Annual Security Report

ECTC is one of 16 community colleges in the state of Kentucky, as part of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS). Our colleges are as diverse as the communities in which they are located, so you'll not only receive a world-class education at a price you can afford, but you also will be in an exciting environment that will prepare you to be successful in whatever you choose to do.

Choosing a postsecondary institution is a major decision for students and their families. Along with academic, financial and geographic considerations, the issue of campus safety is a vital concern. In 1990, Congress enacted the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990 (Title II of Public Law 101-542), which amended the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA). This act required all postsecondary institutions participating in HEA's Title IV student financial assistance programs to disclose campus crime statistics and security information. The act was amended in 1992, 1998, 2000, 2008, and 2013. The 1998 amendments renamed the law the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act in memory of Jeanne Clery. It is generally referred to as the Cleary Act.

Beginning on July 1, 2013, the Clery Act requires colleges and universities to track and report statistics for domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. It also requires that colleges provide sexual assault and prevention training to all students and employees on an annual basis.

Each college of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System is responsible for the preparation of the Annual Security Report in cooperation with Legal Affairs, Campus Security Authorities, and local police agencies. The statistics include alleged and attempted crimes. All crimes reported in “good faith” and occurring on-campus, on public property surrounding our campuses, or in off campus college-owned buildings or property is recorded for inclusion in the annual crime statistics. This report provides statistics for the previous three academic years. The statistics are requested annually from local law enforcement agencies and submitted to the Security Director for collection and analysis. For statistical purposes, crime statistics reported to any of these sources are recorded in the calendar year the crime was reported.

The report includes statistics submitted by Legal Affairs, Student Affairs, Human Resources, Campus Security Authorities, and local law enforcement agencies. These reports are reviewed, and if reportable under the Clery Act, are included in the annual statistics. Police arrest statistics and campus disciplinary referral data for weapons violations, drug violations and liquor law violations are analyzed by Campus Security to avoid duplicated reporting. Our colleges do not have any student organizations at Off-Campus locations, therefore incidents related to off-campus activities of student organizations are not reported.

All of these statistics are gathered, compiled and reported to the campus community via the Annual Security Report which is published each year. Campus Security submits the annual crime statistics published in this report to the Department of Education (ED) each year. The statistical information gathered by the Department of Education is available to the public through the ED web site.

By October 1 of each year, all enrolled students and employees receive an email notification regarding a summary of the content and the availability of the report via the college website, as well as how to request a printed copy of the report. Prospective students and employees receive information regarding the report from the head of security.

Campus Security Authorities are defined as individuals having significant responsibility for student activities, including administrators and student services personnel such as, Deans, Directors, Legal Affairs, athletic team coaches, and faculty and/or student advisors. Although crimes should be reported to campus Security or the Title IX Coordinator (sexual violence only), if these individuals receive a report of a crime listed under the Clery Act they are obligated to report it to campus security for purposes of disclosure in the annual crime statistics. 

KCTCS colleges do not have a campus police department.  No campus personnel have arresting powers. If physical measures are needed to ensure the safety and security of persons on campus, state or local police agencies shall be contacted. 

While there are no Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with local or state enforcement agencies. KCTCS Colleges maintain a strong working relationship with state and local police through training, meetings and communicating with local and state police agencies in the investigation of criminal offenses.

ECTC main campus employs two contracted Sheriff Deputies from the Hardin County Sheriff's Office in Elizabethtown, KY. ECTC Springfield campus contracts police services with local Springfield Police Department, Springfield, KY 40069. ECTC Leitchfield campus contracts police services with the local Leitchfield Police Department.

ECTC contracted officers have jurisdiction to operate on ECTC campus owned or controlled property. All contracted security officers have the power to arrest; and therefore, must complete a course of training which includes Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training certificate and 40 hours of continuing education. ECTC officers also receive School Resource Officer training.

Training covers the following topics:

1. Responsibilities and ethics in citizen arrest, and the power to arrest as outlined by the state of Kentucky
2. Relationship between a security officer and a peace officer in making an arrest
3. Limitations on security officer power to arrest
4. Restrictions on searches and seizures
5. Criminal and civil liabilities
   1. Personal liability
   2. Employer liability
6. Trespass law
7. Ethics and communications
8. Emergency situation response, including response to medical emergencies.

ECTC contracted officers also receive training regarding their duties and responsibilities as Campus Security Authorities as defined by the Clery Act. Contracted security officers maintain a good working relationship with the local Elizabethtown Police Department who is responsible for policing the area surrounding the main campus. ECTC maintains a strong working relationship with state and local police through training, meetings and communication with local and state police agencies in the investigation of criminal offenses.

Off-Campus Student Organizations

ECTC does not have any recognized student organizations at off-campus locations.

Student Housing

ECTC does not operate student housing facilities.

Procedures for Campus Crime Reporting

Students, staff, faculty, and guests are strongly encouraged to promptly report all criminal actions or other emergencies occurring on Campus to campus Security Authority or local police agencies, if necessary.

Crimes should be reported to the Campus Security Authority for purposes of assessing the crime, for distributing potential timely warning notices, and for disclosure in the annual crime statistics. Crime reporting is critical as it may prevent future crimes, protects the community, and increases the likelihood of apprehension and adjudication of perpetrators.

Although Campus Security strives to maintain a safe and open environment for victims to report crimes, individuals may not feel comfortable contacting the police.  In these instances, reporting to other campus security authorities are available. As an example, sex offenses may be reported to the college Title IX Coordinator.

To report crimes and all other emergencies:

Cell Phone Use: Emergency 9-1-1 calls made on campus from an IP phone are routed to local police agency. We recommend programming the primary campus reporting number, 270-268-0610 or 270-706-8703, into your cell phone to reduce emergency response time and provide quick dialing in any emergency.

Procedures for survivor/victim or witness to report voluntarily and/or confidentially

If you wish to report a sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking incident on a completely confidential basis, you may report the crime to:

If a crime survivor/victim or witness chooses not to file a police report or to pursue action against the perpetrator within the college process, they may still consider making a confidential report. In certain circumstances, the victim may request that the Chief Student Officer or a designee file a report on the details of the incident without revealing the victim's identity. The purpose of a confidential report is to comply with the wishes of the victim/survivor to keep the matter and/or their identity confidential, while allowing Chief Student Officer and/or other officials to take action to protect the future safety of the crime survivor/victim and others. With this information, Chief Student Officer can potentially determine a pattern of crime and alert the campus community to potential threat or danger. Reports filed in this manner are counted and disclosed in the annual crime statistics. Chief Student Officer will review confidentiality options with the reporting party prior to taking the report.

ECTC does not have professional nor pastoral counselors available on campus.

ECTC has partnered with Communicare to provide mental health counseling on the Elizabethtown Campus.

In addition, ECTC provides student's with information about off-campus resources for mental health counseling.

In some cases, the Director of Safety and Security (or equivalent official) will make timely warning reports to members of the campus community regarding criminal activity. The criminal activity must be serious in nature and likely to pose an ongoing or continued threat to the safety of students, staff, faculty, and guests. The decision to make a timely warning report will be made by the Campus Security Authorities. Notification is generally made through a campus-wide email bulletin to all members of the campus community.  Flyers may also be placed in the common areas of the buildings used by the campus community.  Timely warning information may be posted on the applicable KCTCS college websites and/or digital banners.

It is the consistent practice of the KCTCS community to notify the Campus Security Authorities and/or designee, who then confers as necessary with appropriate KCTCS System Office administrators, Public Relations, Legal counsel and neighboring law enforcement agencies after a violent crime or Clery Act crime is reported.  This is done to determine if the circumstances and facts represent a serious or ongoing threat to members of the community.

The Campus Security Authorities will prepare and arrange to disseminate a timely warning as soon as pertinent information and resources are available. The Campus Security Authority is primarily responsible for issuing timely warnings. Timely warnings may be developed in partnership with appropriate campus departments, KCTCS Office of General Counsel, and KCTCS Safety and Emergency Services. The crime bulletin is reviewed and approved for release by Campus Security, Marketing and Communications, KCTCS Office of General Counsel or some combination. This collaboration is sometimes necessary when a bulletin for crimes of a more serious or immediate nature is needed to prepare consistent information for release on the website and/or digital signage to the campus community.

ECTC is an open campus.

Operating hours during Fall/Spring semesters are:

• 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday - Thursday
• 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM on Friday
• Saturday hours vary by semester course offerings and events.

Summer session hours are dependent on course offerings.

During non-business hours, access to all campus facilities is by key access, if issued, or by admittance via campus Security.

All special events scheduled by on or off campus entities must have prior authorization. Contact Chief Finance/Facilities Officer, 270-706-8427 for information on special event polices and procedures. Events may require additional approval, staffing and coordination with Campus Security to meet security, parking, and traffic needs.

KCTCS makes every effort to ensure that the campus facilities and grounds are designed and maintained to promote safety, prevent crime, and minimize hazardous conditions. Attention is paid to the design and maintenance of facilities, landscaping and exterior lighting. The Maintenance and Operations (M&O) Dept. maintains the buildings and grounds. Campus facilities are inspected on a regular basis and repairs impacting safety and security are made promptly. Campus M&O are mindful of security and safety concerns, keeping vegetation controlled around lighting fixtures and along campus walkways and roadways on a regular schedule. Strategies and concepts of crime prevention through environmental design are considered in the design and construction of new facilities.

M&O personnel regularly patrols the campus and reports malfunctioning lights and other unsafe physical conditions to M&O Supervisor for correction. We encourage community members to promptly report any security concern, including concerns about locking mechanisms, lighting, or landscaping to the Campus Security Authorities.

Information Sharing

ECTC security awareness and crime prevention programs have an overall goal of creating and maintaining a safe environment to support the academic mission of the college and ensure the well-being of campus community members.

The goal of sharing this information is to inform students and employees about security procedures, the practices to promote safety and eliminate or minimize criminal opportunities, and to encourage students/employees to take responsibility for personal and community safety.

Programs and Prevention

Each semester ECTC sends out an email to faculty and staff outlining the procedures for reporting crimes, making them aware of the emergency notification system (SNAP), and emergency procedures. Faculty are asked to share this information with students at the beginning of each semester.

Faculty/Staff Orientations - Each fall at the faculty/staff "Kickoff" event and the adjunct faculty meeting, the emergency procedures are reviewed with faulty/staff and they are provided with an Emergency Procedures Handbook.

Campus security procedures are also presented at new faculty/staff orientations.

Each semester Security sends out "Safety Tips" emails to faculty and staff.

New Student Orientation - Each semester new student orientations are held at which security information is made available to the students.

Each semester the Student Affairs Office sends out a "Consumer Information" email to students which includes how to access the Security web site for security procedures as well as crime statistics.

ECTC will provide safety escorts to faculty/staff/students. These safety escorts are available to walk or drive you to and/or from on-campus locations. The safety escorts are generally available year round. Call Campus Security at 270-268-0610 to request the safety escort. Use of the safety escort service is encouraged to enhance personal safety. Walking with a friend or in groups and staying in well-lit, frequently-traveled areas is also a recommended safety practice while on campus.

KCTCS Drug and Alcohol Policy

KCTCS is committed to providing a healthy and safe environment for its students, faculty, and staff. KCTCS has defined conduct in relation to the unlawful possession, use, dispensation, distribution, or manufacture of alcohol or illicit drugs. Conduct which is in violation of this definition poses unacceptable risks and disregard for the health, safety, and welfare of members of the KCTCS community and shall result in disciplinary action up to and including suspension or termination.

As a recipient of federal grants and contracts, KCTCS gives this notice to students, faculty, and staff that it is in compliance with, and shall continue to be in compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendment of 1989. Students, faculty and staff are herein notified of the standards of conduct which shall be applicable while on KCTCS property, on KCTCS business, and/or at KCTCS sponsored activities.

Sanctions

Under KCTCS policies and procedures, students who violate this standard of conduct are subject to disciplinary action from a minimum of a warning to a maximum of suspension from KCTCS.

Faculty and staff are subject to disciplinary action from a minimum of a warning to a maximum of termination from KCTCS employment.

Under state and federal drug laws, the gravity of the sanction depends on the classification of the controlled substance, the particular activity involved (possession or trafficking which includes manufacture, sale, and possession with intent to sell), and whether or not multiple convictions are involved.

Under Kentucky law, the most severe penalty for a drug law violation involves trafficking. On a first offense conviction, one may receive a fine of up to $10,000.00 and/or a sentence of up to ten years in the penitentiary; for subsequent offenses, the penalties may be doubled.

Under federal law, for simple possession of a controlled substance, one may be imprisoned for up to one (1) year and/or fined up to $1,000.00. For subsequent offenses, one may be imprisoned for up to three (3) years and/or fined up to $5,000.00. Under federal law, one may be fined up to $8,000,000.00 and/or may be sentenced from not less than 10 years up to life in prison for drug trafficking. For violations of other federal drug laws, one may receive life in prison or the death penalty.

Under both state and federal laws, one may suffer the loss of whatever property (house, farm) or possessions (vehicle) which one may have used in the drug trade.

Sanctions for violation of state alcohol laws vary from a fine of $10.00 to $2,000.00, a sentence of forty-eight (48) hours to twelve (12) months in jail, and/or suspension of one's operator's license.

Drug and Alcohol Abuse Programs

Students are encouraged to contact the Office of Student Life, the Counseling Office, or the Chief Student Affairs Office for information and appropriate referral.

The toll free number for Drug Information Services for Kentucky (DISK) is 1-800-432-9337. In the Elizabethtown area, the number for Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is 1-800-606-6047; the number for Narcotics Anonymous is (502) 499-4423. (Check local telephone directory for listings). StepWorks Addiction Treatment (1-888-982-1244) provides residential drug rehabilitation, intensive outpatient rehabilitation, substance therapy, short term detoxification, and medical detox. Lincoln Trail Behavioral Health System ((270)-351-9444) offers an Adult Chemical Dependency Program that includes detox, multiple forms of therapy, chemical dependency education, relapse prevention, AA/NA meetings, medication management and more.

Students, faculty, staff, and visitors to campus are encouraged to annually review and be familiar with the KCTCS Sexual Misconduct Policy.

Review of this policy is required for faculty, staff, and student employees yearly for continued employment.

SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY

In compliance with the Federal Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act of 2000, KCTCS, through the Kentucky State Police, makes information available to the campus community concerning registered sex offenders who may be employees or students at your college.

The Kentucky State Police provides sex crime offender registration information to the public through the Sex Offender Registry website. Search the KSP Sex Offender Registry Website.

According to the Kentucky State Police, this website is for public safety and awareness. Pursuant to KRS 525.070 and 525.080, use of information from this website to harass a sex offender is a criminal offense punishable by up to 90 days in the county jail. More severe penalties apply for more severe crimes committed against a sex offender.

Security and Crisis Management 

KCTCS Safety and Emergency Services assists Campus Security departments with developing, maintaining, and implementing emergency operations plans, developing and conducting exercises, hazard and risk education, and building partnerships with external response agencies. KCTCS Procedure 523-P is followed for Critical Incidents and other preparedness measures.

The System Office Crisis Management Team staffs the System Office Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and may be activated to provide resource and support services to college EOC, if needed. The System Office Crisis Management Team is equipped to provide the following services to colleges when requested:

• Public and media relations support
• Facilities support
• Temporary alteration of administrative and business policies and procedures
• Procurement of resource and support services
• After-action incident evaluation

Not all incidents will require an activation of your EOC. For smaller, routine campus incidents response operations may be managed virtually by several members of your Crisis Management Team. 

Emergency Action Plans detailing evacuation routes are provided in every building and classroom on KCTCS campuses. 

KCTCS regularly works with local law enforcement to ensure any incidents reported in the area, that may affect the college, are communicated. 

Emergency Notification

KCTCS uses a Safety Notification Alert Process (SNAP) for communication information quickly. Students are automatically signed up when they enroll at an KCTCS college. Faculty, staff and interested individuals can sign up to receive SNAP messages online. 

In the event of an incident that requires the immediate notification to the campus community, a SNAP Alert will be issued, that will provide text, voice, broadcast and e-mail messages to all members of the college community.  Face-to-face communication will be used in the event technology fails.   

Each KCTCS College has a SNAP Team and uses a consultation approach to confirm there is a significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of student or employees occurring on campus.  The college President is responsible for confirming an emergency, with the assistance of college administrators, local first responders and/or the national weather service.  Upon confirmation, the college will, without delay, and taking into account the safety of the community, determine the content of the notification and initiate the notification system, unless 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. 

The KCTCS College team and/or designated personnel, when possible, will determine the content of the notification, considering the scope of the notification based on the segment of the community at risk (e.g. targeted areas, campus wide, building specific)

The Chief Finance and Facilities Officer at ECTC serves as the responsible designee for confirming an emergency, with the assistance of ECTC administrators, local first responders and/or the national weather service.

The following personnel have the authority to activate an emergency notification in the event of an emergency, immediate threat, hazardous condition, natural disaster or other critical incident:

SNAP Team Members

• President/Chief Executive Officer
• Chief Finance and Facilities Officer
• Chief Student Officer
• IT Director
• Leitchfield & Springfield Director
• Security
• Director of Marketing & Recruitment/Webmaster

SNAP is not the only means the College uses to communicate emergency information to the College community. KCTCS Colleges may use their website, local TV, radio, newspaper, and various social media.

Follow-up information will be provided to the campus community using some or all of the systems described above. The larger community, parents, neighbors, and other interested parties can access emergency information through the college website or the media. 

Training, Drills, and Exercises

Each semester, the campuses conducts drills, exercises and appropriate follow-up training.  These activities are designed to improve emergency response on an ongoing basis. After action report briefings and corrective action plans are developed and conducted for each exercise or activation. Documentation of past exercises which include exercise descriptions, date, time, whether the exercise was announced/unannounced are available for review upon request. Contact the Safety and Security office for more information or to make a request. 

The IT Department documents and files each SNAP Alert test. This includes a description of the drill or exercise, date, time of test, and how the test was announced or it was unannounced.

For more information, contact the Director of IT, 270-706-8659.