In order to establish and enforce rules governing parking on campus, please read all rules carefully as they apply to all members of the college including faculty, staff, students and visitors.

 

Registration/Decals

All vehicles on campus are required to be registered with Safety and Security. In order to register a vehicle, one must provide the license plate number, make and model of the vehicle that will be used on campus. Parking decals are required to be placed in the bottom left corner of the rear windows on all vehicles registered with Safety and Security. Decals are $5 per year and are charged directly to the Thomas account associated with the vehicle.

 

Student Parking

All residents parking on campus should use the lot at which they reside (GPH residents should park in back of the GPH residence hall or A Lot; Village and Bartlett residents students should park in the Village/Bartlett lots). Commuters should use the commuter parking lots on the North end of the Administration Building or B & C Lots.  Any student who has questions on where to park should contact Safety and Security at extension 399.

 

Faculty & Staff Parking

The Faculty and Staff parking lot is located in back of the Administration Building.

 

Parking Fines

Please contact Safety and Security at extension 399 for any questions regarding fines and fees on parking.

---

Safe Winter Driving Tips

• Clear snow and ice from all windows and lights – even the hood and roof – before driving.
• Pay attention. Don’t try to out-drive the conditions. Remember, the posted speed limits are for dry pavement.
• Watch for slippery bridge decks, even when the rest of the pavement is in good condition. Bridge decks will ice up sooner than the adjacent pavement.
• Don’t use your cruise control in wintry conditions. Even roads that appear clear can have sudden slippery spots and the short touch of your brakes to deactivate the cruise control feature can cause you to lose control of your vehicle.
• Don’t get over confident in your 4×4 vehicle. Remember that your four-wheel drive vehicle may help you get going quicker than other vehicles, but it won’t help you stop any faster. Many 4×4 vehicles are heavier than passenger vehicles and actually may take longer to stop. Don’t get over confident with your 4×4 vehicle’s traction. Your 4×4 can lose traction as quickly as a two-wheel drive vehicle.
• Don’t pump anti-lock brakes. If your car is equipped with anti-lock brakes, do not pump brakes in attempting to stop. The correct way is to “stomp and steer”.
• Look farther ahead in traffic than you normally do. Actions by cars and trucks will alert you quicker to problems and give you that split-second extra time to safely react.
• Remember that trucks are heavier than cars. Trucks take longer to safely respond and come to a complete stop, so avoid cutting quickly in front of them
• Go slow! Drive according to conditions.
• Leave plenty of room for stopping.
• Leave room for maintenance vehicles and plows – stay back at least 200 feet and don’t pass on the right.

 

Snow Removal Protocol

It’s that time of year when snow will soon be covering the ground. In order to assist the maintenance staff with clearing snow from campus, we need everyone’s cooperation.

The following protocol will be in effect immediately for the removal of snow in Thomas College parking lots.

Note: Safety and Security will post signs on days when vehicles need to be moved. The signs will be placed on the GPH doors, Bartlett Entrance door and Townhouse 5 Door. Safety and Security will also send an e-mail to all resident students.

Staff & Guest Parking Lots
Buildings and Grounds will clear these lots by 7:30am.

North Lot
Buildings and Grounds will have this lot cleared between 6:00am-7:30am.
(No overnight parking in this lot)

South Lot
Vehicles must be out of unplowed sections by (9:30am).

GPH Lot
Vehicles must be removed from this lot by (10:00am).

Village and Bartlett Lots
Vehicles must be removed from these lots by (12:00pm).

Townhouse Lots
Vehicles must be removed from these lots by (2:00pm)

Reminders:
Vehicles not removed at the appropriate time will be fined ($50.00)

Please use caution, parking lots are closed to foot and vehicle traffic when Maintenance is plowing. When possible, use walkways instead.

Enhance the quality of life for the entire community by maintaining a secure and open environment where the safety of all is balanced with the rights of the individual. The Safety and Security Department strives to accomplish this while adhering to its core values of Pride, Professionalism, and Service.

 

Crime Prevention – Personal Safety

• Do not give your name and address to strangers.
• Do not give out personal information over the telephone to people you do not know. (Social Security Number, credit card numbers, driver’s license numbers, address, etc.)
• When leaving your residence hall, campus, etc. let someone know where you are going.
• Walk with a friend. It is less likely that something will happen if there are two of you.
• Never walk alone at night. The Safety and Security Office offers an escort service, which provides you with the assurance of safe travel on campus.
• Have your key ready to open your car doors, especially at night. Your keys can be a defensive weapon.
• Look inside your car before entering; also check vehicle for possible break-ins. Assailants sometimes hide in the back seat of a vehicle.
• Personal property should never be left unattended, even if it is only for a few minutes.
• Remember, take it with you or lock it up. Take your books and book bags to your table when you go to eat.
• Always make sure that the office or classroom door is locked if you should be working or studying late. Remember, never prop any door open for someone else.

 

Residence Hall Safety

As students you must take an active role in the security of your residence halls. This is your home – treat it as if it is your home. Don’t let people do things in the residence halls that you wouldn’t want them to do at your own home.

•  You should report all incidents involving vandalism, theft, damage or persons in the residence hall that are not escorted or are suspicious in nature.
•  When leaving your residence hall room, whether it is to visit a next-door neighbor or to use the restroom, always lock the door and take the key. Lock your door, even if you only plan on being gone a few minutes.
• Avoid keeping high value items and large amounts of cash in your residence. For valued items you do keep on hand, keep them out of sight and well hidden. The same procedure applies to your checkbook and your unused check supply as well.
• Engrave items of value and be sure to maintain a record of serial numbers of such items as personal computers, TVs radios, stereos, answering machines, cameras, etc. A copy of this record should also be maintained at another offsite location. You should engrave your driver’s license number and State on items. Driver’s license numbers are easier for police to track
• Don’t let strangers in the building or allow them to “tailgate” or follow you through after you open the door.
• Do not lend your room key, residence hall key or prop open doors. The residence hall is like your home; nobody should enter either one without you wanting them there.
• Entrance doors to the residence halls should never be propped open. The locks are designed to allow only residents of the hall to have access. Propping doors open will allow non-residents to enter, jeopardizing your and everyone else’s safety.
• All visitors, student and non-student, are required at all times to be escorted while in a residence hall by the person they are visiting.
• All suspicious person(s) need to be reported immediately to your RA or Safety and Security.
• All crimes need to be reported immediately to your RA, Res. Life Professional Staff members or Safety and Security.
• Do not leave notes on your door stating that you are not there. That is an invitation for some unwanted person to enter your room.
• Keep your shades drawn when changing clothes or retiring for the night.

 

Blue Light Boxes

There are 15 emergency Safety and Security contact buttons and lights located on campus. Strategically located in all student parking lots.

The “blue light” on top of the emergency button easily identifies the locations in the parking lots. Merely touching the large circle on the face of the unit pages a Safety and Security Officer.

Thomas College community members are encouraged to use these buttons when they:

• Have a medical emergency
• Feel threatened
• Become a victim or witness to a crime
• Report a suspicious activity immediately

 

Laptop Theft Prevention

To help protect yourself against laptop theft, a service called Computrace can be purchased for $40-$80 per year. Many Dell and HP laptops now include Computrace in the BIOS of the computer, so purchasing the service can be done anytime. Some versions of this service even provide $1,000 if the laptop is not recovered within 60 days (the typical deduction for homeowners’ insurance).