Rowan College at Burlington County (RCBC) Department of Public Safety: An Overview
Rowan College at Burlington County (RCBC) is dedicated to providing a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment for all members of its community. To that end, the college has a Public Safety Department committed to enhancing the quality of life on campus. This article provides an overview of the RCBC Department of Public Safety, its functions, and its role within the college community.
Mission and Values
The RCBC Public Safety Department strives to enhance the quality of life on campus by providing the highest level of professional security and safety services. This is accomplished by integrating state-of-the-art technology and personal service to the college community.
The department is guided by the following values:
- Service
- Integrity
- Respect
- Professionalism
- Accountability
- Mentoring
- Appreciation
Responsibilities and Services
The RCBC Office of Public Safety is a non-sworn campus safety department. Its primary mission is to protect the safety of students, employees, and visitors, and to safeguard college property. The Public Safety Department has access to all areas, buildings, classrooms, custodial closets, offices, etc. The parking lots, walkways, and outside patios are well illuminated, patrolled, and monitored by the Public Safety Department.
The Public Safety Department provides a range of services, including:
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- Emergency Response: A Public Safety Officer is available 24 hours a day to answer calls at (856) 434-SAFE (7233) in Mount Laurel. At the Mount Holly Campus at (609) 267-5618, ext. 4100, Public Safety is only available during hours of operations. After hours, all incoming emergency calls will be routed from the centers to one of the campuses. For life-threatening emergencies, individuals are advised to call 911 first, then Public Safety, explaining the nature of the emergency, their name, the building and campus from which they are calling, and their exact location (room number).
- Security Patrols: Regular patrols of the campus are conducted to deter crime and ensure a safe environment.
- Incident Reporting: The department is responsible for documenting and investigating incidents that occur on campus.
- Parking and Traffic Enforcement: The department enforces parking and traffic regulations on college grounds.
- ID Card Services: The Public Safety Department issues student, faculty, and staff ID cards, which are required for accessing various campus resources.
- Vehicle Registration: Faculty, staff, and students must register their vehicles with RCBC’s Public Safety Department.
- Safety Education: The department provides educational programs and resources to promote safety awareness among the college community.
- Campus Emergencies Guide: The Campus Emergencies Guide is produced by the Public Safety Department to help assist the RCBC community during various types of emergencies. This guide covers campus emergencies, safety procedures, shelter-in-place protocols, how to report incidents, and evacuation guides.
- Suicide and Violence Prevention: RCBC is devoted to creating a safety net to help prevent suicide and violence by promoting awareness of warning signs and providing access to appropriate resources.
ID Cards and Access
The student ID card serves as the official college identification and must be carried at all times while on college premises. Students need their ID cards to access college services such as the Library, computer labs, Test Center, and College Store. Your RCBC ID opens activities and academic resources to you on our Mount Laurel and Mount Holly campuses. Your RCBC ID will help you: Access Laurel Hall, the Science Building, TEC, the Health Sciences building, and Mount Holly’s building.Check out books at the library and use its resources like the computer lab. and study rooms.Rent textbooks at the bookstore.Work out at the RecWell. To obtain an ID card, students must visit the Public Safety Department during business hours Monday through Friday and by phone call appointment on Saturday, presenting their current class schedule and a valid photo ID. A $20 replacement fee applies for each additional card required. If a student loses their ID card, they should fill out the provided form immediately.
Vehicle Registration and Parking Regulations
Faculty, staff, and students are required to register their vehicles with RCBC’s Public Safety Department. This can be done by visiting the Public Safety Department during business hours Monday through Friday and by phone call appointment on Saturday. To register a vehicle, individuals must present their state registration and a valid photo driver’s license. Users of the college parking lots will be issued two parking decals at no expense. There will be a $10 charge for additional decals. Students must notify Public Safety when a vehicle should be deleted from the Public Safety records.
All privately owned vehicles driven by students must be parked in designated student lots, and failure to comply will result in a citation. Should a student, faculty, or staff member need to temporarily park a vehicle on campus other than the vehicle registered with the RCBC Public Safety Department, the individual must immediately report to the Public Safety Department to obtain a temporary parking pass.
Parking is restricted to designated parking lots, and students must park only in designated spaces. Complete parking rules and regulations can be found in the Student Handbook.
Traffic and Parking Violations
Users of the college campus who fail to comply with parking and traffic regulations on college grounds are subject to fines. These include:
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Failure to display RCBC parking permit - $10
Parking Violations:
- first offense: $10
- second offense: $20
- third offense: $30
- fourth or more: $40 and/or towing and/or loss of parking privileges
Moving Violations:
- first offense: $25
- second offense: $40
- third offense: $75
Parking in handicapped areas without a NJ state handicap decal - $250 and/or towing and/or loss of parking privileges
A service charge of $10 will be added for violations. Failure to pay fines or file an appeal may result in freezing of student accounts. Students whose accounts are frozen may not register at any time in the future until the financial obligation is fulfilled. Fines may be paid to the Business Office. Checks or money orders should be made payable to Rowan College at Burlington County.
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An appeal process is in place for contesting parking tickets. To appeal a ticket, individuals must complete the Traffic Appeals Form, which is available online. Appeals are only accepted through this online process and are reviewed by the Parking Ticket Appeals Committee, which typically meets on the last Thursday of each month. Response letters are generally sent within five business days after the committee meeting. The college reserves the right to revoke the motor vehicle privilege of anyone who continuously violates the motor vehicle regulations through action of the appropriate authority.
Clery Act and Crime Statistics
Campus Safety and Security Reporting requires Rowan College at Burlington County to:
- Publish an annual report every year by October 1 that contains three years of campus crime statistics and certain campus security policy statements.
- Disclose crime statistics for the campus, public areas immediately adjacent to or running through the campus, and certain non-campus facilities and remote classrooms.
In 2019, Rowan College at Burlington County reported 22 safety-related incidents involving students on or near campus or at other properties affiliated with the school. Based on a student body population of 8,439, that's 2.61 incidents per 1,000 students.
The following table summarizes the number of incidents by category:
| Category | Number of Incidents | Number of Incidents per 1,000 students |
|---|---|---|
| Arrests for Major Crimes | 2 | 0.24 |
| Arrests for Possession | 15 | 1.78 |
| Violence Against Women | 2 | 0.24 |
| Disciplinary Actions | 3 | 0.36 |
RCBC's Role Regarding Federal Law Enforcement Agencies
As a public county college, RCBC complies with all applicable federal and state laws. The College does not proactively assist, participate in, or coordinate immigration enforcement activities. Any interaction with federal law enforcement agencies occurs only when legally required, such as in response to a valid judicial warrant, subpoena, or court order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction.
RCBC’s Office of Public Safety:
- Do not have the authority to enforce federal immigration law
- Do not inquire about immigration or citizenship status
- Do not conduct immigration-related investigations or arrests
Public Safety’s involvement with any external law enforcement agency is limited to lawful requests and is consistent with constitutional protections and college policy. RCBC is committed to protecting student privacy in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and other applicable laws.
Contact Information
For any questions or concerns, the Public Safety Department can be contacted at:
- Mount Laurel: (856) 222-9311, ext. 2100
- Mount Holly: (609) 267-5618, ext. 4100
- Emergency Line: (856) 434-SAFE (7233)
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