Public Safety Services

Public Safety Officers
TTC employs state constables who are trained and certified police officers for the state of South Carolina. The Public Safety officers enforce all federal, state and local laws as well as the policies and procedures of the College.

Public Safety Services
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Statistics Act requires TTC to collect and report crime statistics for crimes committed on campus. These statistics are also required to be reported annually to the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) to assist students and their parents in researching criminal offenses on college campuses. Statistics for more than 6,000 colleges and universities in the United States can be accessed on OPE’s Web site. The College policies and procedures relating to campus security and the annual crime statistics are published in the Be Safe brochure and on TTC's Web site. Other Web sites containing crime information include:

• State of South Carolina Law Enforcement Division S.C. Sex Offenders Registry Web site 
• Security on Campus Web site

While the College makes considerable efforts to ensure the safety and security of everyone on campus, it is your responsibility to take precautions to protect yourself. Whenever a threat to students is determined, timely notice will be made by College officials to help you become aware and protect yourself.

Law enforcement activities on campus are supplemented by mutual aid agreements with local police agencies. Think and practice crime prevention. Report any crimes or suspicious situations to Public Safety immediately by calling 843.574.6053 (6053 from a campus phone).

Escorts to Your Car
If you would like an escort from class to your car, call the Public Safety office at 843.574.6053 or contact an officer on campus. (Other priorities may prevent an officer from escorting you at a specified time, so please be patient.)

Motorist Assistance
For assistance with dead batteries, keys locked inside vehicles and flat tires, call the Public Safety office. You are required to sign a release before officers can provide assistance. For other mechanical problems, the Public Safety office will help you locate an appropriate service agency.

Emergency Messages
If you need to be contacted because of a medical emergency or death in the family while you are on campus, your family can call the Public Safety office at 843.574.6053, and Public Safety will attempt to locate you in your class to relay the message. Please understand this service is only for major emergencies. The College is unable to relay messages for other problems.

Emergency Telephones
The College has automatic dial emergency phones located in the parking lots of Main, Berkeley and Palmer campuses. These phones provide a direct connection to the College’s Public Safety office. See campus maps for locations of emergency phones.

Fire Drills
Unannounced fire drills are conducted on a periodic basis. Faculty members are responsible for monitoring and coordinating the safe evacuation of students during drills or actual emergencies. You should take your purse, bookbag and any other personal belongings without delay when evacuating in case return to the building is not possible. You are to assemble at least 150 feet from buildings and are not to reenter buildings unless instructed by Public Safety or other College officials.

Bicycles
Bicycle racks are provided on Main Campus at: Student Center (Bldg. 410, north side), Industrial and Engineering Technology building (Bldg. 700, front), Health Sciences building (Bldg. 630, front), breezeway between the General Education and Math and Science buildings (Bldgs. 100/300), General Education building (Bldg. 100, outside Public Safety), and Math and Science building, (Bldg. 300, rear, near the Learning Resources Center, Bldg. 510).

Bikes may not be taken into buildings or parked where they may become a safety hazard. Please use the bicycle racks and lock your bike.

Theft of Personal Property
Any article left unattended in a public place is subject to theft. Any article of value should be kept with you or secured in your vehicle out of plain view. Book theft is a common problem on all college campuses. Mark your books with some form of identification. Keep books with you, and do not leave them unattended in public places. If you do have a book stolen, report it to Public Safety immediately.

First Aid
Public Safety provides First Aid for you while on campus. All injuries should be reported to Public Safety immediately. If further medical assistance is needed, Public Safety will notify EMS.

Special Medical Attention
If you want to notify the College about any special medical conditions or important information in a medical emergency, you can fill out a Special Medical Attention form available in the Public Safety office. This information is kept confidential to Public Safety, EMS and medical personnel.

Safety Hazards
All safety hazards should be reported immediately to Public Safety. Skateboards, roller skates and inline skates are prohibited in buildings and parking lots.

Disruption of Academic Process
Any disturbance that may hinder the educational programs provided by TTC is in violation of South Carolina law (Statute 16-17-420).

Emergencies
When calling for emergency response, please make sure you provide Public Safety with as much information as possible—nature of emergency, exact location and description of person involved—so that help can respond quickly.

Lost and Found
If you find any items that have been misplaced or forgotten, bring them to the Public Safety office. If you have lost any books or personal belongings, check with Public Safety to see if they have been found. Items will be held for 90 days.

Severe Weather Announcements
In the event of inclement weather, cancellation of classes will be announced by most local radio and television stations. In addition, you may call TTC’s Emergency Closing Information Line to hear recorded information regarding TTC closing. To reach the Information Line, dial 843.574.6262 then enter extension 9091. If outside the Charleston area, call toll free 877.869.7736.

Personal Attitudes and Behavior
You are expected to behave in ways that do not infringe upon the rights of others. This includes showing responsibility and respect regarding eating, electronic devices and dress. You are expected to adhere to the TTC Creed and guidelines for the student lounge listed in the College's Student Handbook/Planner.

Alcohol and Drugs
The sale, possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages and/or controlled substances is specifically prohibited. For details read the Student Code in the College's Student Handbook/Planner. Violators are subject to arrest and College disciplinary action.

Classroom Policies
To minimize classroom disruptions and protect the integrity of test-taking situations, activated electronic communications devices such as pagers and telephones generally are not permitted in TTC classrooms. The only exception to this policy will be for on-call emergency personnel (police, fire, EMS) who are required to notify their classroom instructor of their need for such devices at the beginning of the semester and provide documentation verifying their occupation. However, on-call emergency personnel may not leave a testing situation, communicate by electronic means and return to complete an examination. In these cases, instructors should make arrangements for retesting. Eating and drinking in the classroom are not permitted.

Smoking
TTC promotes a safe, healthy environment on all its campuses and prohibits smoking inside and at all entrances to all College facilities. Smokers are expected to smoke in designated areas and discard cigarettes in ash urns provided at each building on campus.

Restricted Areas
Smoking is prohibited at the entrances to and inside all College buildings.

College/State Vehicles
Smoking is prohibited in state vehicles.

Monitoring No-Smoking Regulations
Public Safety will advise individuals who are not in compliance with the College’s no-smoking procedure of the outdoor smoking areas.

Any disruptions related to the smoking regulations should be reported immediately to Public Safety. If student disruptions warrant further investigation, Public Safety will report these disruptions to the vice president for Student Services for possible disciplinary action.

In addition, South Carolina’s Clean Indoor Air Act of 1990 cites violation of the act as a misdemeanor that, upon conviction, results in a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $25 (plus court costs). The issuance of a citation is at the discretion of the Public Safety office.

Firearms Prohibited
In an effort to ensure a safe and secure environment for all members of the campus community, firearms are not allowed in any building, premises or property owned, operated or controlled by TTC except where allowed by law for law enforcement or military purposes. Persons holding concealed weapon permits under the Law Abiding Citizens Self-Defense Act of 1996 are prohibited from carrying firearms onto TTC. This applies to any firearm or replica of a firearm in an assembled or unassembled condition. Anyone who violates this policy is in violation of Section 16-23-420 of the S.C. Code of Laws as amended and is subject to arrest and criminal prosecution with a minimum penalty of a $5,000 fine or five years imprisonment or both.

Motor Vehicle Registration and Traffic Regulations
All students operating vehicles on campus must obtain a parking decal. Parking decals are available in the Business office on Main Campus, and in the Admissions offices on Berkeley and Palmer campuses. Decals are to be placed on the rear window, driver’s side of the vehicle. Temporary parking permits, which may be issued at no cost for special seminars, can be obtained from Public Safety.

You are required to obey all South Carolina traffic and seat belt laws while operating a vehicle on campus. The speed limit on all campuses is 15 miles per hour. Parking violations can result in the issuance of a parking citation. S.C. Uniform Traffic citations also may be issued for traffic and related violations. All traffic accidents should be reported to Public Safety immediately.

Disabled Parking Decals
To legally park in a TTC disabled parking space, a vehicle must properly display a S.C. disabled parking placard and must be used in the transport of the permit holder. Faculty, staff and students with temporary disabilities, requiring the use of a TTC disabled parking space, should contact Services for Students with Disabilities through Counseling and Career Development Services at Main Campus or the Student Success Centers at Berkeley and Palmer campuses. A temporary TTC decal allowing temporary disabled parking privileges on TTC campuses may be obtained with proper documentation. When specific spaces for disabled parking are all occupied, parking in the nearest available space is authorized to include faculty/staff parking.

Children
Children cannot be taken to Testing Services while a parent/guardian takes a test. Children cannot be taken to Learning Assistance while a parent/guardian has a tutoring session or uses Learning Assistance media. Children may not be taken into classes. Children may not be taken into any TTC library while the parent/guardian is studying or using library resources. They are not to be left unattended in any TTC library while parents are in class or involved in other activities. Unattended children are not permitted on campus and will be referred to the S.C. Department of Social Services.

Animals
Animals, except for animals trained to assist the disabled and Veterinary Technology program animals, are not allowed on the premises or property of TTC.

Sexual Assault (Forcible and Nonforcible Sex Offenses)
Sexual assault, sexual battery and related sexual offenses are not only criminal violations, but also conduct prohibited by the College. Sexual battery/assault is defined as any actual or attempted nonconsensual or forcible sexual act: sexual intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, anal intercourse or any intrusion, however slight, of any part of a person’s body or of any object into the genital or anal openings of another person’s body. The inability to provide consent may be determined by the person’s age, mental or physical incapacity, intoxication (drugs and/or alcohol) or other valid reasons.

Preventing Sexual Assaults on CampusTo increase awareness and educate students, faculty and staff on ways to prevent sexual crimes on campus, the College offers sexual assault prevention programs through the assistance of outside agencies such as People Against Rape. Anyone can become a victim of sexual assault, especially on college campuses where acquaintance rape is prevalent.

If You Are Sexually Assaulted

1. Go to a safe place.
2. Notify the police. Reporting the crime does not obligate you to file charges or testify in court. However, a report of the incident and any evidence collected may provide successful legal action if you decide to pursue criminal charges at a later date. The information you provide may also prevent someone else from becoming a victim and it may help toward regaining your sense of personal control.
   1. On Campus: Call Public Safety immediately at 843.574.6911 from an outside telephone; 6911 from a campus telephone; or by activating an emergency call box.
   2. Off Campus: Call local police immediately by dialing 911 or their local number.
      Provide the following information:
   • Your name
   • Your exact location and the location of the incident
   • The phone number from where you are calling
   • Description of injuries, if any
   • Immediate details of the incident (where it occurred, how long ago)
   • Information about the accused (name, whether or not if accused is present, physical description, clothing description, direction of flight, description of vehicle, etc.)
3. Preserve all physical evidence that may be present. Do not shower, bathe, douche or urinate. Do not eat, drink, smoke, rinse your mouth or brush your teeth. Do not change clothes if it can be avoided. If changing clothes is necessary, secure your changed clothes inside a paper bag, not plastic. Do not disturb the crime scene(s).
4. Obtain medical assistance. Even if you choose not to prosecute or report the assault, you are strongly encouraged to go through the rape protocol exam for medical attention and for the purpose of preserving important physical evidence of the assault. The rape protocol exam should be done as soon as possible. Physical evidence can be obtained up to 72 hours after the assault; however, as time passes, the quality of the evidence diminishes. To contact an agency to perform a rape protocol exam:
   • On Campus: Call Public Safety immediately at 843.574.6911 from an outside telephone; 6911 from a campus telephone; or by activating an emergency call box.
   • Off Campus: Call local emergency medical service immediately by dialing 911 or their local number. You can also report in person to any local area hospital emergency room.
5. Contact a family member or friend to be with you.

Reporting to Public Safety

1. Public Safety will respond to your location on campus, ensure that you are safe and provide you with emergency medical assistance.
2. Public Safety will ask you questions about the assault (location and time of the assault, a description of the accused, etc.). If you request to speak to a male or female officer, Public Safety will make every reasonable effort to accommodate your request, to include contacting another law enforcement agency having concurrent jurisdiction. Local law enforcement may become involved depending on the circumstances surrounding the incident. A family member, friend or counselor may be with you during the interview.
3. Public Safety will protect the crime scene, contact local law enforcement as may become necessary and assist in the collection and preservation of evidence.
4. Public Safety will make contact with and escort you to an appropriate medical facility such as the Medical University of South Carolina.
5. Public Safety and TTC's Counseling Services will contact other assistance agencies (People Against Rape, Solicitor’s Office Victims/Witness Program, etc.) on your behalf. The Victims/Witness coordinator from the Solicitor’s office will help you file any documents related to the S.C. Victim’s Compensation Fund.
6. Public Safety will treat you and your case with sensitivity, understanding and professionalism regardless of your gender or the gender of the accused. Public Safety officers will not prejudge you or blame you for what occurred.
7. Public Safety will NOT release your name to the public or the press.
8. Public Safety will continue to be available to you, answer your questions and explain the system and processes involved (solicitor, courts, etc.).
9. Public Safety will professionally investigate your case, which may lead to the arrest and prosecution of the accused. You will be kept up-to-date on the progress of the investigation and/or prosecution.

How the College Can Help

1. The College’s Counseling office will offer emotional support and refer you to community resources for victims of sexual assault.
2. The College will also change your academic situation if changes are requested and reasonably available.
3. The vice president for Student Services will initiate disciplinary proceedings when a student is accused of a sexual assault on campus. Both the accuser and the accused are entitled to due process as outlined in the College’s Student Handbook/Planner, and both will be notified of the outcome of any disciplinary proceeding. Specific disciplinary sanctions are also outlined in the College’s Student Handbook/Planner.

The South Carolina Sex Offenders Registry is available on the Internet via the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Web site.

Emergency Numbers*
Public Safety
Off Campus		843.574.6911
On Campus		6911
	City of North Chas. Police	Berkeley Co. Sheriff		City of Chas. Police		Charleston Co. Sheriff
Police	911	911		911		554.4700
Fire	911	911		911		554.4700
EMS	911	911		911		554.4700
Nonemergency	740.2800	577.9562		577.7074		202.1700

 

 

 

 

 

 

  * When calling from any campus you must first dial 9 to get an outside line. Calls to 911 from campus phones will automatically notify Public Safety first for quicker response.

Note: Long distance calls require the 843 area code to be dialed before dialing numbers other than 911.