Campus Safety
About Us
DEPARTMENT OF CAMPUS SAFETY
Message from the Director
The college campus environment for institutions around the country has changed dramatically over the past 10 years. Consequently, the responsibilities of those tasked to protect and serve within campus safety and security departments have also changed significantly. Once considered a somewhat routine profession, campus officers ensured that buildings and classrooms were locked and unlocked when appropriate and instructed both the campus community and visitors where they could and could not park. However, today the most obvious change is the need to ensure a safe environment. Many of those now employed in college security often have backgrounds in law enforcement. These professionals bring years of training and expertise to the many challenges that we now face. At Muhlenberg, Officers have more than 180 years of added experience. In addition to providing extensive security measures, today’s officers offer escorts during the hours of darkness, classes in security measures both on and off campus, and self-defense classes for both men and women. They continue to investigate complaints and ensure that those intent on coming onto the college campus to commit crimes are stopped, identified, and taken through the appropriate judicial process. The men and women of the Muhlenberg College Campus Safety Department are here every hour of the day, each day of the year and are committed to the task at hand and seek to ensure a pleasant experience for all who come to this campus.
OUR MISSION
The Mission of the Muhlenberg College Department of Campus Safety is to strive to achieve excellence and professionalism in all that we do. We are committed to providing an environment that is conducive to learning and personal growth and is safe and secure to all who come here to study, teach, work, and visit the campus. The Department enforces institutional policies and the laws of the Commonwealth, in support of the academic mission.
How Safe is Muhlenberg College?
A question we are often asked is, “How safe is the College campus?” Without hesitation we are able to say, “It is as safe as any other college or university in the country and in many ways is even safer.” We make this claim for the following reasons:
We have an extensive Emergency Response Plan that outlines the College’s response to over 25 emergencies that could occur on campus.
We have a free text messaging system that provides instant instructions to the campus community in the event of an emergency.
We have a campus-wide broadcasting system that alerts the campus community to pending emergencies. This is sent both externally and through all college-owned computers, including those in academic buildings.
We have 12 full-time Officers who are armed and have full arrest powers on campus and on roads contiguous to the College. The Officers receive continuous training in those areas requiring quick and appropriate response. In addition, we have full-time dispatchers who are on duty 24 hours per day.
All residence halls are locked 24 hours each day and require that students have a key or access card to gain entry.
We provide an escort service and a shuttle service during the hours of darkness to any location on campus and to locations contiguous to the campus.
All campus buildings have heat and smoke sensors and fire drills are conducted regularly.
Our Officers provide regular patrol by foot, vehicle, bicycles and golf cart.
On weekends when the Health Center and Counseling Center are closed, Campus Safety will provide non-emergency transports to the hospital and a physician’s office.
We have over 175 emergency telephones located throughout the campus that are illuminated with blue lights.
We provide free self-defense classes for both men and women.
We have an extensive camera system that monitors common areas throughout the campus. Several cameras have been installed at strategic locations by the City of Allentown and can be monitored by both the campus and Allentown police, to observe the streets surrounding the campus.
We have an excellent working relationship with the Allentown Police Department, which responds quickly when their assistance is needed.
Along with the College Health Center, we advise a student-run EMT service and work in conjunction with them during any medical response.
We advise and work closely with a student-run campus watch group, who provide additional “eyes and ears” and support the mission of the Campus Safety Department.
An e-mail recently received from a parent of a prospective student regarding the security on campus really says it all: “After our visit to Muhlenberg we were left with the image of a College that is as safe as it is academically fulfilling. A parent could ask for no more.”