Crime and Incident Statistics, Clery Act

In compliance with Title IV regulations, the following crime statistics and safety information is being provided.

GHC Annual Security Report 2021

GHC Annual Security Report 2020

GHC Annual Security Report for 2019

GHC Annual Security Report for 2018

GHC Annual Security Report for 2017

Safety officers have the same arrest powers as a citizen of Georgia, i.e., the power to make arrests for misdemeanors and felonies committed in the presence of the officer or within the officer’s immediate knowledge. All personnel are trained to handle emergencies and will coordinate medical and fire services that are requested on all five campuses.

Our mission is to provide safety, parking, and emergency preparedness services to the GHC community in a professional manner which will provide the college a safe environment that is conducive to education for all who study, work and visit GHC.

The department maintains a close working relationship with local police, fire and emergency agencies and their members. They come together through meetings, training, and investigative follow-ups. Information is freely shared between local agencies. The department maintains agreements with the Floyd County Police Department, the Rome Police Department, Dallas Police Department, and the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office.  The department also cooperates and coordinates with other local, state and national campus safety agencies to remain abreast of trends, concerns and problems affecting college campuses and students.

Officers patrol the campuses via marked patrol units and on foot patrol to deter acts of crime, correct safety and security hazards and to detect and intervene when criminal activity occurs. They respond and follow-up on all reported crimes along with local police officers. In addition to patrol duties, officers investigate traffic accidents, assist in medical emergencies, provide limited motorist assistance, enforce campus parking and traffic regulations and provide safety support for many campus activities and events.

The Floyd Campus Safety office is staffed 24/7 and will dispatch officers to emergencies at any of the campuses, except Marietta where you should contact the SPSU Police Department.

The most recent Campus Crime Reporting Act statistics are published by the Department of Education.
For current statistics, please see : http://ope.ed.gov/security/index.aspx

Tobacco Free and Smoke Free Campus Policy

POLICY STATEMENT

Georgia Highlands College is a tobacco and smoke-free campus, committed to providing a clean, healthy, productive, and safe environment for all students, employees, and visitors. In accordance with the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia Policy 9.1.7, the use, advertisement, and distribution of tobacco products are prohibited on all college facilities, properties, and campus locations.

DEFINITIONS

• “Tobacco Products” are defined as cigarettes, cigars, pipes, all forms of smokeless tobacco, clove cigarettes, and any other smoking device that uses tobacco or simulates the use of tobacco such as electronic cigarettes.
• College Facilities, Property, and Campus Locations comprise any properties owned, leased, rented, in the possession of, or in any way used by Georgia Highlands College, including but not limited to: all areas indoors and outdoors, structures and parking lots owned, leased, rented or otherwise used by the college. All vehicles, private or public, located on the aforementioned properties are included.

APPLICATION

This policy applies to all persons who enter the areas described above, including but not limited to students, faculty, staff, contractors and subcontractors, employees, spectators, and visitors. All events hosted by a Georgia Highlands College entity shall be tobacco and smoke-free. All events hosted by outside groups on behalf of Georgia Highlands College shall also be tobacco and smoke-free.

PROCESS/PROCEDURES

• Enforcement: The overall enforcement and authority of this policy lies with the President of Georgia Highlands College, but it is also a shared community responsibility, which means all students, faculty, and staff share in the responsibility to help keep the campus tobacco and smoke-free.
• Violation of Policy: Violations of the policy will be handled under the Student Code of Conductor Human Resources policies. Georgia Highlands College reserves the right to initiate disciplinary procedures against any individual found to be in violation of this policy. Visitors refusing to comply with the policy may be asked to leave campus.
• The Board of Regents will make available resources to assist employees with tobacco cessation as well as educational materials and other wellness information. Such effort does not limit the amount of resources that the institution can provide for tobacco cessation and any other resources for the positive enforcement of this policy that the campus deems appropriate to provide.

RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR TOBACCO CESSATION

From time to time, the Board of Regents will make available resources to assist employees with tobacco cessation as well as educational materials and other wellness information. Such effort does not limit the amount of resources that the institution can provide for tobacco cessation and any other resources for the positive enforcement of this policy that the campus deems appropriate to provide. Resources for Tobacco Cessation can be found at USG Workplace Wellness.