In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (the “Clery Act”), the Ozarks Tech Safety and Security Department compiles the Annual Security Report, which contains campus security policy disclosures and campus crime statistics for the previous three calendar years. In addition, this report is a resource guide for campus safety services and crime prevention strategies.
To view the Annual Security Report and other information about the Safety and Security department please visit Safety and Security – Campus Resources. Copies of the report may also be obtained at any Ozarks Tech location by contacting the Safety and Security Department or by calling (417) 447-6911.
Ozarks Tech has Automated External Defibrillator (AED) emergency medical devices at all campus and education center locations. In the event of an emergency, you should call 911 and the Safety and Security Department at the college location of the occurrence or (417) 447-6911 immediately.
The Ozarks Tech Safety and Security Department maintains a daily crime log of crimes reported to the department. The log records the date the incident was reported, the date the incident occurred, a description of the incident and where the incident occurred, such as on campus, non-campus building or property, on public property, or within the established jurisdiction of the campus and the disposition, if known. The Daily Crime Log may include reports made to law enforcement agencies, if known.
The Ozarks Tech Safety and Security Department prepares this report in a timely manner, so it is available to the college community and public. The Daily Crime Log is open for public inspection at the Safety and Security Department office at any Ozarks Tech location during normal business hours.
A comprehensive Emergency Response Plan has been developed that includes procedures to be followed in all types of emergencies/crises. Building maps are posted in each facility giving quick reference for evacuation routes, location of fire extinguishers and first aid kits. Please review the maps for the locations of emergency equipment and evacuation routes before you need them. For more information regarding emergencies or injury reports, contact Ozarks Tech Safety and Security Department, Information Commons, Room 208 at (417) 447-6911.
A messaging system is in place to alert students and staff of college emergencies and closings. The messages are sent to your cell phone via text. If your cell phone does not accept text messages, you can still receive the campus alerts via e-mail. Participation in the messaging system is automatic. To update your contact information preferences or to opt-out, log into myOTC, click on the Helpful Resources tab on the side menu, and click on OTC Emergency Notification. To complete the sign-up process, you must reply to the text message or e-mail. OTC will not send spam or advertising through this system.
In the event of a fire on campus, audible and visual strobe light alarms will be activated, and the buildings will be evacuated. Each classroom has evacuation maps posted and should be reviewed prior to an emergency.
Lost articles should be reported to the Safety and Security Department at (417) 447-6911 as soon as possible. Found articles are kept in the Safety and Security Department at each campus/center location.
Unclaimed items are retained until the end of each semester. All lost and found articles that are not claimed will be given to local charities. For additional information, contact the Ozarks Tech Safety and Security Department, Information Commons, Room 208, (417) 447-6911.
It is the student’s responsibility to understand and follow college traffic and parking regulations. Due to Ozarks Tech’s rapid growth, parking can be a challenge; be patient. Ample parking is available at each campus/center location including on surrounding public streets. Even during times of congested parking, students must follow all parking regulations.
Enforcement of policies regarding the operation of vehicles and parking at all campus/center locations is an important part of the Safety and Security Department duties. Students found to be in violation will be issued a citation and levied a fine for the following violations, but not limited to:
- Parking in a handicapped parking zone without a proper handicapped decal or license plate displayed.
- Parking in a restricted parking lot/zone/area.
- Parking on any grass area.
- Blocking any legally parked vehicle.
- Parking in a “No Parking” zone.
- Parking in a place not designated for parking. A parking space is designated by two lines, one line on either side of the parking space.
- Parking against the traffic flow.
- Reckless driving. Careless and imprudent driving.
- Blocking or obstructing traffic, street, crosswalk, sidewalk, fire hydrant, building entrance or exit, or another vehicle properly parked.
- Double parking.
- Parking on shoulder of road (except where parking is indicated by official signs).
- Driving in excess of posted speed limits.
- Failure to obey traffic signs.
- Failure to obey directions of campus security officers or police officers.
- Failure to yield the right of way at pedestrian crossings.
- Following too closely.
- Driving while under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.
- Leaving the scene of an accident.
- Operating a vehicle causing loud and unnecessary noise such as loud mufflers, horns, loud music, sound systems, etc.
- Failure to yield right of way to emergency vehicles.
- Failure of two-wheeled vehicles to park in areas designated for them.
- Operating or parking a vehicle in any manner that creates a safety hazard.
- Leaving a vehicle on college premises overnight without notifying the campus Safety and Security Department.
Failure to comply with a lawful directive of anyone charged with the responsibility of enforcement of the traffic regulations, and failure to pay parking fines owed will incur the following penalties:
- College may prohibit a student from enrolling in courses for the next term.
- College may withhold grades, transcript and deny graduation.
To appeal the issuance of a citation, the appeal must be submitted in writing within 10 college business days from the date of issuance of the citation. For more information regarding parking or to appeal a citation, contact the Safety and Security Department, Information Commons, Room 208, (417) 447-6911.
Preventing campus crime is a shared responsibility between the college and the campus community. Public apathy is a criminal’s greatest ally. Do not assume that someone else has reported criminal activity, or an emergency. Students, faculty and staff are required to immediately report all criminal actions, accidents, injuries, or other emergencies occurring on college property or in college facilities to the Safety and Security Department at the campus of occurrence, or by calling (417) 447-6911 and/or by reporting online: OTC Cares. If you observe a violent criminal act or emergency; call 911 immediately.
Ozarks Technical Community College is committed to providing the members of the college community and visitors with the safest and most secure environment possible; however, even the most extensive initiatives cannot succeed without the awareness and cooperation of the community members who study and work on campus.
Developing a safe and secure environment at an academic institution is the responsibility of the entire community – security personnel, faculty, staff and students. Within our community, the Ozarks Tech Safety and Security Department is assigned the primary responsibility of identifying programs, methods and approaches to help the institution maintain a reasonably safe and secure environment.
The Ozarks Tech Safety & Security Department has approximately 50 security officers and staff serving the college community at all six Ozarks Tech campus and center locations. Security personnel are responsible for unlocking and locking college buildings and performing routine laboratory and building inspections for fire and other safety-related problems. Security personnel also patrol buildings, parking lots and college grounds.
Ozarks Tech Safety & Security Department officers begin securing the doors of the buildings (except those to which access is necessary) in the evening at 8:00 p.m. All buildings are locked between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Ozarks Tech Safety and Security Department offices are located at each Ozarks Tech campus and center location and can be reached at the following phone numbers, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
- Springfield campus (417) 447-6911
- Richwood Valley campus (417) 447-7861
- Table Rock campus (417) 447-8943
- Republic center (417) 447-7418
- Lebanon center (417) 447-6689
- Waynesville center (417) 447-6640
Ozarks Tech Safety and Security Department officers are on call 24/7 for any emergency at all campus and center locations when the college is closed. To report an emergency that requires or may require police, fire, or EMS personnel to respond, please dial 911 from any phone immediately, then call the Safety & Security Department at the campus or center on which the emergency is located.
Ozarks Tech property (including computer labs) is under video surveillance. Activity is being recorded but not continuously monitored. For additional information, contact the Safety and Security Department, Information Commons, Room 208, (417) 447-6911.
In the event of a weather-related emergency such as a tornado or severe weather, you will be advised via the Ozarks Tech Emergency Notification System. All occupants should move to their respective safe areas, preferably the lowest level of a building and stay clear of all windows. Administration and the Safety and Security Department will monitor weather conditions. For your own safety, occupants will not be permitted to return to classrooms/labs until the Safey and Security Department gives the “ALL CLEAR.”
Ozarks Tech endeavors to provide a safe college community. The use of skateboards, longboards or skates on any campus or center infringes on our ability to fulfill this safe environment. No person shall use, operate, or ride roller skates or roller blades, riding in or by means of any coaster, scooter, hoverboard, toy vehicle, motorized play vehicle, skateboard, motorized skateboard, or similar device in any public parking area on any Ozarks Tech campus or center, inside any college building or facility, or on any outdoor stairway, ramp, plaza, or sidewalk.
Bicycles may only be ridden on campus roads that are open to public vehicles. They shall not be ridden on sidewalks, ramps, unpaved areas, or the student plaza. Bicyclists are required by law to obey the same rules of the road as motor vehicles. Bicycles should be stored in a bicycle rack and may not be secured to any other structure or fixture such as trees, sign posts or railings.
The Clery Act requires institutions to provide Emergency Notifications or Timely Warnings to the college community in the event a significant emergency or dangerous situation is reported that poses a serious or continuing threat to the college community.
The Ozarks Tech Safety and Security Department, in conjunction with various college administrators, will distribute notifications when the Department deems an incident to be a serious or continuing threat to the college community to aid in the prevention of similar crimes.
Emergency Notifications will be issued in response to a significant emergency or a dangerous situation, that in the judgment of the college, constitutes a serious or continuing threat to the health or safety of the college community.
Timely Warnings will be issued in response to reported crimes, that in the judgment of the college, constitute a serious or continuing threat to the college community. Timely Warnings are considered a preventative and educational measure as they make the college community aware of potential dangers to themselves or their property. Timely Warnings may also request information that could lead to arrest and conviction of an offender.
Emergency Notifications and Timely Warnings will be sent via the Ozarks Tech Emergency Notification System, college-wide phone notifications and electronic mail directly to all students, faculty and staff on the affected Ozarks Tech campus, center or to all Ozarks Tech locations. Notifications may be sent via the official Ozarks Tech website, social media, press releases, posted material, or making reports available to the college community and media through the Ozarks Tech website, newspapers, radio and television news station.
With the exception of licensed law enforcement officers, all persons including those licensed to carry weapons, concealed or not, are prohibited from possessing at any time a handgun, firearm, knife (blade length exceeding two and a half inches) or other weapon, concealed or visible, on property or in a vehicle owned, leased or used by the college for classes or activities. See 4.02(t) – Weapons on Campus or at College Sponsored Activities.