Campus Security Procedures

MTS Identification Badges: All Students, faculty, and staff will be issued an MTS photo identification badge (ID badge) at registration or upon the start of employment ...

Click here to download the MTS Identification Badges Procedures infomation.

Reporting Crime and Emergencies

Students, faculty, staff, and visitors to campus are encouraged to report emergencies and criminal activity to the Public Safety Office. To report an emergency, dial 911 from any campus telephone. It is important to report crime and cooperate with police so proper investigation can occur. Anonymous crime reports can be sent to Public Safety Office, 168 E. Parkway S., Memphis, TN 38104.

Campus Security Authorities must document crimes they have personally observed or have been reported to them. Campus Security Authorities may use the General Incident Reporting Form (GIRF) to report crimes. These reports must be immediately forwarded to the Public Safety Office. Those crimes observed by a Campus Security Authority or reported to by a victim, offender, or witness of said crimes are included in the campus crime statistics. In accordance to the Jeanne Clery Act and the Department of Education guidelines, professional and/or pastoral counselors must report crimes to the Director of Facilities and Safety; thus, not evoking the doctor / pastoral confidentaility standards. Students, faculty or staff may refer the victim or perpetrator wishing to seek confidential counseling to contact Samaritan Counseling Centers of the Mid-South at 901.729.3900. There are several locations located near the seminary; their web address is http://www.explorefaith.org/samaritan_counseling.html

Special Reports of Crime

A special report will be made to the campus when any crime reported to the seminary or local police represents a safety or security threat to the seminary community. The special crime report will be made within 24 hours of first report to a campus security authority and will be in a manner that will aid in the prevention of similar occurrences. A campus-wide email will be used as will posting of a flyer at each residence. Other places of dissemination of special reports may be in local or campus news media, other mass media, or by Faculty in classrooms.

Student and Employee Responsibility

The cooperation and involvement of students and employees in a campus safety program is absolutely necessary. Students and employees must assume responsibility for their personal safety and the security of their property by taking simple precautions. We strongly encourage adherence to all seminary, local, state, and federal laws and rules of conducts to assure maximum safety and security. Students and employees should report any suspicious persons or activity to a Campus Security Authority.

• Room doors and offices should be locked when unattended. Identify anyone wishing to enter, prior to opening the door. If you have any concern, do not open the door. Call 911 for assistance.
• Students and employees with vehicles on campus are required to park in their assigned areas. Valuables should be secured out of sight, preferably in the trunk.
• Possession and/or use of firearms, ammunition, or other weapons, including any dangerous article or substance with the potential to injure or discomfort a person, are prohibited.

Security and Access to Campus Facilities

Students, faculty, and staff have access to academic, recreational, and administrative facilities on campus. General public access for special events is restricted to the facilities in which these events are conducted. Faculty and staff may be required to present their seminary identification card.

The Facilities and Safety Department maintains the seminary's buildings and grounds with a concern for safety and security. Facilities Supervisors regularly inspect for and repair potential safety and security hazards as well as responding to reports of such potential hazards.

The seminary is well lighted and further lighting improvements are being made regularly. Lighting includes high-density sodium-vapor lights on buildings and parking lots, in areas of heavy landscaping, and along pedestrian pathways.

Security in Residential Areas

Memphis Theological Seminary maintains residential commuter housing on Roberta Dr., Avery Ave. and St. Agnes in the adjacent neighborhood. A Resident Manager is on duty each night in each building. The Public Safety Department has security personnel that patrols the residential area on a regular basis.

Sexual Assault Policy Statement

Memphis Theological Seminary Public Safety Department staff provides confidential, front-line services to both victims/survivors and accused perpetrators of sexual assault who live in seminary housing. Some victims/survivors will seek care immediately following an assault, while others will not request help until an extended period of time has passed. In any case of sexual assault, the victim/survivor will be believed and offered consistent and appropriate care. MTS Public Safety Department response to a sexual assault victim/survivor includes two basic areas: confidentiality and support and information and referral.