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UH Hilo Campus Security Policies and Procedures

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The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo complies with the Clery Act with the following Policy statements that address how students and staff should report criminal actions and other emergencies that occur on campus; the security of and access to campus facilities; policies regarding campus security and enforcement of laws, rules, and codes of conduct; and policies designed to promote education and awareness of sex offenses and prevent these types of criminal acts.

Timely Warnings and Security Alerts

When a serious crime occurs on campus that represents an immediate threat to the campus, security will publicize a warning. Timely warnings will be distributed via email and/or text message. Sign up for text messages at UH Alert Notifications.

Circumstances for which a timely warning will be issued include, but are not limited to, the receipt of a good faith report to the security office or other campus security authorities of a crime reportable under the Clery Act that poses continuing threat to the campus community. The Vice Chancellor for Administrative Affairs and the Director of Security are responsible for determining if a timely warning will be issued. The determination will be made on a case-by-case basis after due consideration of all available facts of the crime, such as the nature of the crime and whether or not a continuing danger to the campus community exists.

Timely warnings will be issued through the UH Hilo email system to the students, faculty and staff of the respective campus. Timely warnings will contain sufficient information about the nature of an identified threat to assist members of the campus in taking appropriate action to protect themselves or their property. The timely warning will generally include:

  • Date and time or timeframe of the incident;
  • A brief description of the incident;
  • Information that will promote safety and potentially aid in the prevention of similar crimes (crime prevention or safety tips);
  • Suspect description(s) when deemed appropriate and if there is sufficient detail;
  • Local law enforcement and UH Hilo security contact information;
  • Other information as deemed appropriate by the Clery Compliance Officer or designee.

It is important to note that in some cases, security may need to withhold some facts if releasing the information would compromise an ongoing investigation or the identity of the victim.

Individuals may report crimes, criminal activity, and suspected criminal activity anonymously to UH Hilo Campus Security through the Silent Witness Program.

Annual Disclosure of Crime Statistics

The UH Hilo Director of Campus Security prepares the Annual Disclosure of Crime Statistics Report to comply with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act. The full text of this report can be located on the Campus Security web site. This report is prepared in cooperation with the local law enforcement agencies surrounding our main campus and alternate sites, Housing Services, the Division of Student Affairs, and Environmental Health and Safety. Each entity provides updated information to the Director of Campus Security regarding their educational efforts and programs to comply with the Act, which is incorporated into the annual report.

Campus crime, arrest and referral statistics include those reported to the Hawaiʻi County Police Department, the Hawaiʻi State Sheriff’s Department, designated University officials, including but not limited to directors, deans, department heads, designated student affairs staff, advisors to students/student organizations, athletic coaches, and others, as appropriate. Counseling Services and Student Medical Services staff will inform their clients of the procedures to report crime to University Campus Security on a voluntary or confidential basis, should they feel it is in the best interest of the client. A procedure is in place to anonymously capture crime statistics disclosed confidentially during such a session.

Each year an email notification is made to all faculty, staff, and enrolled students, that provides the web site to access this report. The email notice will include the statement that copies of the report are available at Campus Security, in the UCB Building - Room 151, or by calling (808) 974-7911.

The following statement regarding the availability of the Annual Security Report is incorporated into all catalogs, course schedules, job announcements and applications, specific publications to the public, and specific types of publications used to solicit recruitment of faculty, staff, and students: The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo’s (UH Hilo) Annual Campus Security Report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on-campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a copy of this report by contacting UH Hilo Campus Security, (808) 974-7911, located in the UCB Building, Room 151.

Security and Access

During business hours, the University (excluding certain housing facilities) will be open to students, parents, employees, contractors, guests, and invitees. During non-business hours access to all University facilities is by key, if issued, or by admittance via a UH Campus Security Officer or Residence Hall Manager. In the case of periods of extended closure, the University will admit only employees, students residing in residence halls, and pre-approved visitors. UH Hilo Campus Security will block access to all entrances except the main entrance off Lanikaula and the main entrance off Kawili Street.

Some facilities have individual hours, which may vary at different times of the year for each respective campus closure. Examples are the Student Life Center, Performing Arts, and areas of Athletics that holds athletic practices and games. During campus closures, UH Hilo Campus Security increases patrols in and around residence halls.

Emergencies may necessitate changes or alternatives to any posted schedules. Any areas where there are security issues will be assessed for improvements. These assessments may address such items as landscaping, locks, alarms, lighting, and communications. The objective is to take corrective actions to reduce the likelihood of repeated incidents. Additionally, during the academic year, the Vice Chancellor for Administrative Affairs, Director of Campus Security, and others as appropriate, regularly meet to discuss safety and security issues and propose actions to continually improve the measures and policies in place.

Campus Security Officer Authority and Jurisdiction

The mission of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Security Department is to provide a safe campus that is conducive to a learning, teaching and working environment by providing quality service and a secure campus for all students and the UH Hilo community.

The UH Hilo does not employ commissioned police officers; however, it does maintain an inhouse security department, whose state certified security officers patrol the main campus and several off-site locations. Security officers patrol our campuses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Along with routine patrol duties and traffic enforcement, other services include conducting investigations, responding to emergencies and alarms, making emergency notifications, and securing rooms and buildings. Routine facility and landscaping assessments are made to minimize hazardous conditions. Exterior lighting, doors, and shrubbery are checked for unsafe conditions and reported to the maintenance department, where repairs are given top priority. Upon request, Campus Security conducts presentations in crime prevention and campus security procedures.

The University maintains good working relations with local and state law enforcement agencies. The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo has a signed Memorandum of Understanding with the Hawaiʻi County Police Department for "full cooperation and assistance in facilitating the reporting, deterrence and reduction of criminal activity and for development of an environment for safety and security at the University and in the Hilo community." The University has adopted polices that encourage accurate and prompt reporting of all crimes to Campus Security and the appropriate law enforcement agencies. When incidents/crimes occur at off-site locations, the policy maintains that local law enforcement be called as response time is quicker and the majority of these incidents require local law enforcement official reporting.

The UH Hilo security department enforces the University of Hawaiʻi System policies and regulations, as well as UH Hilo Rules and Standard Administrative Procedures. The local law enforcement agency is the sole law enforcement authority at each location. Each law enforcement agency is ready to assist 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Each law enforcement agency reports statistics to the Clery Compliance Officer. Local law enforcement agencies employ commissioned police officers and may respond to all criminal activity on the campus for which they have authority. Local law enforcement agencies have full arrest powers on the Hilo campus and are authorized to carry firearms.

UH Hilo security officers conduct preventive patrol throughout the buildings. UH Hilo security officers have the authority to ask persons for identification and to determine whether individuals have lawful business at each campus. The security officers have the authority to issue parking tickets; however, they do not possess arrest power. Criminal incidents are referred to the local law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction on the respective campus. The UH Hilo security office maintains a highly professional working relationship with each local law enforcement agency. All crime victims and witnesses are strongly encouraged to immediately report the crime to the UH Hilo security office and the local law enforcement agency. Prompt reporting will assure timely warning notices on-campus and timely disclosure of crime statistics.

General Procedures for Reporting a Crime or Emergency

The campus community (faculty, staff and students) is encouraged to report all crimes to the security department in a timely manner. Crimes should be reported to the security department to ensure inclusion in the annual crime statistics. Security officers are available 24 hours a day year-round at the Hilo campus. Crimes can be reported to the Director of Security or the security department by phone, stopping and approaching an officer on patrol or going to the security office in person.

Confidential Reporting

Due to the fact that UH Hilo is a state agency, all attempts to keep information reported as confidential will be handled as such. However, the UH Hilo must abide by the Hawaiʻi Uniform Information Practices Act and disclose all information when a formal request is made. The UH Hilo does not have pastoral counselors, as defined by the Clery Act. The UH Hilo does have professional counselors. They are encouraged, if and when they deem it appropriate, to inform persons being counseled of the procedures to report crimes on a voluntary basis for inclusion into the annual crime statistics.

Reporting crimes to UH Hilo Campus Security is encouraged to ensure inclusion in the annual crime statistics and to aid in providing timely warning notices to the community, when appropriate.

Alcoholic Beverages and Illegal Drugs

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo campus has been designated as “drug free” and only under certain circumstances is the consumption of alcohol permitted. The University of Hawaiʻi System has an Executive Policy E11.201 that pertains to Illegal Drugs, Alcohol, and Substance Abuse , and includes the “drug free” workplace statement. The Human Resources Department of the University of Hawaiʻi System states the “drug free” workplace policy on their website.

The possession, sale, manufacture or distribution of any controlled substance is illegal under both state and federal laws. Such laws are strictly enforced by the UH Hilo Campus Security staff. Violators may be subject to University disciplinary action, criminal prosecution, fine and imprisonment. It is unlawful to sell, furnish or provide alcohol to a person under the age of 21. The possession of alcohol by anyone under 21 years of age in a public place or a place open to the public is illegal. It is also a violation of the UH Hilo Alcohol Policy for anyone to consume or possess alcohol in any public or private area of campus without prior University approval.

The Student Conduct Code details expected behaviors of students and the disciplinary actions that will occur if a student is caught violating the rules regarding alcoholic beverages on campus.

Sex Offender Registration

In accordance with the “Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act” of 2000, which amends the Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act, the Jeanne Clery Act and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, the UH Hilo Campus Security web page provides a link on the sidebar to the Hawaiʻi State Sex Offender website which links to the Hawaiʻi State Sex Offender Registry.

The “Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act” of 2000 requires institutions of higher education to issue a statement advising the campus community where law enforcement information provided by a State concerning registered sex offenders may be obtained. It also requires sex offenders mandated to register in the State to provide notice of each institution of higher education in that State at which the person is employed, carries a vocation, or is a student.

The following is the link to the Hawaiʻi State Sex Offender web site .

Fire Log

All fires occurring on main campus and off-campus locations shall be reported to the UH Hilo Campus Security Department. Information that shall be collected will include (at a minimum):

  • Date
  • Time
  • Location
  • Cause of Fire
  • Injuries Requiring Treatment at a Medical Facility
  • Any Death Related to Fire
  • Estimated Value of Property Damage

Any fire resulting in loss of life, hospitalization of three or more individuals, and/or estimated property loss greater than $25,000, shall be reported to the Director of the Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) or alternate “immediately.” EHSO or alternate shall report any fire that meets the above criteria to the State of Hawaiʻi Occupational Safety and Health Agency (HIOSH) within eight hours of notification. (State and Federal regulations require the immediate reporting of any incident resulting in the death of an employee, the hospitalization of three or more employees, and/or property loss of more than $25,000.)

Fires reported within the previous 24 hour period shall be reported by 10 AM to EHSO by UH Hilo Campus Security Department. EHSO or alternate1 shall enter information on reported fires into the Campus Fire Log and email to the UH Hilo Campus Security Department. This electronic record shall be made available upon request through the UH Hilo Campus Security Department. At the end of the calendar year, the information from the reported fires on campus shall be entered into the Fire Statistics form for the Clery Act reporting requirements. An Annual Fire Report shall be compiled and posted online by October 1st each year.

Download a printable copy of the above Policy Addressing Fire Log (PDF).

Reporting of Crimes and Emergencies

The University encourages the prompt reporting of all emergencies, violations, and criminal incidents by calling the police (911) or to Campus Security (974-7911). When a call is received by security, an Officer will be immediately dispatched. Often a quick report will aid in the apprehension of the suspect and/ or prevention of a crime. All reported incidents are investigated and recorded. Incidents also can be reported to any University employee. Please read memo regarding UH Hilo staff obligations to report criminal activity or potential criminal activity immediately.

Additional Policies

  1. Designated EHSO Alternate for this Policy: UH Hilo Director, Campus Security.