Southeastern Louisiana University is committed to providing a healthy, safe and secure environment for all members of the campus community. Responsibilities for different categories of health, safety, and security are assigned to various departments, all of which follow applicable federal, state, and local protocols.

The University's Safety Committee serves as an advisory committee reporting directly to the Vice President for Administration and Finance on matters concerning implementation of effective action to eliminate principal accident-producing conditions throughout the campus. In carrying out its advisory function, the Committee enlists the cooperation of members of the University community in the safety program at every management level within the University. The Campus Safety Officer serves as a member of the Safety Committee. In addition, the Committee includes faculty representing various colleges and academic departments, a student representative, the Director of Physical Plant, the Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences, the University Police Chief, the Director of Facility Planning, and the Chair of the Council of Department Heads.

Workplace Health and Safety
Southeastern supports a healthy, safe, and secure work environment, and the University is proactive in developing the necessary policies, procedures, and guidelines to ensure a safe campus community. The Human Resources Office has a primary role in promoting a healthy and safe work place for Southeastern faculty, staff, and students. In addition to providing faculty and staff orientation programs and ongoing training programs to ensure that faculty and staff are aware of current regulations, the Human Resources Office assists with publishing policies and procedures in various employee handbooks. Some of the policies include the following:

• ADA Policy (Part II, Section B)
• AIDS Policy (Part II, Section D)
• Building Security and Building Keys Policy (Part IV, Section D)
• Domestic Violence in the Workplace Policy (Part II, Section G)
• Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Policy (Part II, Section J)
• Drug and Alcohol Testing (Part II, Section K)
• Employee Assistance Program (Part V, Section I)
• FMLA Policy (Part V, Section D), classified employees, faculty, unclassified employees.
• Grievance Policies and Procedures (Part III, Section F), classified employees, faculty, unclassified employees, and graduate assistants
• Harassment Policy (Part II, Section E)
• Medical Examinations Policy (Part II, Section S)
• New Employee Orientation (Part III, Section G), classified employees, faculty, unclassified employees, and graduate assistants
• Return to Transitional Duty Work Policy
• Smoking Policy (Part VI, Section E)
• Southeastern Louisiana University's Drug Free Workplace Policy (Part II, Section I)
• State of Louisiana Employee Substance Abuse and Drug-Free Workplace Policy
  (Part II, Section H)
• Violence in the Workplace Policy (Part II, Section F)
• Workers Compensation Program (Part V, Section E; Graduate Assistant Handbook, Section C; Student Worker Handbook, Section B)

Fire Prevention and Environmental Safety
Under the direction of the Vice President of Administration and Finance, the Director of Safety and Hazardous Materials Management administers a number of programs that deal with environmental safety, including maintenance of an Online Safety Manual in compliance with OSHA regulations. In addition, the Director also assists various academic and staff departments to ensure that these departments develop safety manuals that are relevant to their specific disciplines; for example, the Department of Chemistry and Physics Safety Handbook addresses the issues of chemical storage and disposal. The Office of Safety and Hazardous Materials Management also maintains a reference library for various safety and environmental regulations, as well as coordinating routine safety training and driver education training, as required by the Office of Risk Management. The State of Louisiana Office of Risk Management audits the University for general safety, driver safety, water vessel, bonds, and crime and equipment management. The University has successfully completed this audit for the past 5 years. Examples of Southeastern's safety program includes:

• Fire Safety
  Southeastern's buildings are inspected annually by the Office of the State Fire Marshal based on the National Fire Protection Agency's Life Safety Code 101. Included in the inspection are the University's fire alarm systems, fire extinguishers, and fire sprinkler alarm systems. Fire suppression systems are inspected bi-annually.
   
• Employee Safety Meetings
  Safety meetings are held on a quarterly basis, and all University employees are required to participate.
   
• First Aid
  Southeastern provides first aid through the University Police who are available anywhere on campus within four minutes. Trained in first response, the University Police have immediate access to an emergency medical team. First aid services are also offered at the University Health Center, staffed with registered nurses. In addition, any department may request a first aid kit. If approved, department employees will be identified and trained.
   
• Procedures in the Event of an Emergency
  Employee handbooks contain procedures in the event of an emergency such as accidents and injuries, bomb threats, fire and/or explosions, laboratory emergencies, mental health crisis, rape/sexual assault, physical/bodily harm, building and ground structural distress, and weather-related emergencies.
   
• Radiation Safety
  The Radiation Safety Committee is responsible for local supervision and control of radiation hazards and directs the activities of the Radiation Safety Officer. All persons involved in handling, use, and storage of radioactive materials and radiation sources are responsible for ensuring that University personnel, students, and visitors are not exposed, and are in compliance with all federal, state, and University regulations, policies and procedures.
   
• Safe Driver Program
  All employees driving University-owned vehicles or personal vehicles on University business must be certified to drive under the University's Safe Driver Program and hold a valid operator's license for the vehicle they are operating.
   
• Accident and Claims Procedures
  Procedures are provided in the case of damages to University property, vehicle accidents, theft, or vandalism.
   

Building Maintenance and Construction
The Office of Safety and Hazardous Materials Management conducts quarterly inspections of buildings and grounds through University building coordinators. Any deficiencies identified by the building coordinators are reported to Physical Plant for correction. The University also participates in the State of Louisiana Office of Risk Management annual audit program. This involves a self-evaluation of campus safety, in accordance to Office of Risk Management Guidelines, and an annual inspection of facilities and processes by that office. By successfully completing all parts of the audit, the University receives a 5% reduction in its annual insurance premium. The University has successfully completed this audit for the past five years .

The State Department of Facility Planning and Control administers all new construction projects over $350,000. The University's Office of Facility Planning works closely with the State Department to ensure that all new construction activities are in accordance with the appropriate plan and contract documents. The University's Department of Facility Planning coordinates construction, planning and specifications with the Physical Plant Department, the University of Louisiana System, the State Department of Facility Planning and Control, and the State Fire Marshal to ensure that the plans meet fire safety and building code requirements, as well as the construction standards put in place by the University.

Law Enforcement, Security, Parking Administration and Enforcement
The mission of the University Police Department is to ensure the safety of all persons and property on the campus of Southeastern Louisiana University. In addition to law enforcement and security operations, the University Police Department is responsible for the administration of parking operation and enforcement, community training to continue the policing policy beyond the campus into the community, as well as training for the University Police officers. The University Police Department maintains contingency plans for hurricane and severe weather, the reception of home health persons in event of a major disaster, fire operation, bomb threats, and a number of other contingencies.

The University Police Department is composed of a Director and 24 police officers commissioned by the State Department of Public Safety (including a criminal investigator), four radio dispatchers, three clerical personnel, and three parking enforcement officers. Student employees who work as student police officers, student parking enforcement officers, and student clerical assistants supplement the staff; at least two police officers are on duty at all times patrolling the 363-acre campus.

The University Police operate under the authority of Louisiana Revised Statute 17:1805 with jurisdiction on and off-campus for incidents occurring on or around the property of the University. The Department, in compliance with the Clery Act (formerly the Campus Security, Student Right to Know Act of 1990), publishes an annual report outlining campus crime statistics and safety and security procedures.

Project Safe Campus
The Division of Student Affairs has initiated a university-wide project known as Project Safe Campus. This project began in the spring of 2003 in response to a growing concern among parents and students across the nation regarding issues of security and safety on college campuses, and is designed to raise awareness on issues of student safety. Program offerings are based on student response, assessment and need. Educational prevention and support programs presently offered include, but are not limited to:

• Sexual assault and rape prevention
• Suicide prevention
• Domestic violence prevention
• Alcohol and other drug abuse prevention
• Suicide survivor support groups
• Eating disorders
• STDs, HIV and Other Prevention

University Dormitories
The University has a Student Housing and Residential Services Handbook. Included in the handbook is information regarding safety and security, as well as emergency procedures for students to follow while residing in University housing.

Health Services
The University provides Student Health Services for the care of most minor illnesses and injuries involving students. The Vera W. Thomason Health Center is open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday, and physicians are available for consultation during appointed clinic hours. The Center is staffed with one practical nurse and four registered nurses, and is affiliated with the Department of Nursing within the College of Nursing and Health Studies. The University Health Center is not equipped to handle medical emergencies, and University Police work collaboratively with local ambulance services to transport medical emergency patients to a local hospital.

Counseling Services
The University Counseling Center offers professional mental health counseling services to assist with personal and social concerns. Individual, couples, marriage, family, and group counseling are available to all students, faculty, and staff. The staff also provides emergency counseling service after hours. The University Counseling Center is accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services.