Many parents are concerned about the safety of their daughter or son on a university campus far from home. SUNY Polytechnic Institute works hard to ensure the safety of all our students. Below are excerpts from SUNY Poly's "University Police and Law Enforcement" brochure.

Department of University Police

The University Police Office is located on the first floor of Kunsela Hall, Room B126. There are 8 police officers, 3 police supervisors, 1 chief, 4 civilian dispatchers, an Administrative Assistant and a Director of Environmental Health and Safety. All uniformed personnel are sworn police officers with full police power who have successfully completed a New York State Municipal Police Academy. Officers conduct foot, bike, and vehicular patrols of the campus 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. They work closely with the New York State Police and Oneida County Sheriff’s Department to enforce the laws of the State of New York. They report criminal incidents routinely to these 2 police agencies. University Police will notify the campus community of situations that pose a threat to the safety and well-being of the campus community via NY Alert, a mass notification system utilizing e-mail, telephone, etc.

General Security Information

In 2022-2023, approximately 1,919 undergraduate students were enrolled at SUNY Poly. Students, faculty and employees have access to academic, recreational and administrative facilities on campus during regular hours of operation. Access to the residence halls, however, is limited to students and guests according to a guest procedure presented in Appendix I of the Student Handbook. Access to the residence halls by college employees is on an "as needed" basis and incorporates strict key control procedures through the physical plant. The public can attend cultural and recreational events on campus with their access limited only to the facilities in which these events are held. To report any violations of this policy or to report suspicious persons, dial campus extension 111 for the University Police. The physical plant department maintains the campus buildings and grounds with a concern for safety and security. It inspects campus facilities regularly, promptly makes repairs affecting safety and security, and responds immediately to reports of potential safety and security hazards, such as broken windows and locks. If you have concerns about the physical safety of campus buildings and grounds, call the Facilities Department Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at extension 7456. For emergencies that occur during non-business hours, call the University Police Department at extension 711 or 111. The college campus is well lighted, and further lighting improvements are being made. These include placing high intensity sodium vapor lights on buildings, in parking lot areas, in areas with heavy landscaping and trees, and along pathways frequently traveled by students. In addition to a telephone in each student's room, there are 32 outdoor blue-light emergency telephones strategically located throughout the campus. These phones are directly connected to the University Police. Additional sites are being considered for more outdoor emergency telephones.

The Student's Responsibility

The cooperation and involvement of students in a campus safety program are absolutely necessary. Students must assume responsibility for their own personal safety and the security of their personal belongings by taking simple, common sense precautions. For example, although the campus is well-lighted, any student-male or female may feel more comfortable walking with a friend or calling a University Police Officer for an escort. Room doors should be locked at night and when the room is unoccupied. Students with cars should park them in a well-lighted area and keep them locked at all times. Valuables should not be left where they can be seen in the vehicle, but should be locked in the trunk. Students should report any suspicious-looking individuals whom they feel do not belong on campus or any unusual incidents in and around the campus to the University Police Office (On-campus 111).

Residence Life Program

The residence life program is based on the principles of providing students with a safe, healthy and attractive living environment that supports the academic mission of the college. The residence halls provide an opportunity for interaction among peers of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Many aspects of residence hall living occur simply by the nature of the environment; however, many are shaped by the goals of the institution. The SUNY Poly places a high-priority on the concept of our halls serving as living-learning environments. A second component is the high priority placed on the physical condition of our campus. To keep the buildings safe and in good condition, residence life staff work closely with the University Police and Facilities departments. Professional resident hall director and resident hall assistants, who are members of the residence life staff, live in the residence halls and are on call 24 hours a day. All residence life staff members undergo thorough training in enforcing residence hall security policies. Off-campus housing includes apartments, individual homes and individual rooms in private homes. The college does not provide supervision for off-campus housing. Students have the option to change their living and academic situation should a difficult situation arise. Students should speak with the Vice President for Student Affairs. Residence hall students should not be lulled into a false sense of security. We all need to be aware of our environment and the possible consequences of our behavior. The SUNY Poly is committed to maintaining an environment in which students, faculty, staff and guests can work together free from all forms of harassment, exploitation and intimidation. The college will act as needed to discourage, prevent, correct and, if necessary, discipline behavior that violates this standard of conduct. The University Police Department will promptly investigate allegations of unlawful discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, disability or marital status. Allegations of unlawful discrimination can first be discussed with the counseling center, multicultural intervention team, or the Vice President for Student Affairs. The SUNY Poly built its residence halls with safety/security as a high-priority. Some specific safety and security features include:

• Fire extinguishers in all common areas and buildings.
• Upholstered furniture that is self-extinguishing.
• Emergency Call Boxes - high visibility - blue lights.
• "Key-less Locks" on all outside doors - locked 24 hours a day.
• Door Bell System - all outside doors.
• Vision panels on entry doors.
• Viewers in every suite entry door.
• Contact switch on all outside doors (alarms ring for door left ajar).
• Solid wood (bedroom floors); solid metal doors at suite entrances.
• 64 closed-circuit cameras monitor the residence hall as well as numerous areas of the campus.

University Police maintains a mobile, bike, and foot patrol of the residence hall areas. Although we hope SUNY Poly never experiences a crisis situation, the University Police department is prepared to handle all emergencies. Please take a moment to read the Active Shooter Brochure (pdf).