Campus Security
The Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act (Public Law 101-542) requires all institutions of higher learning to make available to prospective students, enrolled students, and employees an annual security report containing numbers of certain crimes committed on campus or on public property immediately adjacent to the campus during the past three years. The report must also detail the institution’s safety policies and procedures.
The law also requires institutions of higher education to disclose these crime statistics to the US Department of Education each year.
The types of crimes that must be disclosed and reported include: Criminal Homicide, including: a) Murder and Non-Negligent Manslaughter; and b) Negligent Manslaughter; Sex Offenses including: a) forcible, and b) non-forcible; Robbery; Aggravated Assault; Burglary; Motor Vehicle Theft; and Arson, Hate Crimes (reportable crimes motivated by prejudice based on race, gender, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation or disability) as well as Arrests and Referrals for Disciplinary Action for illegal weapons possession and violation of drug and liquor laws.
New England Culinary Institute compiles this report annually in collaboration with the Montpelier Police Department and distributes prior to October 1 each year, notifying all current and prospective students and employees. For further information, please contact the Registrar’s Office at registrarREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@neci.edu.
Crimes Reported
2010 |
2009 |
2008 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montpelier Campus | Montpelier Campus | Essex Campus | Montpelier Campus | Essex Campus |
|||
| Burglary | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Motor vehicle theft | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Sexual offense | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Liquor law violation | 13 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 4 | ||
| Murder/Non-negligent manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Negligent manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Robbery | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Aggravated assault | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Arson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Illegal weapons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Drug law violations | 17 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 7 | ||
| Hate crimes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Security and Safety
Campus Security - Reporting Criminal Actions and Other Emergencies
Due to its close-knit community environment, NECI does not provide independent security personnel on campus. A full-time Residence Life Coordinator lives on campus. Local and state police departments, fire departments, and emergency rescue services are available. In addition, student housing has Resident Advisors. Resident Advisors and staff are available to assist in the event of emergencies.
A close relationship is maintained between the local police departments and the school to ensure proper reporting of all significant activities; situations in which NECI employees will automatically call the police include, but are not limited to: incidents where a student threatens his/her own life or that of others; violent behavior; refusal to cease disorderly behavior when asked; and the sale of illegal drugs on property owned, leased, or managed by NECI.
All crimes on campus should be reported by students or employees immediately, using the contact information below. Resident students should report criminal activities or emergencies to the Resident Advisor and Resident Life Coordinator. In situations when an immediate response is necessary, the individual should contact the appropriate local or state police, fire, or emergency rescue service.
NECI will make every reasonable effort to preserve an individual’s privacy and protect the confidentiality of information. However, NECI has a responsibility to protect the security of the community, which may warrant further investigation and a solution that is beyond the desired result of the individual reporting. NECI personnel will make every attempt to make these conditions clear before any confidential report is made to them.
To promote safety on campus, students and employees receive training at orientation regarding security and crime prevention; periodic reminders may be sent throughout the term. Telephone numbers and procedures for contacting police, fire, emergency rescue and campus personnel are provided to all students and employees and are posted in residence halls and campus buildings.
Emergency Numbers
| Fire/Police or Medical Emergency | 911 |
| State Police | 802.229.9191 |
| Montpelier Police | 911 |
| Montpelier Fire Department | 911 |
| Maintenance Emergency pager | 866.747.1303 |
| Resident Life Coordinator | 802.552.3491 |
| Resident Life Coordinator | 802.552.3475 |
| Coordinator of Student Services |
802.225.3346 |
| Coordinator of Student Programs |
802.917.3924 |
Emergency Response, Evacuation Procedures, and Recovery Plan
Security and Access to NECI Buildings
Residential Buildings: All NECI student residences are equipped with keyed locksets on the exterior doors. Each student has a key to the exterior door. All entryways are lighted by manual switch or photocell. On the interior of residential buildings, each individual room is provided with a keyed lockset. Resident Advisors and the Resident Life Coordinator are in place to monitor compliance with school policies and to respond in case of emergency. Maintenance and custodial personnel enter the buildings only during normal business hours for repair and cleaning, unless called for a service issue. Outside contractors are escorted to the job site by NECI staff. The Resident Life Coordinator, the Student Community Coordinator, Student Programs Coordinator, Director of Student Services, Director of Facilities or their designee may make unannounced dorm room inspections from time to time to ascertain whether housing rules are being followed. Students always have the right to ask for proper NECI identification.
Offices and Classrooms: Offices and classrooms are generally used only during normal daytime hours. When not in use, office/classroom buildings are locked. The Library Lounge, which has some computer facilities, is available for students’ evening use during supervised times.
Food Service Facilities: These facilities are managed during all hours of operation by an on-site manager or instructor and are otherwise locked when not in use.
All NECI buildings are afforded normal municipal police patrol provided by the Montpelier Police Department.
Missing Persons Policy
Under the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, NECI is required to establish missing person notification policy and procedures. This policy applies to students who reside on campus and are deemed missing or absent from the school for a period of more than 24 hours without any known reason or which may be contrary to usual patterns of behavior. All reports of missing resident students shall be directed to the Director of Student Affairs, who will conduct an investigation to determine whether the student is missing in accordance with this policy and will initiate efforts to locate the student.
A residential student will have the opportunity to designate an individual or individuals to be emergency contacts. For students under 18 years of age, the school is required to notify the parent or guardian. The designation of emergency contact will remain in effect until changed or revoked by the student.
The student’s designated emergency contacts will be notified by the school no more than 24 hours from the time the student is determined to be missing. for students under 18, parents or guardians and the Montpelier Police Department will be notified at this time.
NECI maintains a stringent attendance policy for all residential classes, helping ensure student safety under this policy. All faculty members are required to notify the Attendance Line of any student not attending class without proper notification.
Sexual Assault Policy & Procedures
Sexual assaults and attempted sexual assaults severely impact the health and safety of the entire community and are not tolerated at NECI. A sexual assault committed by any member of the campus community against another person could result in criminal and/or civil charges, as well as being subject to disciplinary action on campus. Disciplinary actions may include consequences such as dismissal from campus housing, suspension, or dismissal from the college.
NECI promotes a positive community environment and encourages all victims to report sexual assaults. NECI encourages students to report any such incident that they are aware of to the Resident Life Coordinator, Student Life Coordinator, Student Community Coordinator, or Director of Student Services. Reporting assault helps ensure that victims receive needed services, allows disciplinary or criminal action to be taken, and helps prevent assaults from happening to others. If you, or anyone you know, are sexually assaulted, it is important to seek immediate medical treatment. Student Services personnel can provide referral to medical and counseling services for victims of sexual assault, as well as assistance in pursuing legal or disciplinary action.
All students have the right to file a complaint, which will be investigated promptly by the institute. Students will also be advised of legal options, including reporting the assault to or filing a criminal charge with local law enforcement agencies. Students may request assistance from NECI personnel in doing so.
Disciplinary procedures for a case of sexual assault will follow the process outlined in the Student Handbook and could also include legal action. Disciplinary consequences may include warning, probation, suspension, suspension from student housing, or other penalties up to and including dismissal from the college. The right to participate in any disciplinary proceedings regarding the sexual assault complaint is the student's. The accused and the accuser will be afforded the same due process, and both accused and accuser are entitled to have a support person at disciplinary proceedings. Within the limitations of federal privacy law, NECI will notify both victim and assailant of the outcomes or any disciplinary proceeding regarding the sexual assault complaint. Possible changes in academic and living situations may be requested by the victim and will be accommodated if reasonably available.
Programs aimed at promoting a positive community at NECI are held during Orientation and the Mod 1 seminar; these trainings include topics such as campus safety and sexual assault prevention and are mandatory for all resident students. For further information regarding sexual assault prevention, please contact your Resident Life Coordinator or any member of the Student Services department.
Safety Tips
While Montpelier is a small community that is comparatively safe, it is not without crime. Students are encouraged to take security precautions to ensure their own personal safety, as well as the safety of the NECI community.
- ALWAYS lock your door!
- DO NOT prop open exterior building doors.
- NEVER let a stranger into the building. If they are really here to see somebody, that person should meet them at the door to allow them to enter the building.
- Immediately report all suspicious activity or persons to the Residence Life Coordinator or to Student Services personnel.
- In case of an emergency, call the Montpelier police at 911.
- Report any missing items to the Residence Life Coordinator immediately.
- If you go out at night, use the buddy system.
- Tell somebody where you are going and call when you arrive at your destination.
- If you have any questions about security, ask the Resident Life Coordinator.
- THINK before acting - how will your actions impact others?
Sexual Offenders Registry
The state of Vermont maintains a list of registered sex offenders, which may be accessed by all members of the community at www.dps.state.vt.us/cjs/s_registry.htm
Crime Statistics Notification Policy
The Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act (Public Law 101-542) requires all institutions of higher learning to make available to prospective students, enrolled students, and employees an annual summary of certain crimes committed on campus.
Each year, email notification is made to all enrolled students and current employees that provides the web site access to this report.
Copies of the complete report may also be obtained from the Registrar, New England Culinary Institute, 56 College Street, Montpelier, VT 05602. RegistrarREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@neci.edu.
