Standard Number 3.10.6: The institution takes reasonable steps to provide a healthy, safe, and secure environment for all members of the campus community.

Full Compliance

The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia is strongly committed to protecting the environment and human health and safety in all of its operations as stated in the Board of Regents Policy Manual (§ 916). Accordingly, the Board recognizes that proactive efforts must be made to ensure that sound environmental, health and safety planning is integrated into every level of University System decision making. Furthermore, this policy mandates that each institution within the System shall:

• comply with all applicable environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. In the absence of specific laws or regulations, good management practices shall be followed;
• develop, follow and continuously improve environmental, health and safety programs; including emergency action plans, for all facilities and operations;
• perform periodic environmental, health and safety reviews of facilities and programs to correct deficiencies, establish goals and identify funding priorities;
• designate a specific individual to coordinate environmental, health and safety affairs for the institution. This individual shall be a key member of each institution’s administrative leadership team and shall be supported with appropriate resources;
• promote environmental, health and safety awareness among all faculty, staff and students by providing administrative support and appropriate resources for training and program implementation;
• design, construct and operate all facilities in a manner that protects the health and safety of the occupants and the environment. Environmental, health and safety factors shall be an integral part of each institution’s master planning efforts;
• practice waste minimization and pollution prevention by adopting recycling programs for all appropriate materials, purchasing recycled products, substituting less hazardous materials and establishing micro-scale chemistry operations;
• recognize the relationship between energy and the environment and implement strategies such as energy-efficient facility lighting and equipment upgrades and alternative fuel vehicles, where appropriate;
• work cooperatively with government, industry, and other organizations in developing reasonable and cost-effective environmental, health and safety legislation and regulations which protect the environment and human health; and
• serve as environmentally responsible neighbors and promote sustainable development on campus properties and in local communities.

Georgia Southern University shares the Board of Regents’ strong commitment toward maintaining a healthy, safe, and secure environment and articulates this commitment through the University’s Strategic Plan. Specifically, the Strategic Plan reads: “The physical setting frames the campus academically and environmentally. Furthermore, it acknowledges the contribution of the physical campus to the environment of teaching, learning, scholarship, and involvement.” The Plan also outlines several objectives, including maintaining a safe, comfortable, and healthful campus environment as well as promoting a campus sensitive to ecologically and environmentally sustainable design, construction, and operational practices that respect the natural habitats of the coastal plain. One way the University achieves these objectives is through the Department of Environmental Safety. This department is tasked with ensuring the general health and safety of the campus environment through the enforcement of hazardous waste management code compliance and fire code compliance. They also investigate accidents and administer the Employee Right to Know program and the campus’ emergency preparedness plan to ensure that the University is prepared to deal with disasters on a larger scale. To inform the University community of proper procedures and protocols, Environmental Safety posts numerous publications on its web site relating to health and safety issues such as: the Georgia Southern Environmental Safety Guidelines, Biomedical Information, Biosafety Manual, Chemical Safety Information, Hazardous Material Information, Bloodborn Pathogens, Electrical Safety, Training Requirements, the Right to Know Plan, Lab Safety, A Guide to Mold, Pesticide Use, Solid Waste Information, and Formaldehyde Information.

The Division of Public Safety (of which Environmental Safety is one part) is responsible for ensuring that all students and employees are safe in their person and belongings, that the property of the University is protected against theft and vandalism, and that all laws of the State of Georgia are enforced. They are also responsible for traffic control on campus. The Department of Police Services consists of state-certified police officers who have the same authority as any municipal police department. The Department of Criminal Investigations is responsible for investigating criminal incidents as well as for crime prevention.

Finally, the University promotes a campus recycling program and asks that all students and employees participate. Physical Plant places containers for materials such as cans, plastic bottles, newspapers, and office paper near departmental offices and in various locations around campus. The University also encourages faculty, staff, and students to participate in the energy conservation program by turning off lighting and other power consuming equipment when it is not needed. These initiatives are published in the Faculty Handbook (§ 503, p. 64).

In addition to the above, the University operates the University Wellness Council—an advisory body that represents and serves as a coordinating body for all aspects of campus health promotion and wellness at the institutional level. The mission of this Council is to advise the President on ways to promote wellness for all Georgia Southern faculty, staff, and students by supporting the integration of wellness into the culture and curricula of the University. The role of the council in relation to faculty and staff include identifying wellness resources on campus; coordinating all aspects of campus health promotion and wellness at the institutional level; recommending actions that promote quality wellness programming; maintaining a web page containing information about and activities of the University Wellness Council; and offer wellness-related programs (see Faculty Handbook, § 109.04, p. 25).

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