Morris: Public Safety

University of Minnesota Morris Department of Public Safety employees police officers who are licensed as peace officers by the State of Minnesota. Minnesota State Statute 629.40 gives peace officers statewide arrest powers while acting in the course and scope of employment.

UMM Department of Public Safety is responsible for all property owned by the University in the Morris area. UMM Department of Public Safety officers provide services in directed, proactive patrol, crime prevention, investigation, law enforcement, and emergency response. 

UMM Department of Public Safety collaborates with the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office, the Stevens County Attorney’s Office, Stevens Community Medical Center, Stevens County Human Services, and Someplace Safe as members of the Stevens County Violence Prevention Task Force to reduce the incidence of and provide a coordinated response to sexual assault, relationship violence, and stalking. The Task Force provides for the coordinated investigation of the crimes of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. 

The University of Minnesota Morris does not currently have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the investigation of any other criminal offenses other than those listed above. UMM Department of Public Safety works closely with federal, state, and local police agencies including the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office. When the UMM Department of Public Safety receives information about an off-campus crime that requires secondary investigation, it forwards the information to the proper local police department.

The University of Minnesota Morris Department of Public Safety works cooperatively with the area law enforcement agencies to share information about criminal activity that occurs off-campus but may affect members of the UMM community. Students accused of criminal misconduct may additionally be subject to the University student conduct process. This process neither substitutes for nor interferes with the outside legal processes. The Student Code of Conduct outlines the jurisdiction the University has to apply disciplinary action in these cases. 

The Clery Act requires timely warning notification to the campus community when a reported Clery crime, occurring on University of Minnesota Morris Clery geography, poses a serious or ongoing threat to public safety. The University issues SAFE-U Advisory Notifications to comply with the timely warning requirement.

SAFE-U Advisory Notifications are designed to give the University community information which may aid in the prevention of similar crimes.

Incidents reported to UMM Department of Public Safety or a Campus Security Authority will be evaluated on a case-by- case basis by the Chief Law Enforcement Officer or designee to determine if a SAFE-U Advisory Notification is warranted.

When the Chief Law Enforcement Officer or designee determines that a reported crime poses a serious or continuing threat and a Timely Warning Notification is warranted, the Chief Law Enforcement Officer or designee, in consultation with the Chancellor and/or Vice Chancellors for Student Affairs and Finance and Facilities, will compose the warning. The Chief Law Enforcement Officer or designee will approve the draft and it will be forwarded to the Office of Communications and Marketing for review and distribution.

SAFE-U Advisory Notifications will be electronically distributed to all Morris Campus students, staff and faculty via the University of Minnesota email system.

SAFE-U Advisory Notifications may include the following details (if available):

• Date and time of the incident
• Location
• Type of crime
• Description of the incident
• Apparent connection to previous incidents, if applicable
• Pertinent crime prevention tips

Personally Identifying Information of victims and reporting parties will not be disclosed in a timely warning. Except in instances where the information is relevant to the crime– for example, in crimes which are motivated by bias the victim’s inclusion in a protected class may be released if this information is not determined to be explicitly personally identifiable.

UMM Department of Public Safety works closely with the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office and is routinely made aware of crimes which have been reported to these agencies which may warrant the issuance of a timely warning notice. 

If a reported crime constitutes a significant emergency or dangerous situation occurring on campus that involves an immediate threat to the health or safety of the campus community, UMM Department of Public Safety will follow procedures for issuing a SAFE- U Emergency Notification. More information about SAFE-U Emergency Notifications can be found under the Emergency Response and SAFE-U Emergencies section.

Emergency response operations include coordination of campus and community resources to save lives, protect property, and provide for the continuity of University operations. 

The University uses the National Incident Management System (NIMS) as its standard for responding to incidents. UMM Department of Public Safety police officers and University administrators who have responsibility during an incident have been trained in NIMS. Depending on the incident, other University departments and/or other local or federal agencies may be involved in responding.

When an incident occurs that causes an immediate threat to the campus, the first responders to the scene are usually from UMM Department of Public Safety. The Stevens County Sheriff’s Office and Morris Fire Department assist UMM Department of Public Safety as the situation requires. These agencies have been asked to inform the University of Minnesota regarding any situations that are reported to them which may warrant a campus emergency response.

Prior to issuing an emergency notification, UMM Department of Public Safety in collaboration with the Chancellor, Vice Chancellor for Facilities and Finance and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, will confirm the existence of an emergency or dangerous situation via dispatched officers or other emergency professionals on the scene, video monitoring, or notification from the National Weather Service. Information obtained from these sources will be used to determine the scope and content of the notification. 

Upon confirmation of an emergency or dangerous situation, Campus Police, in consultation with the Chancellor or designee and the Emergency Lead—Designated Authority (ELDA) will, without delay, and taking into account the safety of the community, determine the content of the notification and initiate the notification system.

In the event of a potential emergency or dangerous situation that poses an imminent threat to the campus community, the Chief Law Enforcement Officer or Designee has the authority to initiate the appropriate notification system(s) immediately. 

A notification may be delayed if issuing a notification will, in the professional judgment of responsible authorities, compromise efforts to assist a victim or to contain, respond to, or otherwise mitigate the emergency.

SAFE-U notifications will consist of basic information about the type of emergency or dangerous situation and information on how to avoid danger. Updated information will be disseminated as it becomes available and as time allows or when the immediate threat has been mitigated.

SAFE-U notifications can be authorized by the following individuals: Chancellor or designee; Chief Law Enforcement Officer or designee; Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs; and Vice Chancellor for Finance and Facilities, Director of Communications and Marketing or designee or Director of Residential Life or designee, and Public Safety Emergency Communication Center.

The University of Minnesota Crookston does not segment SAFE-U Emergency notifications. All current students, staff and faculty will receive a notification.

Dissemination of emergency information to the larger community (i.e., parents, the Morris community) will take place at the discretion of the University’s Incident Response Team and as time allows. Campus Police will work with the Incident Response Team to determine how much information is appropriate to disseminate at different times. Depending on the nature of the incident, the University could utilize such avenues as the University home page morris.umn.edu or the media. The first concern of the University will be to disseminate information to those people directly affected by the emergency.

The University of Minnesota Morris has several methods for communicating important safety information quickly in the event of a significant emergency or dangerous situation that poses an immediate threat to the health and safety of the campus community. The situation will dictate which notification methods are used, in some situations multiple notification systems will be used.

SAFE-U Emergency Notification

SAFE-U Emergency is the University’s emergency mass notification system. SAFE-U Emergency is used specifically to notify University students and employees of emergency situations which are likely to impact campus as a whole or impact University operations. Students, faculty, and staff who have provided contact information are automatically registered to receive SAFE-U Emergency Notifications. Only University of Minnesota students, faculty, staff and those with a legitimate need are registered for SAFE-U Emergency Notifications.

Campus Email

In an emergency situation, campus email may be utilized to communicate important safety information.

Text Messages

University students, staff and faculty can update their profile to include a phone number for SAFE-U text messages.

Campus-Wide Emergency Alert System (CWEAS)

CWEAS is the University of Minnesota’s outdoor emergency notification system. CWEAS is not a tornado siren; it is an outdoor warning system that can convey both an alert tone and voice messages. If you hear the outdoor warning system, it means go inside and seek more information.

Tone Alert Radio

The University uses Tone Alert Radios strategically placed throughout campus to add another layer of alert coverage. At the Morris campus, Tone Alert Radios receive emergency broadcasts directly from Stevens County dispatch. Stevens County dispatch will activate the radios when there is urgent information that needs to be transmitted (e.g., severe weather, building evacuation). Tone Alert Radios also provide emergency notification that can be received in areas that are out of cellular service.

Fire Panel Annunciation

The University of Minnesota Department of Emergency Management has equipped some buildings with an annunciation capability that can be set off by the PSECC in case of an emergency. The annunciation system allows the fire alert system to communicate the source of the emergency, which will allow for a quicker and more efficient response. These panels also help control emergency communications systems where they are installed. As existing systems reach the end of their lifecycle, additional capacity in this area is being added.

Social Media

Emergency information may also be communicated on University of Minnesota Morris Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Digital Signs

Most digital signs on campus can be updated quickly to include an emergency message.

Web Announcements

Weather-related closings and other emergencies may be announced by placing an announcement on the University of Minnesota Morris website. 

On-Scene Emergency Personnel

On-scene emergency personnel may be able to provide valuable emergency communication depending upon the emergency situation.

Each building on campus has a Building Emergency Plan. The plan outlines evacuation procedures, assigns specific tasks to building personnel to facilitate building evacuation, designates areas of refuge for those who are unable to safely navigate stairways and assigns a building evacuation assembly point.

Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP) outline the steps critical operating units must take to keep their department running in the event of an emergency. Departments that are deemed "critical operating units" must complete a Continuity of Operations Plan, per the University's Policy.

The campus Emergency Operations Plan is the overall plan that guides University administrators in the event of an emergency. The University is required by the state Homeland Security and Emergency Management agency to have an Emergency Operations Plan.

At the sound of the emergency alarm, it is the responsibility of all building occupants to evacuate immediately and proceed to predetermined assembly points, away from the building.

Building occupants are also responsible for ensuring that their visitors, customers, and contractors in their department follow the evacuation procedure described herein and leave the building along with all other occupants.

Faculty and instructors are responsible for dismissing their classes and directing students to leave the building by the nearest building exit upon hearing the building alarm or being notified of an emergency.

Designated essential personnel needed to continue or shut down critical operations, while an evacuation is underway, are responsible for recognizing and/or determining when to abandon the operation and evacuate themselves.

Whenever you hear the building alarm or are informed of a building emergency:

• Do not panic
• Do not ignore the alarm
• Leave the building immediately, in an orderly fashion
• Do not use elevators
• Classes and meetings in session must be dismissed and students directed to leave
• Follow quickest evacuation route from where you are (see posted floor evacuation diagram/map)
• Do not go back to your office area for any reason
• Proceed to the designated emergency assembly point for your area
• If the designated assembly point/area is unsafe or blocked due to the emergency, proceed to the alternate assembly point
• Report to your Building/Work Area Rep at the assembly point to be checked off as having evacuated safely
• Report any knowledge you may have of missing persons or those located in an Area of Refuge
• Return to the building only after emergency officials or building coordinator give the all-clear signal
• Silencing the Alarm does not mean the emergency is over

In the event of the release of hazardous chemical substances which threaten human health, and the immediate lab needs to evacuate, but other building occupants are safe, please follow the steps below:

• Notify other lab occupants in immediate area
• Everyone who can safely leave, should leave lab away from spill
• While exiting, close double doors leading into other labs
• A lab occupant leaving the lab should immediately call 911 (or head to area of refuge button (near freight elevator on each floor) if applicable
• Notify operator of spill and location
• Operator can remotely activate fire alarm (for some buildings) and send emergency personnel
• Evacuate building according to general evacuation procedures

In the event of a loss of power, water leak or flood, elevator failure or other building emergency:

• Call Facilities and Operations at 218-281-8483 to notify them of the emergency. Call 911 for emergencies with injuries.
• Notify staff that are located near the emergency so they may take appropriate precautions.
• Follow evacuation instructions, if evacuation is necessary.

In the event of notification of severe weather, safely discontinue work and go to the nearest designated safe shelter location.

Run

• Have an escape route and plan in mind
• Leave your belongings behind
• Keep your hands visible
• Run to a place of refuge, well beyond the norm

Hide

• If running is not possible, hide
• Lock and barricade doors; shut off lights
• Remain silent, yet vigilant
• Avoid huddling together

Fight

• Fighting is a last resort, use only when your life is in imminent danger
• Use improvised weapons
• Attempt to incapacitate the active threat
• There is strength in numbers; work together against the active threat

Call 9-1-1

• Call ONLY if safe and with information about the active threat
• Clarify you are on the University of Minnesota campus and where you are
• Give the location of the active threat(s)
• Provide physical description of active threat(s)
• Describe type of weapons held by the active threat(s)
• Notify the dispatcher of victims and their location

How to React When Law Enforcement Arrives:

• Remain calm
• Follow officers’ instructions
• Keep your hands up and out in front of you, assuring your hands are empty
• Keep hands visible at all times
• Avoid making quick movements towards officers such as attempting to hold on to them for safety
• Avoid pointing, screaming and/or yelling
• Move quickly towards the nearest exit or where directed to by police
• Do not stop to ask officers for help or directions when evacuating

Once in a Safe Place

Once you are in a safe place, DO NOT LEAVE. Emergency responders need to account for everyone. As the event unfolds and is better understood, law enforcement will provide additional instructions as to where you should be or when you will be able to leave. Please be patient. Your safety is our most important concern.

There are three distinct levels of access to buildings, public hours, university hours and restricted hours. Building hours vary according to building use.

Public Hours

During Public Hours, buildings will remain open to everyone in the University community and to the general public. Public Hours will generally coincide with the standard business day of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. For classroom buildings, Public Hours will generally be 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to accommodate evening classes. Libraries, museums, galleries, and the like will have public hours that match their business hours.

University Hours

University Hours are the hours just before and just after Public Hours in the morning and the evenings. As an example, University Hours in a classroom building would typically be 6 a.m. to 7 a.m., and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. During University Hours, a U Card will be required to enter the building.

Restricted Hours

During Restricted Hours, buildings are closed to the general public and to the general University community. Only people who have been previously granted permission to enter the building are allowed to do so. Typically, the people granted access during Restricted Hours are the people who would logically have permission to enter a building when it is locked, for example, faculty who teach or staff who work in a specific building. Again using a classroom building as an example, the Restricted Hours would be between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

For information on specific building hours, select a building to learn more. 

The University controls and monitors access to its space by using traditional key systems, electronic card reader systems, surveillance cameras and intrusion alarm systems. Outside doors of most University buildings are equipped with electronic card access control systems. 

Campuses, departments and units are required to manage all keys and access control devices held by their employees. Each campus, department or unit has a Department Facilities Representative to enforce this policy at the local level. 

Individuals are prohibited from unauthorized possession, use, duplication and changes to keys or access control devices. Individuals are also prohibited from bracing open doors equipped with access control devices. Violators of this policy will be subject to disciplinary actions for the University or criminal charges where appropriate.

Surveillance cameras are monitored 24 hours a day by Public Safety Emergency Communications (PSECC) on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus. 

Students, faculty and staff are required to carry their University issued UCard when in University buildings outside of public hours. The UCard must be presented upon request by law enforcement or security personnel, or by a University employee acting within the purview of their job responsibilities. Anyone in a University building that is unable to present their UCard outside of public hours may be asked to leave. Additional restrictions may apply to areas deemed to have a higher security standard.

The University of Minnesota Morris has six traditional dormitory-style student residential facilities and one apartment-style student residential facility.

All exterior residence hall doors, except Clayton A. Gay Hall, are locked 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Gay Hall-NS and Blakely Hall exterior doors are unlocked from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to provide access to the offices of Residential Life, Health Service, and education classrooms. In these buildings, however, access to living areas remain locked 24 hours a day and require card access. Guests and visitors may access residence hall living areas only when escorted by a resident of that hall, or with prior approval from the Office of Residential Life. Residents are encouraged not to open doors for anyone other than their guests.

On-call CAs are available every evening from 4:30 p.m. until 8 a.m. to ensure the safety and security of each residential building during the evening and night hours. All residence halls have published policies for guests. Residential Life and Student Affairs maintain a Student Life On-Call rotation with professional staff and are available 24/7 for emergencies. Two Area Coordinators live on campus to respond to emergencies.

Facilities Management is responsible for the maintenance of campus facilities and grounds. Facilities Management has departmental standard procedures and practices that are aligned with the Board of Regents Policy “Health and Safety” to address security considerations used in the maintenance of campus facilities. For example, Facilities Management employees fix problems with lighting identified by Campus Police. Grounds and Custodial teams ensure safe and accessible exterior environments through regular ground maintenance, snow removal, and cleanliness. 

Campus Police completes weekly checks of outdoor lighting and emergency call boxes, as well as daily checks of building access. Campus Police completes daily work orders for Facilities Management to address any concerns reported. 

To report a building or facility issue contact:
Facilities Management
9 Camden Hall
Morris, MN 56267
320-589-6100

Please notify Facilities Management if you notice lights that are out or see other maintenance needs. After normal business hours, contact the UMM Department of Public Safety.