Safety of and Access to Campus Facilities

Maintenance of indoor and outdoor campus facilities is conducted by the Facilities Management & Safety Office, which is comprised of multiple departments. For a full list, please view Facilities Departments. Risk-mitigation activities include outdoor lighting operation, landscaping maintenance, hazardous-material handling and disposal, fire prevention, pest control, etc.

The Safety Department is responsible for coordinating all aspects of environmental management, occupational health, and safety on campus, in an effort to prevent fatalities, injuries, illness, and disabilities on the job and in the entire campus community. Safety concerns may be brought to the Safety Department’s attention at 740.593.1666 or by email at fmservicedesk@ohio.edu.

The following are safety and security details specific to each of Ohio University’s campuses and centers. (Contact information for each campus is on its Campus Resources page found in the left navigation of this website.)

Athens

Special emergency telephones that ring directly to OUPD are located at the main entrance of all residence halls. Outdoor emergency phones are marked with a blue light. (See additional information under Campus Law-Enforcement Authority.)

Chillicothe

The Dean’s office and appointed administration are responsible for all safety and security matters on Ohio University property and work cooperatively with the local law enforcement jurisdictional agencies, Chillicothe Police Department and Ross County Sheriff, to provide a safe and secure campus. The jurisdictional law enforcement agencies are responsible for investigating and responding to security matters on campus with support from OUPD.

Cleveland

Located within Cleveland Clinic’s Warrensville Heights facility, Ohio University’s Cleveland Campus is served by Cleveland Clinic’s Police. They coordinate with local law enforcement entities and other service providers to provide 24/7 services including safety escorts, active patrols, alarm and code response, community policing, crime investigation, emergency alerts, emergency response, non-emergency support, safety awareness education, vehicle assistance, and victim advocacy. Security camera systems are installed at key points to monitor internal and external locations, including buildings and parking facilities. Blue Light and yellow emergency intercoms strategically placed at locations like sidewalks and parking areas are connected to 911.

Dublin

A 24/7 security presence actively monitors all campus facilities. Through active foot patrols and building presence, uniformed security personnel provide first response and prompt notification of reported campus incidents. Site officers can provide safety escorts and maintain a security services front desk in the Medical Education Building 1 (MEB1) and the Dublin Integrated Education Center (DIEC). A security guard can be reached at all times at 614.499.5324.

Eastern

The Dean’s office and appointed administration are responsible for all safety and security matters on university property and work cooperatively with the local law enforcement jurisdictional agencies, Ohio State Highway Patrol and Belmont County Sheriff, to provide a safe and secure campus. The jurisdictional law enforcement agencies are responsible for investigating and responding to security matters on campus with support from OUPD.

Lancaster

The Dean’s office and appointed administration are responsible for all safety and security matters on university property and work cooperatively with the local law enforcement jurisdictional agency, Lancaster Police Department, to provide a safe and secure campus. The jurisdictional law enforcement agency is responsible for investigating and responding to security matters on campus with support from OUPD.

Southern

The Dean’s office and appointed administration are responsible for all safety and security matters on university property and work cooperatively with the local law enforcement jurisdictional agencies, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ironton Police Department, Lawrence County Sheriff, and Scioto County Sheriff, to provide a safe and secure campus. The jurisdictional law enforcement agencies are responsible for investigating and responding to security matters on campus with support from OUPD.

Zanesville

The Dean’s office and appointed administration are responsible for all safety and security matters on university property and work cooperatively with the local law enforcement jurisdictional agencies, Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office, Zanesville Police Department, and Ohio State Highway Patrol, to provide a safe and secure campus. The jurisdictional law enforcement agency is responsible for investigating and responding to security matters on campus with support from OUPD. A student resource officer is employed by Ohio University in collaboration with our co-located campus partner, Zane State College, to provide safety and security services, including vehicle and foot patrols of campus property and buildings, a Safety Escort Service, assistance for vehicles parked on campus property, event security, and parking enforcement.

Access Control

Access to Ohio University facilities is limited to authorized individuals through their status as students, faculty, staff, or visitors in connection with special events or by invitation. Academic and administrative facilities at all Ohio University campuses are either secured and opened by facility occupants or maintenance personnel, or they are equipped with electronic locks that secure and open the building on a programmed schedule.

Ohio University Access Control (Access Control) is responsible for maintaining all locks, locking mechanisms, padlocks, keys, cores, remote offline keypads, and online key access systems on university premises. For mechanical locks and keys, Key Contacts are individuals designated by each department or building to act as a liaison between Access Control and are the only individuals authorized to request keys or core changes via the online Access Transaction Form. In partnership with Ohio University’s Office of Information Technology, Access Control is also responsible for maintaining access via online electronic locks, which restrict after-hours access to university academic and administrative buildings to authorized individuals.

Residence Hall Access

Residence halls are for the use and enjoyment of the residents of the building. The residents of a room may access it with a hard key. Authorized Ohio University employees needing to access student rooms must follow procedures established to protect the safety of the residents.

Exterior doors and interior hallway doors are to be locked at all times. Residence hall access is controlled by electronic locks, which may be accessed by swiping an Ohio University ID card. Students are only granted access to the electronic locks for their assigned residence hall.

Ohio University staff members whose job duties require access to a residence hall must contact the Access Control office at 740.593.1758 or complete the online Access Transaction Form to be authorized. Access is tailored to the specific location(s) and time frame necessary for the staff member to complete their work. Card swipe mechanisms are ADA accessible.