security and safety

About Us

Contact Information

Marple Campus

Phone: 610-359-5303
Fax: 610-359-5343
Email

Safety and Security

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Delaware County Community College is committed to providing a safe, secure campus for our students, faculty and community. Safety is maintained through the promotion of basic respect for individual rights and personal property at all campuses. The College complies with federal, state and local laws including, but not limited to, those which regulate the possession, use and sale of alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs and weapons, sexual assault, destruction of College equipment and buildings, theft, gambling and disorderly conduct.

Delaware County Community College is legally required to prepare, publish and distribute to all students and employees an annual security report by October 1 of each year. The report contains valuable information that all College community members are encouraged to read.

***Important: Get Emergency Text Messages***

Stay safe! Students can sign up to receive a text message from Delaware County Community College in the event of an emergency. Text messaging is used only in the event of a true emergency and not for general notices, such as inclement weather closings, delayed openings, etc. Current students can sign up by following these steps:

  1. Visit delaGATE and login
  2. Once you login make sure you are viewing the "MainGate" tab
  3. Click on the link called "Sign-Up for Emergency Notification Information" at the top of the page and complete the form; after you complete this form you will be signed up

Department of Safety and Security

Based at the Marple Campus, the Department of Safety and Security coordinates all security activities. It provides security services 24 hours per day, seven days per week. A security officer is on duty at the Southeast Center in Sharon Hill, the Upper Darby Center, the Exton Center, the Downingtown Campus and the Pennocks Bridge Campus in West Grove during operational hours.

All Delaware County Community College, officers are certified in CPR/AED. Injured or disabled persons requiring medical treatment are transported to local hospitals by the responding ambulance.

How to report on-campus crime

If you are the victim of a crime, you may bring charges through the local police and criminal justice system, the College disciplinary system or both. The Department of Safety and Security staff encourages victims of crimes and persons involved in personal property accidents to report these incidents to the police department within that jurisdiction. The Department’s staff will assist any member of the College community with the filing of a criminal complaint with the proper authority.

Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act

Effective October 28, 2002, the Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act requires that each state provide information regarding registered sex offenders to the local law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction where an institution of higher education is located. The local law enforcement agency is then to promptly share this information with the institution of higher education. You may obtain information about registered sex offenders who may be enrolled or employed by Delaware County Community College by contacting the local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over a campus location. You can also access information online.

Any student or staff member who believes she/he is a victim of sexual assault or other crime should contact one of the offices or individuals listed below. Confidentiality will be maintained to the extent requested by the victim. While maintaining the victim’s request for confidentiality, the initial contact person must notify the Department of Safety and Security that an alleged assault has occurred.

Marple Campus

  • Counselor on duty: 610-359-5324
  • Safety and Security Department: 610-359-5111
  • Wellness Center: 610-359-5140

Off-site Centers and Campuses

  • Downingtown Campus: 484-237-6290
  • Exton Center: 610-450-6536
  • Southeast Center, Sharon Hill: 610-957-5735
  • Upper Darby Center: 610-723-1241
  • Pennocks Bridge Campus, West Grove:
    610-345-1800 ext.0

Timely warning notification

The College keeps our community informed of any violent crimes occurring on any of our campuses through an SIS or Currents (the College’s internal newsletter) release, email, flyer, Television Information System (TVIS) or the College website, text message,as deemed appropriate.

Missing persons

Anyone concerned about a student’s well-being should contact the Career and Counseling Center by calling 610-359-5324.

Assistance and escort services

Delaware County Community College’s Safety and Security Department provides on-campus escorts, upon request, at locations where security officers are present. The Department will assist you if you lock yourself out of your vehicle or if you need a battery jump.

Training and support

The Department provides ongoing and on-demand safety and training programs, including fire extinguisher training, evacuation training, personal safety and others. These can be given at any College location, usually at a time of your choosing.

For more information please contact: Ray Viscusi (rviscusi@dccc.edu) or Matt Brenner (mbrenner@dccc.edu)

Access to facilities

Classrooms and offices at all College locations are locked during non-business hours. On the Marple Campus, students and employees are permitted after hours, provided an appropriate faculty or staff member authorizes their entry. After normal business hours, sign-in and sign-out are required. During business hours, some remote doors may be locked. Exit from these doors is always possible, but you may not be able to enter from the outside.

Sexual assault policy

Delaware County Community College is committed to an environment conducive to the academic, professional and personal development of students, faculty and staff without the fear of sexual assault. The College prohibits and will not tolerate sexual assaults by an employee, student or other individual present on College premises.

Therefore, in accordance with the Pennsylvania State College and University Security Information Act 73 and the federal Higher Education Act (20U.S.C.1092), Delaware County Community College has provided procedures to be followed should a sexual assault occur. In addition, the College will report sexual assault crime statistics as required by the law. A victim of sexual assault may bring charges through the local police department, the College disciplinary system or both. All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to report sexual assault incidents to the local police department. The decision to notify police rests solely with the victim.

College disciplinary system

Sexual assault is considered a major violation of the Student Code of Conduct. The Student Code and Discipline Committee hears cases involving such violations. Both the accuser and the accused are entitled to have others present during a disciplinary proceeding.

Alcohol and drug policy

The College complies with federal, state and local laws including, but not limited to, those which regulate the possession, use and sale of alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs and weapons and disorderly conduct.

Important telephone numbers

In case of emergency:

  • POLICE EMERGENCY (all locations): DIAL 911
  • Marple Campus: 610-359-5111
  • Southeast Center, Sharon Hill: 610-957-5733
  • Upper Darby Center: 610-723-1240
  • Downingtown Campus: 484-237-6222
  • Exton Center: 610-450-6303
  • Pennocks Bridge Campus, West Grove:
    610-345-1800 ext. 0

Non-emergency numbers:

  • Marple Campus: 610-359-5303
  • Southeast Center, Sharon Hill: 610-957-5735
  • Upper Darby Center: 610-723-1241
  • Downingtown Campus: 484-237-6290
  • Exton Center: 610-450-6536
  • Pennocks Bridge Campus, West Grove:
    610-345-1800 ext. 0
  • General information: 610-359-5000
  • Career and Counseling Center: 610-359-5324
  • Wellness Center: 610-359-5140

Emergency telephones

Emergency telephones are located on campus and in all elevators. There are also emergency telephones located in the parking lots on the Marple Campus and Chester County Campus.

Crime statistics

Crime statistics information is provided by Delaware County Community College in accordance with the Federal Higher Education Act 20 U.S.C.1092(f) and the College and University Security Information Act of Pennsylvania. These laws require the College to publish crime statistics of certain offensives:

 

General parking and traffic regulations

The Safety and Security Office is authorized to control traffic and enforce College parking and traffic regulations. The College is not responsible for losses due to theft or damage to vehicles.

Students

Students are authorized to park only in general parking areas. On the Marple Campus, general parking is in lots A through H and J through O. A parking sticker is not necessary but is encouraged. Free parking stickers are available through the Safety and Security Office. Student parking is prohibited in designated or signed faculty/staff areas, those areas marked or signed fire lanes, along roadway curb lines, grassy unpaved areas and loading dock areas.

Handicapped (staff, faculty and students)

Those with a Pennsylvania (or other state) vehicle registration plate or placard or Severely Disabled Veteran registrations are the only persons permitted to park in handicap parking spaces.

For temporary disabling conditions, apply for a temporary placard from the state in which you reside. The Wellness Coordinator in the Wellness Center has the Pennsylvania forms available and will assist you in filing them with the state. If you have a temporary-disabling condition not covered under Pennsylvania State vehicle statutes, apply for temporary medical parking with the College nurse.

A handicap permit authorizes parking in any designated (i.e., lined) space, when there are no spaces available in the handicap parking area.

Visitors

Visitors to the Marple Campus must park in general parking lots A through H and J through O.

Towing

The following vehicles are subject to towing and storage at the owner’s expense: vehicles that remain parked on any campus overnight without permission from the Director of Safety and Security, vehicles that present a traffic hazard, vehicles that have three unpaid tickets, vehicles with fourth-offense parking/traffic violations or vehicles that impede the normal functions of the College. It is the responsibility of the vehicle owner/operator to request special overnight parking permission from the Director of Safety and Security.

Appeals

You may appeal tickets issued by the College for parking or traffic violations – within 10 days of the invoice date through the following link. 

Campus safety and security tips

Campus safety and security depends on everyone to do his/her part. With your help, we can protect students, faculty, staff and guests along with their belongings and College property.

Protect yourself

  • Whenever possible, don’t walk alone. Avoid isolated, dark parking lots and streets. Take advantage of the security escorts available on our campuses where there is security staff on duty. To request an escort, stop at the Department of Safety and Security Office on the Marple Campus, Downingtown Campus, Exton Center and the Southeast Center in Sharon Hill, or in the Main Office of the Pennocks Bridge Campus in West Grove.
  • Don’t carry a purse or backpack on one shoulder.
  • Don’t carry large amounts of cash. A front pocket is a safer place for your wallet than your back pocket.
  • Don’t flaunt expensive jewelry.
  • Dress sensibly – clogs or high heels may make walking more difficult.
  • Before entering your car, check the back seat and around the car. Have your keys out before you walk to your car.
  • Attach an inexpensive hand mirror to the inside of your trunk lid. When you are at your car trunk retrieving or leaving personal belongings, the mirror allows you to see behind you.
  • If you are being followed, cross the street, change direction and keep looking back so the person knows he/she cannot surprise you. Go to a well-lit area. Go to an area where there are other people. Take note and remember as much as you can about the person so you can provide a good description.
  • If you are held up, don’t take risks and don’t resist. Tell campus security immediately.
  • If you are physically attacked, be realistic. Your goal is to escape safely. Cooperate, if resisting could lead to further harm. Every situation is different.

Protect your car

  • Always lock your car.
  • Lock valuables, CDs, textbooks and backpacks in the trunk.
  • Park in well-lit areas.

Protect your personal property

  • Never leave your book bag, purse or cell phone unattended in the Library, classrooms or on the rest room floor.