Crime Prevention Policies
Hate crimes are those crimes that manifest evidence that the victim was selected because of the perpetrator’s bias. Hate crimes are reported for the following crimes: murder, non-negligent manslaughter, negligent manslaughter, forcible sex offenses, non-forcible sex offenses, robbery, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson larceny-theft, simple assault, vandalism of property/damage, and any other crime involving bodily injury.
In an effort to provide a safe and secure educational and working environment for its students, employees and visitors, no person other than authorized law enforcement officers shall possess, carry or store a weapon on any property owned, leased or operated by Gardner-Webb University. This policy also applies to a concealed weapon for which the carrier has a legal permit, as well as weapons in any University facility or within a vehicle parked on University property or the streets within University property. The term “weapon” includes, but is not limited to, firearms of any kind, BB guns, pellet guns, air guns, airsoft guns, paint ball guns, ammunition, bows and arrows, slingshots, Tasers, knives (other than pocket knives with a folding blade less than three inches in length), martial arts weapons, and toy, counterfeit, replica, or blank firing firearms. This policy includes use or possession of ammunition or dangerous chemicals, substances, or materials, or explosives, or incendiary devices. This prohibition also includes any University sponsored curricular or extracurricular activities regardless of location.
The only exceptions to this policy are for law enforcement and military personnel carrying out their official duties and for weapons used in the conduct of ceremonial or educational activities authorized by the President or designee.
Gardner-Webb is an alcohol and drug-free campus. This information is provided to all students, faculty and staff to provide a comprehensive overview of the health risks and legal implications related to alcohol and other drug use and to serve as a reference for on- and off-campus resources.
The policies referenced below apply to all Gardner-Webb University campuses and proprieties as well as university-sponsored events at off-campus locations. It should not be assumed that compliance with the law is sufficient. The University’s policies are in some respects more stringent than the law. Administrators, faculty, staff, and students must adhere to both applicable federal, state, and local laws and University regulations related to the sale and use of alcoholic beverages and drugs. As a condition of enrollment, Gardner-Webb University students are deemed to have agreed to abide by both the law and the University policies.
The University forbids the possession or use of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs on any campus or in association with any University sponsored event. In reference to alcohol, this includes, but is not limited to, drinking on any campus; possessing alcohol, alcohol beverage containers (including empty containers), and drinking paraphernalia (used for drinking games or quick consumption of alcohol); being intoxicated or under the influence on campus; use or possession of alcohol on University sponsored trips; drinking under the age of 21 on or off campus; providing alcohol to a minor on or off campus; and the possession of false identification on or off campus.
In terms of illegal drugs, campus policy forbids using, possessing, or distributing illegal drugs and/or drug paraphernalia on any campus, possessing drug paraphernalia on any campus or in association with any University sponsored event. The drug policy also includes the misuse or illegal distribution of prescription medications.
More information concerning the University’s prohibitions on alcohol and drug use, as well as the University’s policy on tobacco use, may be found in the Code of Student Conduct.
Gardner-Webb University functions as a single community and therefore operates under the principle of shared responsibility. Any student present when the alcohol and drug policy is violated may be held responsible for the violation. In addition, all residents in a housing unit may be held responsible if forbidden items are found in their living spaces. Misconduct in which a person has violated any of the above may result in disciplinary proceedings.
Local, state, and federal laws prohibit the unlawful possession, and distribution of drugs and alcohol. The applicable legal sanctions for various offenses are listed in the North Carolina Statutes. https://www.ncleg.gov/Laws/GeneralStatutes
Gardner-Webb is a community, and all members of the community are responsible for maintaining order and discipline on the University campus. The Student Development Division serves the primary role of coordination and implementation of Gardner-Webb University’s substance use policy. The division’s approach emphasizes early identification and intervention into substance use problems.
The University maintains affiliations with Partners Behavioral Health and Atrium Health, where persons may be referred for assessment and/or treatment. In addition, referrals may be made to local providers.
GWU Counseling Center (704) 406-2729GWU Housing and Residence Education (704) 406-4300GWU University Police (704) 406-4444Partners Behavioral Health (877) 864-1454Mental Health Association of Cleveland County (704) 481-8637Alcoholics Anonymous(AA) (704) 377-0244 AA 24-hour Hotline (704) 332-4387 AA Website http://www.CharlotteAA.org
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) / Adult Children of Alcoholics / Al-AnonAA is an informal international fellowship of people who join because they cannot control their use of alcohol. Their purpose is to stay sober and help others who want to achieve sobriety. They do not actively recruit new members, but newcomers are always welcome. They meet and talk about their alcohol problems and how to stay sober.
Adult Children of Alcoholics is an organization intended to provide a forum for individuals who desire to recover from the effects of growing up in an alcoholic or otherwise dysfunctional family. Al-Anon is a fellowship that offers support for family and friends of alcoholics whether the alcoholic wants help or even admits they have a drinking problem. Comfort and understanding are given through a mutual exchange of experiences, strength, and hope.
Educational experiences are offered by key areas within the University. These experiences include:
In compliance with the Missing Student Procedures 20 USC 1092 (j) Section 488 of the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, it is the policy of Gardner-Webb University to investigate any report of a missing student who resides on campus at the University.
Gardner-Webb University takes student safety very seriously. To this end, the following policy and procedure has been established to assist in locating Gardner-Webb students living in University owned on-campus housing who, based on the facts and circumstances known to Gardner Webb, the University has determined to be missing.
At the beginning of each academic year, Gardner-Webb will inform students residing in on-campus housing that the University will notify either a parent or an individual selected by the student not later than 24 hours after the time the student is determined to be missing. This information will include the following:
The University will follow the following notification procedure for a missing student who resides in on-campus housing:
Timely warnings notify members of the Gardner-Webb community of certain crimes in a manner that is timely and will aid in the prevention of similar crimes. The intent is to warn community members of a criminal incident so as to enable people to protect themselves and to increase safety awareness. The warnings may also include requests for information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of an offender when violent or substantial crimes have been reported. Timely warnings may be issued for aggravated assault, arson, burglary, criminal homicide, dating violence, domestic violence, motor vehicle theft, robbery, sex offense, and stalking if the crime is determined to pose an ongoing threat to the Gardner-Webb University community. The decision to issue a timely warning is based on specific criteria:
Timely warnings will include information about the crime or crimes that trigger the warnings but will not include information that will enable identification of victims. These warnings will include other information that the University believes will help community members protect themselves such as a description of suspects or tips of how to deter theft. The content of a warning will be based on the nature of the threat, the information available at the time it is issued, the risk of compromising official law enforcement investigations, and other factors relating to the circumstances.
The Chief of University Police is responsible for issuing timely warnings to the University community. Timely warnings are distributed to University email addresses and through text messages through the LiveSafe messaging system. Timely warnings are made for crimes specified in the Clery Act. Other dangers to the Gardner-Webb community are addressed through emergency communications as described in the Emergency Management section of this report.
