Campus Crime Prevention and Security Awareness Programs

The following security awareness and crime prevention programs were provided by Miami University Police during the calendar year 2024:

• Alcohol and Drug Safety/Awareness related programs for students. Two sessions were conducted upon request.
• New Student Orientation that provided general safety awareness, crime prevention, alcohol rules, and fire safety information to students. Information was provided during each session of orientation.
• General safety awareness and crime prevention information was provided to current students upon request during 17 sessions.
• International Student Orientation that provided general safety awareness and crime prevention information to international students. Information was provided during one orientation session.
• Active Threat Awareness Training provided to students, faculty, and staff. Information was provided upon request during three sessions.
• Sexual Assault Awareness information was provided to students, staff, and community members. Two sessions were conducted upon request.

Additional information regarding emergency preparedness and procedures, including what to do in the event of an active threat/shooter is available in case of such an incident. Also, three videos on personal safety are available for check-out from King Library.

Miami provides information on fire safety policies, procedures, and statistics.

Safety Programs

These tips can help to ensure your safety:

• Update your registration with the Miami RedHawk Alert Emergency Notification System to receive emergency text notifications in situations on campus that pose an immediate danger.
• Use the BCRTA Saferide Late Night Services.
    -Oxford campus, (513) 785-5237 or toll-free (855)42-BCRTA (operates from 10 p.m. until 3 a.m. Monday-Saturday and until 1 a.m. Sunday)
    -Hamilton Campus, 513-785-3222 (campus security)
    -Middletown Campus, 513-727-3333 (campus security)
• Use the free Miami bus system run by BCRTA (operates 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Friday and Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday & Sunday).

You can also take advantage of the following resources promoting safety and awareness:

• Miami Police provides presentations to small groups on a variety of safety topics. Request a safety presentation or program.
• Miami Police provide a variety of crime prevention tips, ranging from traveling alone to facts concerning Rohypnol.
• Miami Police partners with the Office of Student Wellness to host self-defense workshops each semester. 

Workplace Violence

Miami University is committed to promoting and maintaining a safe working and learning environment for its employees and students. Threatening, intimidating, or violent behavior will not be tolerated. If such conduct occurs, it should be promptly reported to the proper authorities (police and/or appropriate personnel office) and will be investigated.

Persons found to have violated this policy will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination in accordance with the appropriate collective bargaining agreement, classified civil service rules, and/or University disciplinary policy.

Any person who is the victim of threatening or violent conduct in the workplace, or who observes such behavior, or who believes a credible threat of such behavior exists is expected to immediately report the conduct to the proper authorities (police and/or appropriate personnel office). Those who, in good faith, make such reports will be protected from retaliation.

The Code of Student Conduct

General

The Code of Student Conduct (the “Code”) applies to Miami’s undergraduate students, graduate students, and student organizations. The Code prohibits misconduct on University premises (buildings or grounds owned, leased, operated, controlled, or supervised by the University), including the Oxford campus, Miami University Dolibois European Center, the Miami University Hamilton campus, the Miami University Middletown campus, and the Voice of America Learning Center. It also applies to misconduct in University programs and activities, regardless of location, and off-campus conduct that negatively impacts the campus community. Students and student organizations are subject to this Code beginning at summer orientation, during academic terms for which they are enrolled, during breaks between terms, during University holidays and vacations, and during periods of suspension. Additionally, while Miami University does not routinely monitor social media sites and other electronic media, students should be aware that behavior on such sites when reported to the University may be investigated and adjudicated.

To promote a safe and civil campus environment, Miami University expects each student and student organization to follow the Code. The severity of the offense, prior disciplinary history, whether an offense was committed against a person intentionally selected by reason of their sex/gender, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, military status, or veteran status, and other relevant circumstances will be considered in determining the appropriate disciplinary action.

Criminal Behavior and the Code

Issues involving the Miami University Police Department and/or Oxford Police Department will be referred to the Office of Community Standards and may result in disciplinary action. Other matters involving, but not limited to, law enforcement, code enforcement, and/or fire code enforcement may also be referred to Office of Community Standards and may lead to disciplinary action.

The Code is different from criminal or civil justice systems. Students can be accountable to both the University and in a civil or criminal proceeding for the same actions. University conduct proceedings can happen even if civil or criminal cases are pending or dismissed.

Reporting parties are encouraged to seek help from the Miami University Police Department or the Dean of Students Office. They can choose to pursue action through either criminal or university processes, or both.

The Code and Student Organizations

Student organizations are defined as any university-sponsored program or registered student organization recognized by university, including but not limited to: registered student organizations, fraternity and/or sorority organizations, club sports, intramural sports, intercollegiate athletics, student government.

Student organizations are expected to take active steps to prevent misconduct and address concerns within their community. All sections of the Code apply to student organizations. Additionally, the following information applies to student organizations:

• Student organizations may face formal alleged violations of the Code without regard to whether members of such groups or organizations are individually alleged with violations arising from the same occurrences.
• Student organizations, along with its officers, leaders, or any identifiable spokespersons, may be held collectively or individually responsible if members of the group are found to have violated the Code.

To determine whether a violation applies to the student organization, the University will consider several factors, including, but not limited to:

• Whether the student organization’s funds were used for any event where the alleged violation may have occurred.  
• Whether the violation took place during an activity sponsored or sanctioned by the student organization.
• Whether the location of the alleged violation is commonly associated with the student organization.
• Whether the conduct appears to be part of an ongoing pattern that has not been addressed by the student organization’s leadership.
• Whether multiple members of the student organization engaged in the behavior together, and/or whether the student organization members were publicly identifiable as representing the student organization at the time of the misconduct.

Standard of Review under the Code

The standard of review used to determine responsibility is a “preponderance” standard of evidence. This standard means that the information and facts presented must show that it is more likely than not that the behavior of the student violated the Code.

1219 Proceedings 

Ohio Revised Code Sections 3345.22 and 3345.23 procedures are commonly referred to as “1219” proceedings. A student who is arrested for any of the offenses defined in Ohio Revised Code 3345.23(D) may be subjected to the “1219” proceedings, which are summarized below.

After a hearing, as proscribed by Ohio Revised Code 3345.22, that will be held no more than five days after arrest (continuances may be granted, that may not exceed a total of 10 days), students arrested for one of the offenses defined in Ohio Revised Code 3345.23(D) are subject to immediate suspension from the University, pending the outcome of the criminal prosecution. Students convicted of any of the offenses enumerated in Ohio Revised Code 3345.23(D) are subject to automatic dismissal from Miami University.  The initiation of a “1219” proceeding against a student does not prohibit the University from taking University disciplinary action against that same student under the Code for the same conduct that gave rise to the “1219” proceeding. This includes, but is not limited to, the imposition of a Summary Suspension.

Students suspended or dismissed under these “1219” procedures are not permitted on University property without the express permission of the President or the Board of Trustees. Students dismissed upon conviction may be re-admitted or admitted to any other Ohio tax-supported college or university, at the discretion of the college or university’s board of trustees, but only after the lapse of one calendar year following dismissal and only upon terms of strict Disciplinary Probation (see Ohio Revised Code 3345.22 and 3345.23 for full text of the statutes and see Section 4, Chapter 3 of the Code of Student Conduct for list of defined offenses of violence).