Safety and Security

The college building is opened at 8 a.m. and locked at 5 p.m. Monday thru Friday. The college remains locked on weekends, holidays and designated “closed” days.

The front entrance to the building, when locked, remains accessible via card swipe access to individuals having a valid photo identification badge. Students with a valid badge will have access to the building when locked from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily including weekends and holidays. Employees with a valid badge have access to the building when locked 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

NOTE: Building access may be adjusted due to emergencies and mitigating circumstances.

Employees and students are encouraged to maintain a secure building by not propping exterior doors open. Offices, classrooms and laboratories are secured by key locks. Keys are prohibited from being duplicated and employees are responsible for securing their offices when unoccupied.

Atrium Health Cabarrus Security Services monitors the building perimeter, front entrance and parking lot through surveillance cameras 24 hours per day. Additionally, security officers provide vehicle patrol of the parking lot and walking patrol of the building twice a day.

The college's security systems (fire alarms, electronic card access, emergency telephone systems and Contact Now) are tested by Atrium Health Cabarrus Facilities Management Services, the Concord Fire Department, Atrium Health Cabarrus Security Services and others.

Students and employees should immediately report criminal activity, suspicious activity and emergency situations to Atrium Health Cabarrus Security Services 704-403-1192 or extension 6.6595 from a college phone). Security Services can also be contacted through the Atrium Health Cabarrus telephone operator at 704-403-3000.

Special alerts may be posted around the college building in the event of an incident that might pose a threat to the college community.

A daily crime log is available for review at the Atrium Health Cabarrus Security Services office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. The information in the crime log typically includes the nature, time, location and disposition of the criminal activity.

Cabarrus College of Health Sciences, a facility of Atrium Health Cabarrus and Atrium Health Cabarrus Security Services, prepared this report in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013. This report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus or property owned or controlled by Atrium Health/Atrium Health Cabarrus; and on public property, including thoroughfares, streets, sidewalks, and parking facilities, that are within the campus, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus. The Safety and Security report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual misconduct and other matters. Each entity provides updated information on its educational efforts and programs. Campus disciplinary, crime, arrest and referral statistics include those reported to designated campus security officials and local law enforcement agencies. To access the full report, click on the 2024 Campus Safety and Security Report.

Safety is one of the core values and standards of all members of the campus community at Cabarrus College of Health Sciences. The Cabarrus College Campus Safety and Security Report is published and distributed each year to students and employees of the College in compliance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act (Public Law 110-315) (HEOA). The report can be accessed at https://ope.ed.gov/security (click on the far-left box titled “Get Data for One School,” then go to the institution field and enter Cabarrus College of Health Sciences). To review or inquire about the comprehensive report, please contact Student Affairs at 704-403-1638.

There are several ways in which employees and students of the College are notified of emergency situations.

Notifications include

• Blackboard Connect – The mass notification system whereby voice messages are sent to employee and student telephones. The Office of Student Records and Information Management is responsible for posting messages.
• Cabarrus College Website.
• Recorded Message – Dial 704-403-1555 to listen to the updated college greeting.
• Cabarrus College Email – an email is sent to all students, faculty and staff.

To ensure the safety and wellbeing of students, employees and visitors, Cabarrus College has an emergency preparedness plan in place. For more information about the plan, please see Emergency Preparedness and Safety.

Each student, faculty and staff member of the college and visitors who park a vehicle on college property will be required to obtain a parking decal or temporary pass and abide by parking regulations in this policy and that of Atrium Health Cabarrus (refer to Parking Policy). Parking is available to all faculty, staff, students and visitors of the college in Lot M. Parking spaces in front of and to the left of the college building (when entering from Medical Park Drive) are available to faculty, staff and visitors. Parking spaces to the right of the college are available to students. Overflow parking is available to any person in upper Lot M located to the far left of the college and separately accessed from Medical Park Drive. Students, when working as Atrium Health Cabarrus employees, must park in the designated employee lot of Atrium Health Cabarrus. Students participating in clinical/fieldwork at Atrium Health Cabarrus must park in the designated Cabarrus College student parking lot.

Parking Citations

Cabarrus College of Health Sciences is located on the campus of Atrium Health Cabarrus and is subject to the parking regulations of the medical center. Faculty, staff and students found to be in violation of the parking regulations will be issued citations by Atrium Health Cabarrus Security and/or Cabarrus College Administration.

Parking Decals — Enrolled Students

Each motor vehicle must display a valid Cabarrus College parking decal on the inside front left corner of the front windshield. Decals may be obtained by faculty, staff and students from the front desk secretary. An initial issue of up to two decals will be made at no charge upon employment or enrollment by students. Additional decals will be issued for a fee of $5. There will be no charge for a parking decal for a newly purchased vehicle after employment or enrollment by students. Students on campus for less than two weeks must obtain a temporary parking pass from the front desk secretary or host department. Temporary parking passes must be displayed in the front windshield. Faculty, staff or students who are also employees of Atrium Health Cabarrus must display both the college parking decal and the appropriate Atrium Health Cabarrus departmental decal.

Parking Decals — Visitor Passes

Visitors to the college campus may park in any space reserved for visitors and so designated by signage. Visitors parking anywhere other than the designated spaces must obtain a temporary parking pass from the front desk secretary. Temporary parking passes must be displayed on the front dashboard. Temporary parking passes are not necessary during off hours, Monday through Friday after 6 p.m. or on weekends.

The college is committed to providing a safe environment for students, staff and guests. Weapons, firearms, explosives, fireworks or other dangerous items or substances, concealed or otherwise, are not permitted on the campuses of the college (including inside vehicles parked on the premises) or any affiliates with the exception of weapons carried by law enforcement officers. Private security officers are not considered to be law enforcement officers and therefore, should not carry weapons on Cabarrus College or Atrium Health Cabarrus property. If a student or an employee of Atrium Health Cabarrus observes someone bringing a weapon or firearm on the premises, finds a weapon or firearm on the premises, or believes someone has a weapon or firearm on their person or in their belongings (this includes vehicles), the employee or student should immediately notify Atrium Health Cabarrus Security Services at 704-403-6595. A detailed description of the person, location or direction of travel, and a description of the weapon should be reported. Security Services will respond immediately to investigate the situation. In the event a weapon or firearm is found, Security will take possession of the weapon until determining the appropriate lawful course of action. Violators of this prohibition will be subject to arrest and prosecution and disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.

Atrium Health Cabarrus Security Services is available to the college 24 hours per day, seven days per week and performs the following services to enhance employee and student safety:

• Provides vehicle patrol of parking lot.
• Responds immediately to emergency calls, in a reasonably prompt timeframe to less emergent calls, and upon request.
• Enforces campus parking regulations.
• Provides night escort services on “as available" basis.
• Opens building, office and vehicle lockouts.
• Monitors building perimeter, front entrance and parking lot through surveillance cameras.
• Provides education to students and employees on the elements of the security management plan.
• Conducts an annual Risk Assessment and Vulnerability Analysis within the Atrium Health Cabarrus campus which includes the college.

It is the goal of Cabarrus College to return lost items to owners in a timely and efficient manner. “Lost and Found” is maintained by the front desk secretary. If you find personal unclaimed property, turn the item in immediately to Lost and Found. The front desk secretary will attempt to contact the owner regarding items that contain identifiable owner information. Items turned in as “found” will be dated upon receipt and kept in the storage area for approximately 30 days. If you suspect you lost personal property on the college campus, provide a description of the item to the front desk secretary. If you suspect you lost personal property on the campus of Atrium Health Cabarrus, contact Security Services at 704-403-1192 to file a report. Claims for items must be made in person. Claimants must describe the item in detail to obtain its release. Disputes will be forwarded to the Dean, Student Affairs and Enrollment Management for resolution. If no claim is made after 30 days, items will be donated to a charitable organization or disposed of in an appropriate manner. Money, as a “found” item, will be handled as other items, except that at the end of the 30-day claim period, if no claims are made, it will be sent to the Cabarrus College Business Office for deposit into the Scholarship Fund.

In our southern location, snow, tornados or other inclement weather gives rise to questions regarding the college closings or delays particularly since the college is a commuter campus. Weather monitoring alerts are issued from Atrium Health Cabarrus and through the NOAA weather alert system. In the event a decision to alter the operating status of the college becomes necessary due to inclement weather, the decision will be made by the President or the President’s designee. As soon as a decision is made regarding a change in the college's operating status, employees and students will be alerted of such by way of the following as applicable:

• Automated messaging system (Blackboard Connect)
• Local television stations including WBTV (3), WSOC (9), and WCNC (36)
• College's primary telephone line (704-403-1555)
• College website

Cabarrus College endeavors to promptly investigate any compliant regarding discrimination based on its programs and activities or based on any sexual harassment or violence. The Title IX Coordinator (Mary Elmore, Director of Student Records and Information) is responsible for coordinating an immediate investigation of any complaint and ensures prompt resolution of student and/or employee complaints alleging any action related to sexual discrimination, harassment or violence. In case of a conflict or absence of the Title IX Coordinator, the Dean, Student Affairs and Enrollment Management will serve as the designee. The Title IX Coordinator's office is located in the Student Services Suite 133 and can be reached at 704-403-3218 or Mary Elmore and by calling Security at 704-403-1192 after hours.

The Federal Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act, enacted in 2000, requires institutions of higher education to issue a statement advising the campus community where law enforcement information provided by state registered sex offenders may be obtained. It also requires sex offenders already required to register in a state to provide notice, under state law, to each institution of higher education in that state at which the person is employed, carries on a vocation, volunteers services, or is a student. Law enforcement information concerning registered sex offenders may be obtained from the Cabarrus County Sherriff's Office, 30 Corban Avenue, Concord, NC 28025; phone: 704-920-3000 or on the statewide database NC Sex Offender Registry.