For more information on campus safety and security, contact the Manager of Maintenance & Operations at OHIO Lancaster - barberg@ohio.edu or 740.681.3392.
Lancaster Campus Safety & Security
At ĢƵ University Lancaster, your safety and well-being matter to us. We’re committed to creating a welcoming, supportive environment where every student can thrive. Our campus leaders, faculty, and staff all work together to make sure you have easy access to helpful resources, and we’re here to support you — especially when it matters most. Whether you need guidance, reassurance, or quick help in an emergency, we’ve got your back every step of the way.
Campus Safety and Emergency Procedures
At the Lancaster Campus, ensuring a safe and welcoming learning environment where students can thrive is not just a priority, it's a promise. Our University leaders promise to prioritize student safety in every action. Our faculty and staff across various functional areas are committed to working together to ensure access to support and safety resources and respond effectively to emergencies as they arise.
Emergency Telephone Numbers
Emergency: 911
Emergency Follow-up and Non-emergency:
- Primary – Dean’s Offce, 740.681.3302, Brasee Hall, Room 518
- Secondary – Student Services, 740.681.3300, Brasee Hall, 3rd Floor
- OUPD Police: 740.593.1911
- ĢƵ State Highway Patrol: #677, or non-emergency incidents 740.654.1523
- Fairfield County Sherriff's Office: 740.652.7900
Dial 740.654.6711 after 5 p.m., as they will notify the Dean’s Office or Facilities Management.
Emergency Procedures
Read more about emergency procedures for various incidents. If in doubt, please use the emergency telephone numbers or non-emergency campus telephone numbers, depending on the situation.
Accident/Emergency
- Assess whether the incident is an emergency or non-emergency situation. If in doubt, assume that it is an emergency.
- Call 911 and relay type of emergency and location.
- Emergency Response Equipment – If critical and urgent, use the personal emergency response equipment to respond to a medical emergency.
- AEDs (Automated External Defibrillator) are located on or available from all floors in high visibility/traffic areas.
- Emergency Overdose Kits (Naloxbox) containing Naloxone are located on campus, generally located with AEDs.
- Wound Triage Kits (Stop the Bleed) are located on the main floor of all the buildings next to the AED.
- Contact the Dean’s office to report and call family member or friend of person needing assistance.
- Stay with and comfort any person needing medical assistance and be available for recording information for the incident report. Dean’s Office will be responsible for the completion of the appropriate incident report.
- If work-related injury, the employee must contact their supervisor the same day. The supervisor (with assistance from the employee) must complete an incident report form immediately after a work-related injury, illness, or incident and submit to the Dean’s Office.
Active Aggressor
- Call 911 and direct people away from the area.
- Giving exact location and description of the suspect(s) to the police.
- If time permits, call the Dean’s Office. They will contact emergency response personnel, to ensure they receive first call.
- An emergency messaging system will be activated, informing all subscribers of the situation and the appropriate actions to be taken through multiple communication forms (landline phone, cell phone, text message, and/or email) and other social media platforms.
- If the person has a weapon, use judgement to get out, stay put, take cover, or engage.
- If a clear opportunity is presented to flee, evacuate the facility as a top priority and as quickly as possible. Run in a zigzag pattern if the aggressor is in sight.
- If you take cover go to the nearest office, room, or closet. Lock the door (or if no inside lock - block door with desks, chairs, or other heavy object), turn off the lights, move away from the entry to the sides and corners of the room, get low to the floor, and prepare to engage the person if necessary. Remain until the law enforcement gives the “all clear” to the area. An “All Clear” message will also be announced via the Emergency Messaging System (OHIO Alert!).
Bomb Threat
- Write down what caller says or any notes about background noise for clues to caller’s location.
- Look at caller ID and take note of caller’s geographic location, recording phone number if possible.
- Then dial 911 on campus phone (avoid using cell phones as signal could detonate explosive device) and then contact the Dean’s Office.
- Wait for further instruction from police or OHIO Administration by multiple messaging forms following direction from emergency first responders.
Explosive Device
- Do not use cell phones or two-way radios, due to potential of triggering device, and inform others not to use same.
- Using a campus phone (not cell phone) call 911 to report a suspicious package then contact the Dean’s Office in the same manner.
- Evacuation procedures will be determined by emergency personnel.
Chemical/Toxic Threat
- Assess the general threat and/or condition of the victim, then call 911 and the Dean’s Office.
- Observe the general threat/spill and/or condition of victim. Direct people away from the area.
- Emergency response personnel will assess evacuating building(s); Facilities management staff will check restrooms and study areas and assist physically challenged individuals.
- Meet emergency personnel and relay pertinent information about the incident.
- Be attentive to Emergency Message instructions sent by OHIO in multiple forms.
Fire
- Activate fire alarm immediately by using the nearest pull station to alert local Fire Department and building occupants.
- Evacuate building following emergency lights that will come on in halls and stairways.
- Help ensure that physically challenged individuals are assisted exiting the building if known or encountered.
- If you hear the alarm while in a room, feel the door before you open it. If hot, leave it closed. Open (break if necessary) a window with a desk or chair and await help.
- On upper-story floors, evacuate through the stairwell. Do not use the elevator and discourage others from using the elevator. Assist any physically challenged people to the stairwell behind the fire door. Inform emergency response personnel of any people in the stairwell.
Parking Lots
Brasee and Herrold lots are equipped with emergency ‘blue light’ telephone stations and cameras. The Police Department is called by activating the ‘blue light’ telephone.
Power Outage
- Facilities Management will assess the situation/duration and will inform the Dean’s Office of the outage status.
- Students are to remain in the building/classroom until instructions are given.
- Emergency lights will come on in halls and stairways.
- These will last approximately one hour.
- If it is determined by the Dean to dismiss classes and/or to close campus, a representative from OHIO Administration will advise you in person. In addition, notification will be sent via the multiple emergency messaging forms.
Severe Weather
- Once a tornado siren is heard or emergency messaging alerts are provided, time permitting, move to a designated safe area as marked by Tornado or Severe Weather symbol signage.
- If urgent action is needed, go to the lowest level of the building in interior rooms, hallways and stairwells and stay away from windows.
- Classrooms: Faculty direct students to designated emergency shelter locations.
- Administrative Offices: Staff proceed to designated emergency shelter locations.
- Common Areas: Faculty and staff should direct individuals located in common areas to seek emergency shelter in the designated locations.
- Stay there until an “All Clear” message is provided by OHIO Administration by multiple messaging forms.
- Do not attempt to evacuate buildings and discourage others from doing so.
Student in Crisis / Civil Disturbance
- If you suspect a student is in crisis, ensure their immediate safety by calmly assessing the situation, call 911, and then the Dean’s Office.
- Provide emotional support in a non-confrontational manner until help arrives.
- Call 911, then, if possible, contact the Dean’s Office
- Be prepared to give the following information:
- The name of the group, if known.
- The exact location of the group.
- The size of the group.
- Weapons involved.
- Avoid provoking or obstructing demonstrators.
- Avoid the area of the disturbance.
- In a civil disturbance:
- Stay inside.
- Stay away from doors and windows.
- Continue with normal business operations, if possible.
- If necessary, cease operations and evacuate.
- Secure your work area (lock doors, safes, files, vital records, and expensive equipment).
- Log off computers.
Media Relations, Communication, and Emergency Command
OHIO Lancaster's Interim Dean of Campus and Community Relations or the Manager of Communications and External Relations will serve as the only institutional spokesperson.
Faculty and staff are asked not to describe events on social media.
Incident Report Forms
Should an incident occur on campus, please use the appropriate Incident Form.
In case of a life-threatening emergency, an individual should Call 911, proceed to a safe place when applicable, and notify the Dean's Office.
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More Information
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Clery Act
In compliance with the federal Clery Act, ĢƵ University publishes an annual security report detailing campus safety policies, crime statistics, and prevention efforts to help students and staff stay informed and take an active role in their personal safety.