV Stations:

• WRTV Channel 6, Indianapolis
• WTHR Channel 13, Indianapolis
• WXIN Channel 59, Indianapolis
• WPTA Channel 21/33, Ft. Wayne
• WANE Channel 15, Ft. Wayne

Snow Removal Procedures

If you plan to be away from campus for extended periods of time (three days or longer) during the winter months (December, January, February and March), please park your vehicle in the south Rediger Auditorium parking lot.

If a vehicle is preventing snow plows from clearing any university parking lot or roadway, the Department of Campus Safety will attempt to contact the owner regarding the immediate removal of that vehicle. If the Department of Campus Safety is unable to contact the owner, a wrecker service will be employed to remove the vehicle at the OWNER’S EXPENSE. Towed vehicles will be transported to the soccer field parking area and will remain there until all expenses have been paid by the owner. A Campus Safety officer will remain at the scene until the towing process is complete. Taylor University will not be responsible for accidental damages that might occur during this procedure.

There will be NO OVERNIGHT PARKING (12 midnight until 7 am) allowed during the months of December, January, February and March in the following parking lots: Freimuth Administration Building, Student Union, Reade Memorial Liberal Arts Center, Helena Memorial Hall, Nussbaum Science Center, Zondervan Library, north Rediger Auditorium, Modell Metcalf Visual Arts Center, Randall Environmental Studies Center, the west half of the Hodson Dining Commons lot, and the west half of the Odle Gymnasium lot.

Unless absolutely necessary, please do not drive on campus during periods of snow and ice, so that snow removal can proceed safely and efficiently.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Please contact the Taylor Police Department if you should have any questions regarding this or any other campus safety issue.

Identity theft occurs when an individual or group of individuals obtain and utilize your personal information (date of birth, social security number, credit card/checking/banking account numbers, etc.) for personal gain.

The frequency of this crime is increasing dramatically, as the Federal Trade Commission reported that there were over 9 million identity theft complaints filed in 2004.

The following is a list of cost-effective precautions that can maximize your level of protection against identity thieves:

1. Do not put your social security number, driver’s license number, telephone number, or date of birth on your personal checks. In addition, protect this information at all times from “Shoulder Surfers” who look for victims in public locations such as malls, airports, etc. Be especially alert for these thieves at car rental counters, hotels, airport check-in counters, public telephones, etc.
2. Memorize all personal numbers, passwords, and PIN numbers. If you write them down for future reference, place them in a secure place. Use a fictitious, even absurd, password, rather than passwords that publicly identify you (family name, address, pet name, etc.) as passwords.
3. Use a cross-cut shredder to dispose of all documents (bills, personal communications, applications for credit cards, outdated credit cards, etc.) that contain personal information, when you are finished with them.
4. Never provide personal information when responding to telephone solicitations. And remember: If the telephone offer is too good to be true, it’s too good to be true. In other words, it’s a fraud.
5. Monitor your financial statements regularly and report any discrepancies to your bank/credit card company immediately.
6. Only use your credit card online when you are absolutely sure that it is a reputable company that uses encryption techniques to provide its consumers security. If you’re not sure about the security of a website, you shouldn’t enter your credit card information.
7. Do not have your checking account checks delivered to your mailbox because it’s too easy for a thief to drive by your house and take them out of the mailbox before you get home from work. Instead, pick up your checking account checks at the bank.

If you have fallen victim to an identity thief, you should take the following steps immediately:

• Report the theft of your identity to your local police agency.
• Report the theft of your identity to every financial institution with which you have credit and close your credit accounts.
• Close the accounts that have been tampered with and those that have been fraudulently opened.
• When you open new accounts, avoid using the same passwords. Remember: Your passwords should have no connection to information that is publicly known about you.
• Place a fraud alert on your credit reports with one of the following consumer credit companies:
  
  • Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Clearinghouse: 877-438-4338
  • Social Security Administration Fraud Hotline: 800-269-0271
  • TransUnion: 800-680-7289
  • Experian: 888-397-3742
  • Equifax: 800-525-6285
• Closely monitor your accounts and credit reports and immediately report any changes to the local police and your financial institutions.
• Maximize the odds that the identity theft will be caught by reporting the theft of your identity to the Federal Trade Commission Identity Theft Hotline.

Sexual Assault Prohibited

Any commission of a sex offense prohibited by Indiana or federal law is a violation of Taylor University’s Sexual Assault Policy and the University’s Life Together Covenant. Members of the student body, faculty, support staff, and administrative personnel are included under this policy and within the agreement of the “Life Together Covenant.” Any violation of this policy may lead to criminal sanctions or discipline up to and including expulsion or termination as applicable.

Reporting Sexual Assaults

Taylor University encourages all victims of sexual assault to report such incidents to any Campus Security Authority. The decision to file a report with the Taylor University Police Department or any other local, county, or state law enforcement agency is to be made by the victim. Filing a report with the police does commit the victim to pressing charges but not necessarily to testifying in court. While follow-up options are presented and discussed, the final decisions are left to the victim. Student Development personnel will help victims contact the police if assistance is requested.

Following a sexual assault, the victim’s physical well being is a primary concern because of the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, and/or physical injuries which may not be apparent. All victims should seek immediate medical attention; however, even if time has passed, it is important to seek medical care.

Victim? Here’s What To Do

If you are a victim of a sexual assault, get to a safe place as soon as you can. Then you should:

1. Try to preserve all physical evidence. Do not bathe, douche, use the toilet, or change clothing.
2. Call the Taylor University Police Department (765-998-5555 or x85555 on a campus phone) or another police agency—even if you are unsure about testifying in court.
3. Get medical attention as soon as possible. The Taylor University Police Officers or other police will help you with this.
4. Call a close friend, residence hall director, or other trusted person who can be with you for support.
5. Use the Sexual Assault Services Consultants for crisis counseling, assistance with medical treatment, safe shelter options, and assistance with legal issues.

Investigations and Hearing

Upon receiving a report of sexual assault, the appropriate vice president will conduct an investigation in cooperation with the Chief of Police or his designee and will conduct hearings in accordance with established procedures. Sexual assault victims are entitled to have a person(s) of his/her choice present during any and all segments of the hearing process. Sexual assault victims are entitled to be informed of the status of any and all phases of the hearing process, including the outcome.

Person(s) accused of sexual assault are entitled to have the person(s) of his/her choice present during any and all segments of the hearing process. Accused person(s) are also entitled to be informed of the status of any and all phases of the hearing process, including the outcome.

Education/Services in the Prevention of Sexual Assault

The Taylor University Police Department offers several educational seminars that are specifically designed to prevent the occurrence of sexual assault. Seminars are offered to student, faculty, and staff groups upon request. Contact the Taylor University Police Department to schedule seminars.

1. The Taylor University Police Department provides an escort service during hours of darkness for person(s) who may be walking on campus. Call 765-998-5555 or x85555 to request an escort.
2. Crime prevention materials are made available to students, faculty, and staff upon request. Crime awareness posters are periodically distributed on campus.
3. The Taylor University Police Department provides the community with timely reports of crimes committed on or off campus considered to be a threat to students or employees through campus bulletins, The Echo (the weekly school newspaper), residence hall directors, and announcements in classes and chapels.
4. The Sexual Assault Services Consultants (representatives from Academic Affairs, Personnel, Counseling Center, Residential Life, Taylor University Police, chairperson, and Health Center) are a central referral source for information relating to the rights, options, and services available to a sexual assault victim. Specifically, consultants are knowledgeable about campus and community referral resources which can provide medical, legal, counseling, advocacy, and academic assistance. The University will change a victim’s academic and living situations after an alleged sex offense, if those changes are requested by the victim and are reasonably available. Consultants can discuss these options. The consultant should not be expected to provide specific or detailed legal, medical, or counseling guidance to a victim and must refrain from doing so unless licensed in the respective field. The consultant is expected to inform the victim both verbally and in writing of the existence and location of services available to assist the victim of a sexual assault. Call 765-998-5395 or x85395 for more information on the Sexual Assault Services Consultants.

For Further Information

• Taylor University Police Department: 765-998-5396
• Emergencies: x85555

The Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act of 2000

Taylor University students, faculty, and staff can view the National Sex Offender Public Registry and the Indiana Sheriff’s Sex Offender Registry online or at the Taylor University Police Department. The Registries are updated on a regular basis by the U.S. Department of Justice and by Sheriff’s departments in Indiana counties where crimes occur.

Contact: Taylor University Police Department 765-998-5395 or x85395 for more information.

To view the security report, check the Student Right to Know section.

The Taylor University alcohol and drug abuse program extends far beyond minimum requirements for such programs. Taylor University does not permit the use of alcohol or drugs on or off campus. For this reason the extensive program strives to reach five distinct outcomes:

1. Training and information which may prevent some students, faculty and staff from abusing drugs and alcohol.
2. Training for the campus community so that they will more readily identify current problems.
3. An increase in the level of competency of intervention techniques in a manner that is caring and correct.
4. Better referrals to appropriate agencies and follow up with needed support.
5. A campus-based, user-friendly resource center housing specific needed information.

The full description of the Comprehensive Drug and Alcohol Program is available upon request, 765-998-5396.

Local Resources

• Local Weather
• Indiana State Police Road Information

Cybersecurity

• US-CERT

Department of Homeland Security

• DHLS Website

Disaster Preparedness

• American Red Cross

International Travel

• U.S. Department of State

Law Enforcement (Federal)

• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms. and Explosives
• U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
• U.S. Department of Justice
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• U.S. Marshals Service
• U.S. Secret Service

Law Enforcement (State)

• Indiana State Police
• Indiana Attorney General

Law Enforcement (Local)

• Grant County Sheriff

Other

• Security Solutions
• National Gang Crime Research Center
• National Safety Council
• National Weather Service