Campus Safety and Security

Campus Safety and Security

In support of student wellness and safety, the following information will guide you in the event you or someone you know is in need of assistance. The Otis College community provides you with resources and information to allow informed decision making about your personal safety and health.

In the event of an emergency or crisis, call 9-1-1.

General Safety Tips

Although the areas surrounding the Otis College Goldsmith Campus and MFA studios location are relatively safe, please be cautious and aware of your surroundings.

• There is safety in numbers. Walk in groups or use the buddy system, especially after dark.
• Walk briskly and know your destination. If you see a person or persons who look suspicious, change your path and cross the street.
• Walk in well-lit and well-trafficked areas. Avoid shortcuts that take you through alleys, past heavy foliage, or near other places where someone might be hiding.
• Do not walk while talking on a cell phone or using other electronic devices. You will become a target when others see what you have.
• Do not carry large amounts of cash. Do not wear expensive jewelry that draws attention to you. Carry bags, purses, or valuable equipment such as cameras and computers close to your body or out of sight.
• Vehicles parked on the street can present an easy opportunity for thieves and vandals. Keep valuables out of sight in a locked trunk or leave them at home.

Whenever you live in an urban environment, you need to establish a file with pertinent information that will help you if you are the victim of a crime. Your file should include the following:

1. Credit card numbers and toll-free numbers to report lost or stolen cards;
2. The telephone number of your insurance agent;
3. Your license plate and vehicle identification numbers;
4. Your driver’s license number;
5. An extra set of keys;
6. Your bank account numbers and the customer service number for your bank, in case checks are lost or stolen.

Crime Suppression, Prevention, and Training

Campus Safety and Security uses a variety of crime suppression and prevention methods including foot patrol, and vehicular patrol to monitor college activities 24 hours a day. Otis College Campus Safety Officers are required to obtain the following certifications:

• P.O.S.T. Training, as required by all local municipal police officers
• B.S.I.S. Training and license
• First Aid, CPR/AED 
• Authority and Jurisdiction
• Certified Campus Protection Officer
  
  

Training for department personnel covers a variety of topics, ranging from emergency response to criminal law and patrol techniques to report writing. All officers receive a minimum reserve police academy training certification by the California Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training. This requirement may be waived if the officer possesses a minimum of 300 hours of training/education in the field. After training, each officer must complete a 10-week training program. 

ICE Your Cell Phone

Enter a phone number into your cell phone’s memory with the acronym ice, which stands for in case of an emergency, with the contact person’s name and phone number.

Anonymous Reporting

If you would like to report an issue anonymously to Campus Safety or Student Affairs you can do so by reporting an incident report and not including any of your personal information here https://www.otis.edu/incident-reports.

If you need to report an emergency call Campus Safety at 310-665-6965 or 9-1-1.

Clery Act and Crime Report

The federal government mandates the disclosure of certain crime statistics so that students, employees, and families can be educated about the safety of College campuses. Please be aware that these are statistics for the most severe forms of crime. Students should still be vigilant about their personal safety and take care of their personal possessions.

A Campus Safety Officer or Security Officer is available 24 hours a day. Campus Safety and Security Officers make regularly scheduled rounds of the building and its perimeter. Please contact Campus Safety immediately at 310-665-6965 if you need assistance. If you need the Los Angeles Police Department or paramedic assistance, dial 911.

The daily crime log is available online at https://www.otis.edu/campus-safety/crime-fire-log and the reports detail crime statistics, as reported to the Chief Safety and Security Officer for the Goldsmith Campus and the MFA Studios and are provided in accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act. The annual security report (ASR) includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus, in certain off-campus buildings, and on public property. The crime report is prepared in cooperation with the local law enforcement agencies surrounding our locations, the Dean of Student Affairs, who supervises residence life and housing and student conduct, and the Chief Safety and Security Officer, who oversees campus security.

To request an individual hard copy of the campus crime statistics, please contact Campus Safety and Security at (310) 665-6965 or email campussafety@otis.edu. The following crime reports can be found online at https://www.otis.edu/campus-safety/annual-security-report.

For additional information regarding timely warnings, policy regarding enforcement authority, and all other campus safety resources, go to https://www.otis.edu/campus-safety.

Drug-Free Workplace

Otis College is a drug-free environment and the College will not tolerate the manufacture, distribution, dispensation, sale, purchase, possession, offer to sell, and/or use of any illegal drugs (as defined by the statutes of the state of California) in any Otis College facility or at any Otis College function. Any student found to have violated the Alcohol and Other Drug policy will be subject to arrest and disciplinary action in accordance with the Code of Student Conduct Policy. To read more about the drug free schools act, please go to https://www.otis.edu/campus-safety/drug-free-schools-act. 

Non Motorized Vehicles

The use of skateboards, hover-boards, bicycles, in-line skates, and any other nonmotorized transportation shall be allowed only as a means of transportation on public sidewalks and streets immediately adjacent to College property. Skateboards, bicycles, in-line skates, and other non motorized vehicles are not permitted for use inside any Otis College facility or building, on the College grounds, or in the parking structure. Bicycles must be placed on the bike racks outside. Violators will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.

Right to Be Informed

Otis College faculty, staff, and students as integral members of the academic community, all have the right of free access to information on policies and procedures involving campus security, the reporting of criminal action and other emergencies, and the enforcement authority of security personnel. Otis College has the corresponding responsibility to publish or in other ways make known descriptions of programs regarding campus security and crime prevention as well as statistics on the occurrence of specific crimes. Notification of the annual security report is made by the College’s Chief Safety and Security Officer, and the full report is posted on the College website each October at www.otis.edu/annual-crime-report. Hardcopies are available from the security office.

Roof Access Policy

Otis College specifically prohibits employees (with the exception of safety, security, and operations personnel) and students from being on the roofs of all college buildings including but not limited to the Residence Hall. While safety, security, and operations personnel must comply with this policy in the course of normal operations, they are exempt during emergencies and may provide access to authorized personnel and first responders as needed. Contractors requiring roof access will work with the office of operations/facilities and the office of campus safety and security.

Weapons on Campus

Possession, use, or distribution of explosives (including fireworks and ammunition), guns (including air, plastic, BB, paintball, facsimile weapons, and pellet guns), or other weapons or dangerous objects such as arrows, axes, machetes, nunchucks, throwing stars, or knives (switchblade or belt buckle) with a blade of longer than two inches, including the storage of any item that falls within the category of a weapon in a vehicle parked on College property, are prohibited from being used as part of art projects, displays, installations, and presentations. Artistic and ceremonial display or possession of a weapon may be permitted by filling out an "Exhibition and Facilities Use contract" found online at www.otis.edu/exhibition-facilities-use-contracts.