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Statistics and Reports

Statistics and Reports

Below you will find the 2025 Annual Security Report for Berea College. This report is required by the Federal Government from all schools and requires the publication of the different policies, procedures, and crime statistics to the staff, faculty, students, and parents of the College.  Following the individual links will take you to the different policies of the College that are required by the Clery and Minger Acts, while the link marked "Annual Security Report 2024" will allow all of the policies, procedures and crime statistics to be printed off in one document. Should you have any questions regarding any policies, procedures, or other information, please contact Public Safety at (859) 985-3333.

Campus Policies

Employee Handbook

Student Handbook

Policy

Public Safety should be notified immediately at ext. 3333 if you become aware of any threat to persons or property. Crime prevention in college buildings and grounds is a shared community responsibility, and all efforts in this regard are coordinated and facilitated through Public Safety.

Non-residential buildings are cleared and locked at regularly scheduled times by a building monitor or a Public Safety Officer. Supervised access to buildings after-hours will be provided by the Public Safety office pending receipt of proper identification and authorization. Academic buildings are cleared and closed after 11:00 p.m. Woods-Penniman remains open 24 hours a day.

Public Safety is the point-of-contact for all campus key access. Requests for keys may be made to Public Safety at keyrequests@berea.edu.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, all academic and administrative buildings are accessible by Berea College affiliated personnel only.  Student and Staff/Faculty ID’s are to be worn at all times, and these allow access to these buildings during business/building specific hours.

Responsible OfficeDepartment of Public Safety
Responsible PartyVice President for Student Life
Last Revision2018
Approved ByAdministrative Committee
Approved Date2018
Effective Date2018
Last ReviewJune2018
Review FrequencyAnnually
Additional ReferenceNone

Policies on Alcohol and Non-Medical Use of Drugs

Berea College complies with the federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act and Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Regulations in prohibiting the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of a controlled substance on Berea College Campus.

Federal, state, and local laws prohibit non-medical use and trafficking in drugs, hallucinogens, and narcotics. Kentucky state laws prohibit persons less than 21 years of age from using or possessing alcoholic beverages. Providing alcohol to persons under 21 years of age is illegal. In Kentucky, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or any other substance is against the law.

The use of drugs and alcoholic beverages is inimical to the aims and purposes of our educational community. It can also be detrimental to individual members of the community. For both these reasons, Berea College prohibits the use of drugs and the use or possession of alcoholic beverages on campus or other College-owned property or when engaged in College-related activities. Smoking tobacco is prohibited on campus grounds.

Policies and laws on drug use and use of alcohol on campus property apply to all students, faculty, and staff persons. Any student, faculty, or staff person found to be in possession of or using drugs or alcohol will be subject to judicial action through the appropriate judicial body or disciplinary personnel actions. One suspected to be in possession of illegal drugs might be detained until authorization is given to search. Students selling or trafficking these drugs are liable for the most serious judicial actions—dismissal from the College. Students, faculty, or staff persons who possess or use drugs in violation of state and federal laws are also in jeopardy of criminal prosecution.

Because of the serious problems which can arise from alcohol and drug use, the College provides educational programs on these matters. No person should hesitate to seek answers to questions relating to drugs or to seek help from the College’s counseling or medical services.  Students who seek counseling or medical assistance on campus as a result of use of drugs or alcohol can do so with assurance that strict counseling and medical confidentiality will be observed. No campus disciplinary action will result from information which is disclosed within the bounds of mental health counseling or medical confidentiality.

Additional information from the Berea College Student Handbook can be found here.

Policy on Demonstrations, Protests, and Rallies

Demonstrations, protests, and rallies must be pre-approved through the Campus Life Office (Alumni Building) at least three days prior to the event. The following regulations must be followed:

  • Requests must specify purpose, location, date, and time. (Note: the College Triangle area may not used for such events. Triangle use will be permitted for College and College/community events when approval has been given by the Business Office, when all necessary city permits* have been issued, and when arrangements have been made through the Berea City Police Department for the closing of Main Street during the event, e.g., the community Christmas Parade, the community Spoon Bread Festival, organized Street Dances, the Berea United and Diverse Celebration, etc.)
  • Organizers and participants must not:
    1. block pedestrian or vehicular traffic;
    2. directly confront passersby;
    3. block building entrances or exits;
    4. locate themselves on city streets or sidewalks without a city permit*;
    5. interfere with other College-sanctioned activities, e.g. class meetings or residence hall students’ studying or sleeping.
  • Organizers must:
    1. abide by the pre-approved beginning and ending times;
    2. confine the event to the pre-approved location;
    3. notify Public Safety of the event (prior to Campus Life approval) and arrange for Public Safety presence if needed;
    4. clean up the area before departing.

City Permit Process

A formal letter of request including details of the event must be submitted to the Mayor, and the organization must submit an application form. Forms can be picked up at the City Clerk’s office in Berea. The Mayor or a designated City Official must approve this form. The application must be made at least 24 hours in advance, and requires an advance-processing fee of $50 if the Police Department or other City Office presence is needed.

Mayor Steven Connelly
City of Berea
212 Chestnut Street
Berea, KY 40403

* The City permit covers public areas only and does not apply to use of any private property. The City reserves the right to accept or decline any applications, or waive fees.

Policy on Disclosure of Judicial Hearing Outcomes

It is the policy of Berea College that upon confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation which poses an immediate threat to the health and safety of any segment of the campus community   the institution will, without undue delay, undertake measures to notify the community of the dangers present. Such notification applies to a wide range of emergency situations such as imminent threat from violent crimes, gas leaks, highly contagious viruses, tornados or hazardous chemicals release incidents.

The Director of Public Safety, or other appropriate official, acting as Emergency Coordinator will confer with the designated Emergency Response Director (i.e., the President of the College or designee) to determine whether a confirmed situation exists requiring an immediate Emergency Notification to be issued. The Emergency Director or designee and the Emergency Coordinator will determine content and distribution of the notification, depending upon the nature and extent of the situation. Other appropriate officials of the institution, including the Vice President for Labor and Student Life, will be consulted as time permits and as appropriate in determining emergency confirmation, content of notification messages and appropriate communication modes. Determination as to appropriateness of campus wide evacuation rests on approval by the Emergency Director or designee.

When determination is made that an imminent threat exists, the Department of Public Safety will immediately convey emergency notification of the dangers present unless, in the professional judgment of the responsible authorities, doing so would compromise efforts to assist a victim, or to contain, respond to, or otherwise mitigate the emergency.

Notification methods, depending upon the nature and extent of the emergency and populations at risk, may include but are  not limited to a combination of the following: activation of emergency outdoor sirens with tonal and voice capabilities; notification through the e2Campus Emergency Alert system which includes phone text messages, email and voice mail for both cell and land line phones;  campus email; messages posted on the college’s web page;  fire alarms; phone trees for  residence hall staff, divisional personnel, and building contact persons;  posted notices in prominent areas of campus; vehicle loud speakers; and notification by word of mouth. Once Emergency Notification has been made, the institution does not also issue a Timely Warning Statement on the same situation. The institution will issue appropriate follow-up communication, as needed, advising as to the status of the situation and concerns deemed relevant to the campus population.

Employees and Residence Hall staff should make themselves aware of physical limitations of students and coworkers which could impede their timely egress from buildings. Persons in these roles should notify available emergency response personnel of the location of the person and nature of limitations.

The emergency response plan will be tested annually and the campus community will be advised of the outcome of the test. These tests can take different forms and may be announced or unannounced. The tests are intended as learning experiences for responders and the community at large.

Procedures for Reporting, Investigating, and Hearing Alleged Violations of Certain College Policies

Public Safety Escorts

Escorts to and from on-campus locations will be given to students, faculty, staff, and visitors for safety concerns, after dark, and for medical reasons. The intent of this service is to provide members of the College community with safe transportation who are either physically unable to traverse the campus or are concerned for their safety.  These escorts are only provided to and from locations on Berea College’s Campus and Public Safety Officers do not give escorts to or from off-campus locations.

Safety Escorts

Public Safety will provide escorts for up to three people after dark or for serious concerns for one’s safety or imminent harm.  These escorts may be provided using carts or patrol vehicles, or Public Safety Officer may provide a walking escort.  Because escorts are provided for safety reasons only, groups of three or more people requesting an escort may be denied.

Medical Escorts

Public Safety provides escorts as a service to the community and aids those with physical ailments in traversing the campus, when possible.  Public Safety will provide escorts for those with short term injuries for a limited time.  Individuals with long-term needs (e.g. physical disabilities, broken ankles, torn ACL, etc) will need to make arrangements for transportation or parking privileges through Disability Services or Labor and Student Life.  Specific needs for transportation (inability to get into patrol vehicles or tall carts) should be communicated with Public Safety Dispatch at the time of escort request.  Requests for transportation should be made at the time the transportation is needed, and cannot be scheduled ahead of time.  Public Safety cannot guarantee that an officer will be immediately available due to emergency response, so those with time sensitive appointments should plan accordingly.

General Information

Public Safety staff responds to all calls for escorts as quickly as possible.  However, due to staffing and service demands, there may be delays in response due high-priority emergency response.  Those requesting escorts should be at the pick-up location at the time of call.  The Public Safety Officer responding to the call may choose to wait on the caller, however they are not required to do so. It is the responsibility of the caller to be present when the Public Safety Officer arrives.  Public Safety reserves the right to deny escorts at their discretion due to callers not being present at officer arrival, disruptive behavior, or abuse of the service.   When the service for escorts is abused or fraudulently obtained, it could put the campus at risk by taking Public Safety away from regular patrols and other important safety and security matters.

Berea College Key Policy

Berea College CCTV Policy

Missing Person Notification Policy for Residential Students

Berea College has established a policy and procedures for responding to reports of missing students, as required under the Higher Education Act of 2008. This policy applies to students who reside on campus and are deemed to be missing from the College for more than 24 hours without known reason.

Reports on students suspected to be missing should be directed to the Public Safety Office, which will conduct an investigation in cooperation with the Labor & Student Life Office. All resident students shall be given an opportunity to identify an individual to be contacted by the College in case the student is determined to be missing.   Contact designations registered under this policy will be confidential. If a student is determined to be missing, Berea College will notify the designated contact person within 24 hours of such determination.  If the student is under 18 years of age, the College is required to also notify the parent or guardian. Public Safety will also notify the Berea Police Department.

Missing Person Reporting Procedures

  • Reports of missing persons should be directed to the Public Safety Office.
  • Public Safety, working with the Assistant Vice President for Student Life, will investigate the report.
  • If the student is deemed missing, the Assistant VP for Student Life will make every reasonable effort to notify the student’s designated missing person contact within 24 hours. If the student is under the age of 18, the student’s parent or guardian must also be notified.
  • If the student is deemed missing, the Director of Public Safety will notify the Berea City Police within 24 hours
  • The Assistant VP for Student Life will also notify appropriate college officials and initiate any additional actions deemed in the best interest of the student.

Procedures for Designation of Missing Person Emergency Contact Information

All residential first year students will be given the opportunity to designate confidential contact information as part of a required on-line orientation process.  Thereafter, the student will be responsible for updating contact information as needed.  All current and continuing students will be given the opportunity to provide and update confidential contact information within the first two weeks of every fall term.

Residence Hall Security

Emergency Operations Plan

Criminal, threatening or suspicious activity, as well as injury or serious illness, should be reported promptly by calling Public Safety at 859-985-3333. 

Officers have direct radio contact with Berea and Madison County emergency response personnel and can contact other agencies for assistance when conditions necessitate.

Public Safety is the central reporting and data management office for a criminal activity relating to the campus community.  Incident reports are entered into an electronic database and compiled by the department at the end of each calendar year for purposes of crime reporting.

If 911 is dialed in error, be sure to stay on the line and tell the operator that it is not an emergency.

911 is to be used only for a confirmed emergency situation which require immediate assistance of police, ambulance or fire personnel. 911 rings directly to the Madison County Emergency Response Center 24 hours a day.  An enhanced 911 system is also in operation in Berea and Madison County.  Please use discretion and dial 911 only in cases of true emergency.  If 911 is dialed in error, be sure to stay on the line and tell the operator that it is not an emergency.

Students and employees are notified by brochures, materials printed in the student handbook and email related to reporting crimes to campus Public Safety and to local law enforcement officials.

The Public Safety Director is the person responsible for the proper notification to State Fire Marshall’s Office for all fires and threats of fire.

All accidents and injuries involving students, guests, or employees should be reported to Public Safety as soon as possible. Investigative reports at accident scenes are made to help in determining if a situation exists which could pose a threat of injury or illness to others. When the institution is aware of a potential hazard, its officials take appropriate steps to provide timely warning to members of the campus community. Any criminal activity occurring on campus must be reported to Public Safety. All reports are investigated. Students and staff, of course, have the option of reporting crime directly to the city police (859-624-4776) or 911 and to request police assistance at any time during an investigation. The Berea Police Department is given an electronic copy of campus criminal activity reports.

Reports of incidents can be made via phone to Public Safety at (859)985-3333, email at public_safety@berea.edu, or through the LiveSafe App, which can be downloaded here for Iphone or here for Android.

Timely Warning and Emergency Notifications

Alcohol and Drug Education

Anti-Hazing-Policy

Crime Prevention Tips

Archive

Daily Crime and Fire Log

The daily crime and fire log can be viewed at the Public Safety office, along with the past months’ data outside of the Public Safety office. You may request a copy of the Daily Crime and Fire Log by email at public_safety@berea.edu.

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