Safety

Campus Safety + the Campus Safety Report

A Campus Safety Report is created annually and submitted to relevant parties. The report contains information regarding all instances of crime on campus, including but not limited to: theft, vandalism, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking, wherever applicable (see definitions of Sexual Misconduct ).

The college offers support services in the event any of the aforementioned is experienced by a member of the RMCAD Community (theft, vandalism, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking). Any of the aforementioned should be reported to college officials (contact the Dean of Students at 720.525.7102, the Reception Desk at 303.753.6046 or Campus Security at 303.567.7271) and local law enforcement by dialing 911. Additionally, the college hosts regular workshops regarding self-defense, sexual assault awareness and prevention and personal protection through the office of Student Affairs.

In the event a sexual assault, domestic violence dating violence, and/or stalking occurs on campus or is experienced by a member of the RMCAD Community, the college, once made aware, will follow the established investigation procedure. Additionally, the college may contact law enforcement.

The RMCAD Community shall be made aware of any crime that occurs on campus via Safety and Awareness Bulletin sent via email by Campus Safety Committee. This is intended to help members of the community protect themselves through awareness and the sharing of information.

Emergency Call Boxes

There are six emergency call boxes located on campus.

They are located:

• In the Student Parking Lot
• In the Staff and Faculty Parking Lot
• Behind the Rotunda Building
• Behind the Boiler Room
• In the Texas Building Elevator
• In the Epic Building Elevator

*Call boxes should be used for emergency purposes only—they will ring directly to the Lakewood Police Department

** Elevator emergency call boxes ring directly to the elevator company.

Safety Escort

The College provides a walking safety escort for students who are on campus after dark. To take advantage of this service, students should contact the Reception Desk or Campus Security to arrange for an escort to a vehicle parked on campus, another campus building, or the RTD bus stop located at the corner of Pierce and Colfax.

Safety Reporting

Upon observing suspicious or potentially dangerous behavior or persons, any member of the College community should call the authorities. Likewise, a report should also be made immediately with the Reception Desk or Campus Security.

The victim or observers should formally report all crime or safety-related incidents to the College. Students should contact the Campus Security department to file an Incident Report. The College’s Safety Committee reviews the Incident Reports.

In compliance with Public Law 10-542, the Federal Campus Security Act, RMCAD reports campus crime statistics annually and publishes the report on the College’s website. Paper copies are also available to interested parties from the Campus Operations department.

Threats

Students who are the victims of threats, or who observe threatening behavior, in emergency situations should dial 911. In addition, students should make a report immediately to the Reception Desk or Campus Security. Threats will be referred to the Behavior Intervention Team (BIT), which will assess the situation and make recommendations regarding the safety concerns present. Consultation may also be sought from legal, health, and safety professional on a case-by-case basis.

Personal Safety

RMCAD faculty and administrators exercise great care in regards to student safety and health. However they are not responsible for personal injury or contact with contagious illness that may occur on College property or in connection with a College sponsored event/activity, or in transit to or from a RMCAD scheduled class or event. Faculty and staff members who accompany student groups on field trips, cultural tours, and some social/cultural events are not responsible for the actions of students, personal injury or loss of property during a RMCAD sponsored/ approved trip or gathering or in any of the same that might occur in transit to or from the above. All too often, people fall victim to crimes that could have easily been prevented by taking simple precautions. Below are several safety suggestions which the College encourages all to consider.

• Be aware of your surroundings. A confident, purposeful attitude may lessen the chance of being victim.
• Avoid dark streets. Walk on busily traveled and well-lit streets.
• Do not accept rides from strangers.
• Maintain a secure grip on your belongings.
• Walk near the curb and avoid passing close to shrubbery, dark doorways and other places of concealment.
• Have your keys ready so that your house or car door can be opened immediately.
• If accosted by someone driving a vehicle, leave the area in the opposite direction. Use a cell phone to call police or immediately go to the nearest residence or business to call for help.
• Do not post personal information, such as addresses and schedules, online on public websites
• Hitchhiking is extremely dangerous. Don’t do it.

Threat Assessment Scale and Behavioral Intervention Process

The Behavioral Intervention Team utilizes a nationally recognized level system for flagging, documenting and responding to threats and behavioral disruptions. The system is based on the NaBITA Scale (National Behavioral Intervention Team Association). Students who violate the Code of Conduct in relevant capacities, exhibit aggressive and/or disturbed/disturbing behaviors or are perceived as a threat to themselves or the campus will be placed on the College’s Threat Assessment scale; they will be required to meet with the College’s Personal/Mental Health Counselor throughout the duration of their time with the college and their progress will be appropriately documented, adhering to privacy standards where possible and appropriate. Further action (additional assessment measures, suspension, expulsion, additional safety measures, collaboration with outside resources and involvement of law enforcement) may be taken.

Student Success + Outreach Committee

The Student Success and Outreach Committee (SSOC) is comprised of a small group of faculty and staff from across the College who are committed to the academic and personal success of RMCAD students. The SSOC meets weekly to confidentially discuss student concerns and collaborative outreach strategies, to proactively reach out to students with low attendance, and to contact students with strategies for low grades at midterm. 

Emergencies

Any member of the RMCAD community encountering an emergency situation should call the appropriate authorities immediately. Dial 9-911 from any campus phone for police, paramedics, fire or other emergency service referrals. Also contact the Reception Desk to apprise staff of the nature of the emergency situation. For all other emergencies or for an escort to your vehicle, please call our security team directly at 303.567.7271 or the Reception Desk (303.753.6046) during posted business hours.

Emergency Response Procedures

In the event of an unforeseen emergency situation or disaster, it is imperative that all persons adhere to guidelines and instructions for the safest response. All RMCAD classrooms and administrative buildings are equipped with instructions on how to proceed in a variety of emergency situations. Faculty, who are acting on behalf of the College, serve as the authority on response action within a classroom setting until the appropriate community emergency response unit has arrived on the scene. In the interest of safety, all students are expected to comply with instructions given from faculty, College staff or emergency response units.

Transportation by Ambulance

Any student, staff, faculty member or campus visitor may call for an ambulance to respond to an emergency situation.

The Reception Desk (303.753.6046) should be notified when a call for an ambulance is made, or to assist in calling for an emergency vehicle.

Sometimes it is necessary for the officers of a group, RMCAD faculty or Staff to seek assistance from emergency officials. The College reserves the right to initiate a call for an ambulance on the campus or at College events held off campus.

Individuals refusing ambulance transportation to a medical facility will be responsible for their decision. The College does not assume responsibility for consequences resulting from refusal of ambulance transportation.

Individuals refusing ambulance transportation are responsible for their own transportation to a medical facility.

The College may require individuals refusing ambulance transportation to vacate the premises until appropriate medical treatment is sought.

The College will not assume payment for ambulance transportation.

RMCAD Crisis Intervention Protocol for Mental Health Emergencies

Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design (RMCAD) has policies and procedures in place to assist any student who has posed a threat of harm/danger to self/others (e.g., self-mutilation, suicide attempt, evidence of psychosis, etc.). For any questions related to this protocol please see Campus Security, the Campus Mental Health Counselor, or the Dean of Students.

Students in need of clinician services for consultation may contact the Metro Crisis Line at 888.885.1222

Facility Safety

Carpenter and Neusteter:

ALL students must pass a written safety exam and follow all shop rules. Students taking vital medications, which may affect their ability to use shop tools and machines safely, are strongly encouraged to volunteer a list of these medications. To ensure privacy, students are asked to place and seal the list in an envelope with their name written on the outside. Students may give the envelope directly to the shop manager, course instructor, or place it in the Carpenter drop box. The information in this envelope will be revealed only to a first responder/paramedic and faculty and/or shop manager in the case of a medical emergency.

FabLab, Holodeck, Photography Studios:

Students may only use facilities when a dedicated staff member is present or proper checkout has occurred. Any unauthorized use of the facilities will result in loss of privileges.

Unsupervised Use of Sewing Lab (Texas 104)

Procedures + Requirements

• Students must be currently enrolled with RMCAD, be in good standing and are required to have completed FS 1310 - Construction I: Industry Sewing Basics .
• Students who have not met these requirements may request supervised use of the lab from the Fashion Department Chair. (A list of these students will be provided to the front desk and security along with the sign in sheet.)
• Students must send a request to use the lab to a Sewing Instructor or the Fashion Design Chair, who will submit the request as a calendar invite to facilities by using the facilities@rmcad.edu at least 24 hours prior to requested use of the room.
• A calendar invitation to the student’s RMCAD email will be the notification that the request has been approved. Without this invitation, the room will not be opened.
  • Please Note:
    For weekend use, the request for facilities must be received before Friday at 3:00 pm. Facilities will not be checking email over the weekend. Therefore, the student must contact the chair or an instructor by 10am Friday morning for weekend use.
• After receiving approval in the form of a calendar invite, all students will be required to sign in with the front desk before being allowed to use the lab. 
• If the student is requesting to use the Sewing Lab outside of the front desk hours, the student will contact facilities and/or security for access and will sign in. 
• All students will be required to sign out of the lab the front desk. If the student is using the lab outside of the front desk hours, the student will contact facilities and/or security to sign out and lock the room. 
• Signing out is an acknowledgment that you have cleaned the room properly. 
• Students who fail to sign in or out, who leave the room in a state that does not comply with the checklist, or who leave machines without documenting issues will no longer be allowed to use the room unsupervised and will be subject to student conduct violation sanctions.

Additional Guidance

• Please be aware that the Sewing Lab is under video surveillance.
• The Sewing Lab may have models in the classroom. Please note the signage on the exterior of the door.
• When entering the lab take a look around and note any concerns on the “Equipment and Supply Notes”; clipboard near the north door.
• If a problem occurs with a machine that you cannot solve, make a note on the clipboard. DO NOT leave a machine with a broken needle or missing bobbin.
• The only cones of thread to be left at the machines are black and white. To use a color other than black or white, you must first have the thread approved by an instructor and you must purchase a bobbin from the instructor for your color.
• There are a select few colors of donated thread in the closet. If you would like to use one of these colors, please speak with your instructor.
• Each student must clean the room before leaving, following the checklist posted by the north door. Permit yourself 10 minutes at the end of your session to clean the room. Be respectful of the security staff; stop your projects with enough time to clean the room prior to security closing for the end of day.
• People not affiliated with RMCAD may not be in the sewing lab unsupervised. If you need to conduct a model fitting for a RMCAD project, please make an appointment with a Sewing instructor, Fashion Design Chair, or Fashion Tutor.
• A small first aid kit is attached to the west wall of the sewing lab in Texas 104 for minor first aid issues.
• In case of an emergency call 911
• If there is a non-emergency in the sewing lab during front desk hours, please inform the front desk immediately.
• If the non-emergency issue occurs after front desk hours, please contact security at 720-984- 9263 or facilities at 303-567- 7271.
• Please inform the Chair of the Department of any issues via email as soon as it is medically safe to do so.

Health Hazards in The Arts

Health hazards are inherent in some art-making processes. Students should be aware of the health hazards involved in the use of certain art materials and take measures to protect themselves from hazardous materials. Studio coordinators maintain and update Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for substances and materials that the Health Department provides. For all other substances, students must provide the Instructor with an MSDS for any material or substance that the student brings on campus. These sheets describe the health hazards as well as recommended safety precautions for each substance. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) may be requested from the office of Campus Security.

Overnight Field Trips

A field trip is an activity sanctioned by the RMCAD and held under the direction of an authorized College employee. This document sets out the procedures under which field trips - that require an overnight stay or stays - may be organized as a part of RMCAD programs or classes.

Procedure

1. Faculty or staff intending to incorporate a field trip into their classes or program must complete the Field Trip Authorization form and submit the form for the review/approval by their Program Chair and by the Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs.
2. The Field Trip Authorization form must be submitted by the sponsor two weeks in advance of the prospective field trip.
3. The Field Trip Authorization form must be approved before including any field trip in a course syllabi or otherwise announcing the field trip to students.

Personal Liability + Responsibility

• Faculty and staff have no special duty to protect adult students from their own voluntary actions. All applicable College policies, including those relating to student conduct, will be enforced during the trip.
• Faculty and staff are personally liable for their own personal activities, and may be liable for actions which are manifestly outside the scope of employment, or which are conducted with malicious purpose, in bad faith, or in a wanton or reckless manner.
• Faculty and staff should consider the proximity of personal, social and instructional activities in the field trip situation. They should be aware of how the situation, the setting, and their own personal conduct may be perceived by students, and they should act accordingly.
• Do not leave personal items alone or in plain sight in unattended vehicles. Personal items are not covered under the College insurance policy and are the responsibility of the owner.