Campus Police and Related Policies

Assaults

Students are prohibited from assaulting any person on College property or while under the College’s jurisdiction. An “assault” is defined as:

Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causing bodily injury to another;
Intentionally or knowingly threatening another with imminent bodily injury; or
Intentionally or knowingly causing physical contact with another when the student knows or should reasonably believe that the other will regard the contact as offensive or provocative. Texas Penal Code 22.01

Clery Act (Campus Security Act)

In accordance with the requirements of the Jeanne Clery Act and the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Odessa College Police Department has compiled the Annual Crime Statistics and Fire Safety Report. This document includes, but is not limited to, information on the following:

Policies and procedures incorporated in the College’s response to safety and security issues
Life safety and emergency notification systems
Statistics on index crimes that occurred on and adjacent to our College facilities
Statistics on evacuation drills & incidents of fire at on-campus residence halls

Click Crime Statistics (Clery Act) to view the report or visit the Odessa College Police Department located on the first floor of the Spur Building or call/text 432-238-6334 or email ocpd@odessa.edu. In case of an emergency dial 911.

Campus Police

Odessa College is determined to provide the best campus police possible with the resources available. Campus Police officers are licensed peace officers with the State of Texas. They work closely with area law enforcement authorities to provide quick response times in an emergency. The campus police officers will contact the appropriate local authorities when additional assistance is needed.

Disruptions

Odessa College is committed to providing a safe, respectful, and productive learning environment. Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that supports, rather than disrupts, the educational process and the rights of others.

In accordance with Texas Education Code § 51.935, students are subject to disciplinary action for the disruption of classes or any lawful assembly on campus. Disruption includes behavior that interferes with teaching, learning, college operations, or the rights of others to engage in their educational activities.

Students found in violation of this policy may be subject to disciplinary measures as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.

Demonstrations

OC supports the rights of enrolled students and employees to engage in peaceful expressive activity—such as speeches, assemblies, the carrying of signs, distributing flyers, or petitioning—in outdoor campus areas, in accordance with state and federal law.

Expressive activity may be restricted when there is clear, evidence-based reason to reasonably forecast a substantial disruption to normal campus operations or approved activities. Undifferentiated fear, disagreement with the message, or vague concern is insufficient to warrant limiting student expression.

In addition, the following activities are prohibited by law (§51.9315 Texas Educ. Code):
Conduct between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.
Overnight encampments or tents
Use of amplified devices (bullhorns, speakers) during class hours
Wearing masks, disguises, or face coverings intended to evade identification, intimidate others, or obstruct enforcement
Lowering a U.S. or Texas flag with intent to substitute another flag, emblem, or symbol
Conduct during the last two weeks of a semester or term that disrupts institutional functions.

Students and employees engaging in expressive activity must present valid ID and proof of affiliation upon request by law enforcement or campus officials. Students found in violation of this policy may be subject to disciplinary measures as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.

Disorderly Conduct

Disorderly conduct shall include any of the following activities occurring on property owned or controlled by the college or at college-sponsored functions:

Behavior of a boisterous and tumultuous character such that there is a clear and present danger of alarming persons where no legitimate reason for alarm exists.
Interference with the peaceful and lawful conduct of persons under circumstances in which there is reason to believe that such conduct will cause or provoke a disturbance.
Violent and forceful behavior at any time, such that there is a clear and present danger that free movement of other persons will be impaired.
Behavior involving personal abuse or assault when such behavior creates a clear and present danger of causing assaults or fights.
Violent, abusive, indecent, profane, boisterous, unreasonably loud, or otherwise disorderly conduct under circumstances in which there is reason to believe that such conduct will cause or provoke a disturbance.
Willful and malicious behavior that interrupts the speaker of any lawful assembly or impairs the lawful right of others to participate effectively in such assembly or meeting when there is reason to believe that such conduct will cause or provoke a disturbance.
Willful and malicious behavior that obstructs or causes the obstruction of any doorway, hall, or any other passageway in a College building to such an extent that the employees, officers and other persons, including visitors, having business with the College are denied entrance into, exit from or free passage in such building.

Students found in violation of this policy may be subject to disciplinary measures as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.

Missing Persons

Odessa College has a missing persons procedure in accordance with the U.S. Department of Education regulations for institutions of higher education. Students living on campus must keep on file the name and contact information of an individual that the student wishes to be contacted in the event that the student is determined to be missing by College officials. If at any time a student is reported missing for more than forty-eight continuous hours, the Offices of Student and Residence Life, in coordination with the Odessa College Police Department, will initiate an investigation to include room inspection, inquiries of close friends, inquiries of class attendance, and calls to other individuals which may have information on the whereabouts of the student.

Please note: In the event of a health or safety emergency, Odessa College may disclose personally identifiable information from a student’s education records, without prior consent, to appropriate parties, including law enforcement, emergency responders, medical personnel, parents, guardians, or a student’s designated emergency contact. This disclosure is permitted under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) [34 CFR § 99.36] when the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or others.

Recommended Precautions for Walking on Campus

Odessa College is dedicated to ensuring the safety and security of its students, employees, and campus visitors. While the College takes measures to maintain a safe and secure environment, there are things employees and students can do to increase their safety while on campus. Listed below are some recommended precautions that can be taken to protect individuals from potential danger. We urge all students, employees, and campus visitors to make the following practices a part of their daily routine:

When alone on campus at night, do not walk around campus.
When walking from building to building at night, stay in well-lighted areas. Avoid isolated buildings and areas.
Always lock your vehicle. Before entering your vehicle, look on the floor and in the back seat.
Become familiar with the police officers. If you are concerned about walking to your car alone, request an officer to escort you.
Have car keys in hand before you reach the car. Searching for keys in a purse or pockets when at the car can be dangerous.
Become familiar with exits in all buildings.
Embrace the philosophy of “shared responsibility” for campus safety. Watch out for your fellow student/employee and offer assistance when needed.

While many colleges and universities have experienced an increase in the number of crimes occurring on campus, Odessa College has not had to face the problem of increased campus violence. However, should a threat or act of violence occur, please follow the previously outlined procedures.

Search & Seizure

The College respects the right of students to privacy and security against the arbitrary invasion of their person or property. However, school officials have a limited right to search students or their property when in the interest of the overall welfare of other students or when necessary to preserve the good order and discipline of the school.

Without a search warrant:

Any prohibited item within “plain view” is subject to seizure.
Residence hall rooms may be searched, with the approval of the Executive Director of Student Life or the Director of Residence Life, if reasonable suspicion of a college policy violation exists.
Areas such as lockers, desks, and any college-owned property, which are owned and controlled by the College, may be searched by school officials when they have reasonable cause to believe that stolen items or items prohibited by law or by board policy are contained in the area to be searched.
Stolen items and items which are forbidden by board policy or law may be impounded and may be used as evidence in internal school disciplinary proceedings against the student.

Limitation

The above policies shall not apply in the event that law enforcement authorities are involved in a search. School searches conducted with assistance from law enforcement authorities are governed by Fourth Amendment standards that are applicable in the criminal law context.