Annual Campus Security
and Fire Safety Report
CLERY for WEB 2008-2010
Fire Protection Equipment
Fire Statistics
Fire Safety Building Addresses
The University Police have the same law enforcement authority as deputy sheriffs on University property. WVU police officers have the authority to make arrests on WVU owned, -leased, or -controlled property and on property immediately adjacent to the WVU facilities. Our Department is well-respected by all local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and has developed very effective and cooperative working relations with these agencies. The department has entered into written Memoranda of Understanding with all local agencies. WVU has established a Memorandum of Understanding with the Morgantown Police Department to provide specialized investigative assistance upon request and other services when required. The University Police are charged with the responsibility for investigation, follow-up, apprehension, and resolution of any incident reported to us. For the department to achieve its mission, it is critical that all members of the community report crimes promptly and accurately.
The University Police, through news releases, brochures and publications, presentations, and one-on-one encounters encourage the accurate and prompt reporting of not only crimes on campus, but any suspicious activity or security breach that may be witnessed by the public.
The University Police believe in and practice Community-Based Policing. We believe that community involvement and support are critical to our success. We provide information concerning security to new employees during their orientation, to new students through Orientation Presentations and the “Eyes and ‘Eers,” which is published and distributed by Student Affairs. We also have information in the Employee and Student Handbooks, telephone directories, and other publications.
Crime Prevention Programs
We have a wide variety of Crime Prevention Programs from orientation training for new employees and students, Operation ID., Operation Lock-Out in Residence Halls to “You Could Have Been Ripped Off” programs. We supply daily releases of all reported activities to the University’s student newspaper and the local newspaper, and we supply a variety of Crime Prevention materials to many facilities, with emphasis on the Library systems, the Visitor Center, the Student Union, and the Residence Halls.
All of these programs are ongoing and are incorporated into our patrol activities with insecure Premises Reporting, Crime Prevention briefings with incident reporting, and individual instruction by patrol officers to members of the public.
For additional information about crime prevention and education programming, see our website at http://police.wvu.edu/safety_on_campus. or call 304-293-COPS (304-293-2677) and ask for the Training Unit.
Security Awareness Programs
The mission of the University Police Department is to provide a safe and secure environment for everyone at West Virginia University. This publication is designed to provide you with information regarding the security awareness programs offered at this institution, and your responsibility to promote safety. The security awareness programs are designed to inform students and employees about campus security procedures and practices and to encourage students and employees to be responsible for their own security and the security of others.
West Virginia University has taken prudent steps to promote a safe and secure environment that is compatible with the University community’s academic and co-curricular pursuits. We solicit your support in making our University community safe and secure by accepting responsibility for your actions and committing to participate in programs to assist others.
No institution can guarantee the total safety and security of all its members. Only through community support and involvement can we be successful in achieving our goal. We ask you to help us by not taking unnecessary risks, by locking your door and securing the facilities when you leave, and reporting any suspicious activity or crime immediately. Together, we can help make West Virginia University a more safe and secure environment for the community.
Crime Reporting
At West Virginia University we are members of the 911 Emergency Services Network. To report a crime in progress or an emergency, contact the University Police by dialing 9-911 from any University (293) exchange. You can contact the department at (304) 293-3136 for non-emergencies. If you would like to stop by the department to file a report, the department is located at 3040 University Avenue on the third floor. Also, for your safety, we have 36 emergency phones located across our campus in high traffic areas. The locations of these phones are identified on the following maps:
Downtown Campus blue lights
Evansdale Campus blue lights
We strongly encourage you to report all crimes or suspicious activities that you may witness while on campus. Crimes should be reported to the WVUPD for the purpose of making timely warning reports to the community and for annual statistical disclosure.
Confidential Reporting
WVUPD does not currently accept anonymous confidential voluntary reporting by victims or witnesses, nor do we encourage the confidential voluntary reporting by professional counselors or pastors.
WVU Response to Incident Reports
WVUPD will make every reasonable effort to promptly and professionally resolve any problem reported to the department. In response to a call, WVUPD will take the required action, either dispatching an officer or asking the victim to report to WVUPD HQ to file an incident report. WVUPD incident reports involving violations of the law or the Code of Student Conduct are forwarded to the Office of Student Conduct and the Office of Residential Education for potential action, as deemed appropriate. Individuals may be arrested for violations of the law. If assistance is required from the Morgantown Police or Fire Department, WVUPD will contact the appropriate unit. If a sexual assault or rape should occur, staff on the scene, including WVUPD, will offer the victim a wide variety of services.
Annual Disclosure of Crime Statistics
The University Police Department is charged with collecting statistics and preparing the Jeanne Clery Act Report. The department collects the data from various sources including the Office of Student Life, Housing and Residence Life, and the Morgantown Police Department. A written request for statistical information is made on an annual basis to all Campus Security Authorities (as defined by federal law).
Timely Warning Notices
The Chief of Police, Crime Prevention Sergeant, or a designee writes the Crime Notices. the police staff send the notices to the News and Information Services Department (NIS), and they send the alert to the students and employees. They also distribute it to the local media. The timely warning notices are distributed to the WVU community using blast email systems.
Crime notices are usually distributed for the following Uniformed Crime Reporting Program (UCR)/National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS) classifications: criminal homicide and robbery. Instances of arson will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and a warning will be issued if there is an on-going serious threat to the community. Aggravated assaults and sex offenses are considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on the facts of the case and the information known by the WVUPD. For example, if an assault occurs between two students who have a disagreement, there may be no on-going threat to other WVU community members, an a crime notice would not be distributed. Sexual Assault cases are reviewed and a decision to issue a warning is made on a case-by-case basis, depending on several factors, such as when the incident was reported versus when it occurred. Sexual assault cases are often reported weeks and months after the assault occurred, thus not affording the institution the opportunity to distribute a “timely” crime notice to the community. The WVUPD will also review the facts of each case and the amount of information known by the department, as these cases are often reported to WVUPD via a third party, and the specific facts surrounding the cases that would be included in a timely warning notice are often unknown. Timely Warning Notices may also be posted for other crime classifications, as deemed necessary, by the Chief of Police or his designee.
WVU ALERT is one layer that sends mass communications to those subscribed. It is free, and sign-up can be made from the University homepage or from the link in red letters, in the top right corner above.
Security, Access, and Facilities Maintenance
We strive to make our facilities available to students, faculty, and staff so they may pursue their educational goals and missions. This availability requires a balance with security needs. It is not our desire to lock down all our facilities, giving a military appearance to University facilities. For this reason, many of our academic and administrative buildings are accessible during all hours with appropriate clearance.
Our Campus Police Department proactively patrols the campuses in Morgantown. Though rarely needed, 37 emergency phones located throughout campus summon emergency help quickly.
The residence halls are staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by trained professional and student staff who serve as resource persons for each resident. The residence halls are open during the day from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The Night Staff supervises security and safety in the residence halls from midnight to 8:00 a.m; the outside entrances are locked and the buildings are patrolled from 9:00 p.m. until the residence hall staff unlocks them in the morning. No person may enter the residence halls after 9:00 p.m. without presenting a valid resident identification card.
The University Police Department, Facilities Management and others are committed to maintaining a safe environment by evaluating lighting, shrubs and bushes and facility design. We encourage you to report any hazards or concerns to our office by dialing 3-COPS (3-2677) on campus phones, or 304-293-COPS on non-campus phones.
Policy on Off-Campus Criminal Activity
The University does have many officially recognized student organizations that have housing facilities “off-campus”. The houses are not within the boundaries of the campus police’s jurisdiction. The campus does request that Morgantown Police Department (MPD) monitor criminal activity at off-campus locations controlled by student organizations, but if the Morgantown Police respond to those locations as the result of a complaint, they will typically notify WVUPD to respond with them, or they will notify WVUPD after they have responded to inform them of the situation. However, MPD does this out of courtesy, and is not “required” to notify or involve WVUPD when they respond to a call involving private property. WVU provides training and prevention programs for these campus locations upon request.
Policy on Alcoholic Beverages
West Virginia University is primarily concerned with the health, safety, and well being of all students with the respect to the intelligent use and non-use of alcohol. The University expects those who use alcohol to do so responsibly and within the bounds of the laws of the State of West Virginia and the City of Morgantown. WVUPD enforces compliance with West Virginia laws regarding the possession, use, and sale of alcohol.
General State Laws
Possession, use, or consumption of alcoholic beverages, including beer, by anyone under the age of twenty-one is a violation of the West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Commission statue. It is also a violation of this same statute for anyone to buy for, give to, or sell to anyone under the age of twenty-one any alcoholic beverages, including beer or for anyone under the age of twenty-one to misrepresent his or her age, or who for such purpose presents or offers any written evidence of age which is false, fraudulent or not actually his or her own.
Policy on Drugs
WVUPD enforces compliance with West Virginia laws and University policies regarding the possession, use, and sale of illegal drugs on campus.
Drug-Free Workplace Policy
West Virginia University has established awareness programs for students, faculty, and staff through the Student Assistance Program (SAP) and the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP). Drug and alcohol education programs are established by SAP and FSAP for the purpose of educating employees and students regarding the nature and consequences of alcohol and drug abuse. These two programs provide appropriate information, education, consultation and referral, as well as addressing the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse in the workplace.
The University Police enforce State and Federal laws as they may apply to violations occurring on West Virginia University property. Enforcement is measured against the best interest of society and the individual, and where treatment may serve the larger need, then treatment is preferred.
Hate Crime Reporting
The University Police collect and report statistics for murder, sex offenses, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, manslaughter, arson, theft, simple assault, intimidation, and destruction of property when the victim is intentionally selected because of actual or perceived race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or disability of the victim.
Sexual Assault Prevention Programming and Information
Sexual assault is taken very seriously by our institution. We believe very strongly in educational programs to prevent such assault and training to properly handle assault should it occur.
Sexual assault can happen to anyone, no matter how prepared or cautious they may be. Victims should not blame themselves or hesitate to report the incident. Whatever the circumstances, victims often fear being blamed, humiliated, or not believed. These feelings of fear, guilt, and helplessness can lead to depression, illness, and trouble with academics and relationships.
Remember, no one deserves or asks to be sexually assaulted. You are encouraged to report any incident of sexual assault to the WVU Police at (304) 293-3136. Victims of sexual assault have the right to notify the Morgantown Police Department, and WVUPD personnel will assist the student in notifying these authorities, if the student requests the assistance. Individuals may also report a sex offense to the institution’s Title IX coordinator. This office is responsible for coordinating the institution’s compliance with Title IX. The Title IX Coordinator is the Executive Officer of the President’s Office for Social Justice, phone (304) 293-5496, B1 Stewart Hall, Box 6202, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506-6202. The institution’s sexual harassment policy, including a description of the grievance procedures, can be found at http://socialjustice.wvu.edu/policies_and_training/sexual_harrassment_policy
In addition, the following resources are available to victims to obtain a medical examination, and take advantage of available support systems:
WVU Sexual Assault Resources
Medical:
—Ruby Memorial Hospital 304-598-4171 (Within 72 hours of assault, Rape Evidence Collection)
—University Health Service 304-293-2311 (Examine for trauma, STDs, pregnancy)
Report:
On-Campus:
—The University Police Department 304-293-3136
Off-Campus:
—City – Morgantown Police Department 304-284-7522
—County/State – Sheriff’s Office 304-291-7260
—West Virginia State Police 304-285-3200
—Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center 304-292-5100
Support Services:
On-Campus:
—Student Health Service 304-293-2311 (medical, psychiatric resources)
—Dean of Student Life 304-293-5611
—WVU Student Legal Services 304-293-4897 (legal information)
—University Advising Center 304-293-5800 (academic advising)
—WVU Carruth Counseling and Psychological Services Center 304-293-4431
—Residence Life (resource for changes in living arrangements) 304-293-2811
Off-Campus
—Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center 304-292-5100; (hotline 24 hr. advocacy)
—Monongalia Health Department 304-598-5100 (free, confidential testing for sexually transmitted diseases, incl. HIV)
Possible sanctions for sexual assault or other sex offenses by the institution following an on-campus disciplinary hearing are as follows:
—Housing and Residence Life may issue letters of warning for deferred removal, or they may immediately remove the student from campus housing and refer them to Student Life for further action.
—Student Life may take actions ranging from issuing a letter of probationary warning to expulsion of the student(s).
—The University Police may refer the incident to Student Life or Residence Life after conferring with the Prosecuting Attorney or may obtain arrest warrants and seek prosecution under state statutes.
In cases of alleged sexual assault or other sex offenses handled through on-campus disciplinary hearings, the following statements shall be appropriate:
—The accuser and accused are entitled to the same opportunities to have others present during their proceedings; and
—The accuser and accused shall be informed of the outcome of any disciplinary proceeding alleging a sexual assault.
The University will, upon written request, disclose to the alleged victim of a crime of violence (as that term is defined in Section 16 of Title 18, United States Code), or any non-forcible sex offense, the report on the results of any University disciplinary proceeding against a student who is the alleged perpetrator of such crime or offense. If the alleged victim is deceased as a result of such crime or offense, the next of kin of such victim will be treated as the alleged victim for the purpose of this policy.
Students may obtain assistance in changing academic and living situations after an alleged sexual assault by contacting the Dean of Student Life or the Director of Housing and Residence Life. Requested changes will be accommodated when reasonably available.
If you are raped or sexually assaulted, you should take the following steps:
1. Get medical attention immediately.
2. Save your clothing.
3. Report the incident to the police even if you decide not to prosecute.
4. Take advantage of available support systems.
5. Try to preserve all physical evidence. Do not wash, use the toilet, or change clothing if you can avoid it. If you do change clothes, put all clothing you were wearing at the time of the attack in a paper, not plastic, bag.
The institution offers a wide range of educational programs concerning sexual assaults. The programs are too numerous to mention in this publication. For more details, please call those agencies listed above for specific details or scheduling.
Again, sexual assaults are very serious incidents and as a member of our community, we need your active involvement in preventing or reducing the opportunities for sexual assaults. Report any suspicious activities to the University Police, and be alert while on campus.
Registered Sex Offender information
The State of West Virginia requires sex offenders to register with the State Police.
The State makes this information available to law enforcement agencies.
This information is available to the public at the following website:
http://www.wvstatepolice.com/sexoff
Emergency Planning, Response, and Evacuation
West Virginia University has developed an emergency response plan that complies with the National Incident Management System and provides facility-specific planning assistance. We encourage all community members to become familiar with their building plans and campus plan. Brochures and the University Emergency Response Plan may be viewed at http://police.wvu.edu/emergency_management
If officials order evacuation of the campus, leave as soon as possible (preferably during daylight hours). Avoid flooded roads and watch for washed out bridges. Roads and bridges frequently become crowded and traffic moves slowly. Evacuation will probably take longer than expected, so give yourself plenty of time.
If a fire occurs in a WVU building, community members should begin the evacuation process immediately and should call 911 as soon as it is safe to do so. Fire alarms alert community members of potential hazards, and community members are required to heed their warning and evacuate buildings immediately upon hearing a fire alarm in a facility. Use the nearest stairwell and/or exit to leave the building immediately. Community members should familiarize themselves with the exits in each building. The Fire Marshal can levy fines and penalties to individuals who fail to evacuate a building promptly—but a more important reason for evacuating is for safety reasons!
When a fire alarm is activated, the elevators in most buildings will stop automatically. Occupants should use the stairs to evacuate the building. If you are caught in the elevator, push the emergency phone button. The emergency phones in elevators on campus typically ring to the WVUPD Communications Center.
Immediate Notification
In the event of confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation that poses an immediate threat to the health and safety of members of the WVU community, the University will immediately notify the campus community. Various offices or personnel on campus could be in a position to confirm an emergency situation or incident that poses a threat to the health and safety of members of the West Virginia University community, including but not limited to: the WVUPD, Student Health Services, the Office of Radiation Safety, Environmental Health and Safety, a Building Engineer, and/or the local Fire Hazardous Materials Team.
The University employs a layered approach to emergency notification. WVU has various systems in place, including: the WVU Alert System, which includes text messaging, email, and a direct link to the message boards located in strategic facilities across campus; phone trees; in person communication; local media outlets; the WVU Radio Station (91.7FM); Fire Alarm systems; and the WVU website home page. The Health Sciences Center, the Stadium, and the Coliseum also have Public Address systems that could be used to communicate with building occupants during an emergency.
WVU ALERT is free, and members of the WVU community can sign up on the University home page or from the link in red letters, in the top right corner above.
The WVU Alerts are written by the person who initiates the alert, and he/she determines the appropriate segment of the community to receive the alert. The alerts are typically initiated by the WVU Police Department Communications Center, with approval of the Shift Supervisor or an administrator of the Police Department. The News and Information Services Department (NIS) serves as a back-up for initiating the WVU Alert System if the Police are unable to send the alert. NIS initiates the communication with local media, and manages the WVU website home page. The phone trees and in-person communication is typically initiated by the Police Department and/or Campus Administrators, Department Heads, or Building Supervisors. The fire alarm systems are used by the Police Department to evacuate campus buildings when necessary, but the alarm system can also be activated by any building occupant, if necessary. The Public Address systems in the Health Sciences Center, the Stadium, and the Coliseum may be activated by authorized personnel via the Communications Center on site.
WVU will, without delay and taking into account the safety of the community, determine the content of the notification and initiate the notification system, unless issuing a notification will, in the judgment of the first responders (including, but not limited to WVUPD, MPD, and MFD), compromise the efforts to assist a victim or to contain, respond to, or otherwise mitigate the emergency.
Follow-up information is typically posted on the WVU Today website, and when emergency messages are sent to the community, community members are typically encouraged to go to this website for updates and additional information.
Each student can sign up two additional people in the WVU Alert system. One of those individuals can receive a text message, and the other can receive an email message. Parents, Morgantown residents, and other interested parties have access to the information provided by the local media outlets; the WVU Radio Station (91.7FM); and the WVU website home page.
The University Police will send an email notice at the beginning of each semester to the campus community to remind them of the emergency plans and their need to be engaged in the process and prepared.
The University performs full-scale exercises, table-top exercises, and/or functional exercises on an annual basis to evaluate the emergency response and evacuation plan and training needs.
Missing Person Contact Registration and Missing Person Protocol
The University will request of all new students residing in on-campus housing each year that they provide, on a voluntary basis, missing person contact information, in addition to general emergency contact information. The missing person contact information will be registered confidentially, and the information will be accessible only to authorized campus officials and law enforcement in the furtherance of a missing person investigation.
You can fill in or update your Missing Persons Information by logging in to your MIX account.
If a West Virginia University student living in University-operated housing is suspected to be missing from campus, immediately report it to a residence hall staff member (i.e. residence hall coordinator, resident faculty leader, resident assistant) or the University Police Department (UPD). If a missing person is reported to a residence hall staff member, they are required to immediately report the missing person to the WVU Police Department.
If the student resides off-campus, contact the University Police for assistance at 304-293-COPS (2677).
All reports of missing students made to the residence hall staff and/or the UPD will be investigated. If the investigation determines that the student has been missing over 24 hours then within the next 24 hours the University will:
- Notify the individual identified as your missing person contact;
- If under 18 years of age and not emancipated, the University will notify a parent or guardian; and;
- If you are over 18 years of age, the University will notify the appropriate law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction in the area where the student is missing.
Daily Crime Log
The WVU Police Department maintains a Daily Crime Log of all incidents reported to the Police Department. This includes all crimes that occur on campus, in areas patrolled by the WVU Police Department, in non-campus buildings or properties, on public property running through or immediately adjacent to the campuses.
The Daily Crime Log includes the incident type, date incident is reported, date and time of occurrence, and general location of each reported incident type, as well as the disposition of the incident, if this information is known. The Police Department posts specific incidents in the Daily Crime Log within two (2) business days of receiving a report of an incident and reserves the right to exclude reports from a log in certain circumstances as permitted by law. The most current 60 days of information are available online at the WVUPD web page, or at WVUPD Headquarters located at the Prete Building at 3040 University Avenue during normal business hours. Requested logs older than 60 days will be made available within two (2) business days.
WVU Fire Safety Report
2010 – 2011 Campus Fire Safety Annual Compliance Report
Overview:
The Higher Education Opportunity Act (Public Law 110-315) became law in August 2008, requiring all United States academic institutions to produce an annual fire safety report outlining the fire safety practices, standards, and all fire related on-campus housing statistics. The following public disclosure report details all information required by this law as it relates to West Virginia University.
General Statement:
West Virginia University is committed to providing a fire safe environment for its faculty, staff, students, and visitors and to protecting the property through an effective fire prevention, protection and response program. All WVU residence halls have approved fire alarm, and fire suppression sprinkler systems that are inspected and tested annually per the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The fire alarm and suppression systems are electronically monitored 24 hours/day, seven days/week and notify the 911 system automatically upon actuation.
Training:
WVU Residence Hall Directors and Coordinators, Faculty Leaders and Fraternities receive comprehensive hands on fire safety training at the beginning each academic year by Environmental Health and Safety and the Morgantown Fire Department. Additionally, each RHD, RHC and Fraternity manager provide training to each student floor in their respective dormitory and fraternity. The emergency evacuation procedures used are outlined in the “Eyes &’ Eers Resource Guide”.
The emergency evacuation procedures are as follows:
If a Fire is detected you should:- Activate the nearest alarm.
- Evacuate the building safely, and do not use the elevator.
- Turn on the overhead lights in your room.
- Close your windows.
- Close and lock your door.
- You must leave the building via the nearest stairway on your floor.
- Walk calmly to the exterior of the building. It is very important that you become familiar with this route of exit. If you are trapped in a room, place a towel or clothing in the crack at the bottom of the door, move to the window, and alert rescue personnel by calling 9-911. Do not jump. Await rescue personnel. If possible, open the window at the top and bottom to let fresh air in and heat and smoke out. Keep your room door closed.
- Be sure the stairway door is closed behind you if no other residents are following you.
- Do not return to the building until the signal is given to reenter by the staff member in charge.
If you are a person with a disability (even temporarily), notify your RA before a possible emergency; Contact rescue personnel by calling 9-911 during an emergency.
Treat every fire alarm as though it is real. You will have no indication whether the alarm is real or a drill. If you detect even a minor fire, you must pull the nearest alarm and follow the procedures described above. All fires should be reported immediately by calling 9-911 so that a professional can make certain that the fire is out and will not recur, and so that the fire extinguisher can be refilled promptly. University officials take false alarms seriously. Persons found responsible of pulling false fire alarms are subject to removal from their University residence hall, suspension from WVU, and prosecution to the full extent of the law.
Emergency Evacuation Maps:
Emergency evacuation maps are posted on each floor and in each student room to direct residents to approved exits. Resident Assistants conduct periodic floor meetings and discuss fire safety evacuation procedures. Additional training is conducted upon request.
Mandatory Fire Drills:
Fire Drills are conducted twice per year, each academic semester, to familiarize students with our emergency system. This activity is initiated by the Resident Hall Coordinator in each dormitory and coordinated with MECCA, Morgantown Fire Department, WVU Police, and Facilities Management group. The Resident Hall Director maintains records of the dates and times of all fire drills.
Fire Prevention Policies:
It is the policy of WVU to provide a fire safe environment. WVU’s goal is to recognize hazardous conditions and take appropriate action before such conditions result in a fire. This is accomplished by conducting annual safety inspections of all university buildings with the State Board of Risk Management, Environmental Health and Safety and the Morgantown Fire Department.
Fire Investigations are coordinated by Environmental Health and Safety and conducted in conjunction with the WV State Fire Marshal, Morgantown Fire Department and the State Board of Risk and Insurance Management. Violations are identified and corrective action is addressed.
To minimize the potential fire fires, West Virginia University has specific policies and procedures that students are required to follow. Noncompliance with these measures will be considered a student conduct/disciplinary matter.
- Toasters
- Electric ovens
- Waffle irons
- Sandwich makers
- Crock pots
- Live trees – if bulb is not attached – are prohibited
- Flammable or Combustible materials
- Portable heaters
- Electric grills
- Any appliance with an open flame heating element
- Candles
- Incense
- Microwave ovens (unless approved by the University)
- Electric and kerosene heaters
- Extension cords or multi-receptacle outlets (UL listed power strips with surge protectors are permitted)
- Gasoline, lighter fluid, or any combustible or flammable material
- Halogen lamps
Decorations
Students who choose to decorate their room must adhere to the following rules:
- Use electrical decorations that are UL approved only;
- Do not use lights on metallic trees;
- Use decorations made from flame-retardant materials only;
- Do not place decorations on light fixtures, sprinklers, smoke detectors, etc.;
- Do not hang tapestries or other decorations from ceiling or doorway;
- Do not use live pine, extension cords, candles (oil or wax-based), candle warmers, or incense;
- Do not use live Christmas trees;
- Do not hang items outside the window.
Room Safety
- Use or possession of open flame (i.e., burning candles, burning incense) or open element appliances, including toasters, hot plates, and hot pot’s in residence hall rooms or other unauthorized areas is not permitted.
- Cooking in residence hall rooms or other unauthorized areas is prohibited.
- Residents and guests may not devise any unsafe situation in which a member of the residence hall community can be injured.
Smoking - Smoking is not permitted in residence halls or designated smoke-free areas. This includes but is not limited to residence halls rooms, common areas, bathrooms, sidewalks, patios, stairways, and any other walkway that directly leads to a building entrance.
Explosive Devices
- A student may not make, possess, or threaten to make or use a bomb, explosive incendiary device or fireworks.
- If found responsible for such a violation, the student will be removed from University Housing.
Fraternities
- All WVU owned and managed Fraternities adhere to the policies mentioned above.
- All Fraternities, with the exception of Sigma Alpha Mu, 709 N. High St., have commercial kitchens and have an outside vendor cooking for the residents. The residents are not permitted access to these areas for personal cooking. All of these kitchens are inspected annually by the Morgantown Fire Marshal to ensure they meet all current fire safety standards.
Fire Log - WVU maintains an incident fire log, including the nature, date, time, and general location of each fire in our residence halls. WVU will add fraternities to the data system beginning October 2010.
- The University’s fire incident log will be posted on WVU Environmental Health and Safety and University Police website for public viewing.
Plans for future improvements in fire safety - WVU will provide future improvements as needed.