Safety & Security

To reach MCCN Safety and Security, call:

Columbus (Franklinton): 614-896-1489

Lancaster: 740-687-8124 (Fairfield Medical Center Police)

In the event of an emergency, dial 911

Safety Precautions & Tips

Members of the College community at both the MCCN main and FMC campuses are encouraged to assume responsibility for their own personal safety, and security of personal belongings, by taking the following simple, common sense precautions.

• Although both campuses are well lighted, do not walk alone after dark.
• Keep purses/billfolds and other valuables with you or stored in a campus locker.
• Do not record your address on your key ring.
• Do not provide personal identifying information over the phone.
• If living on main campus:
• Lock your door and alarm the security system when you leave the apartments at MCCN campus.
• Take your key with you when you leave the apartment.
• Do not loan your key to anyone.
• Do not prop doors open.
• Report any potential fire hazards or broken equipment to the MCF Safety & Security.

Missing Student Policy

If a member of the MCCN community has reason to believe that an MCCN student who lives in the resident apartments has been missing for 24 hours or has missed three consecutive days of classes without any known reason or response, they should immediately contact the Director of Compliance and Safety, who will then make contact with following administrators as necessary:

1. Director, Compliance and Safety, 614-234-2341
2. College President, 614-234-4340
3. Academic Dean, 614-234-1777
4. Director, Records and Registration, 614-234-2821
5. Safety and Security, 614-234-4831

The College President and Academic Dean will immediately notify other appropriate law enforcement agencies upon receipt of a missing student report. If the Law Enforcement agency makes an official determination that a student is missing, emergency contact procedures will be initiated within 24-hours in accordance with the student’s designation. In addition, College administrators or their designees will be notified to include the Director of Records and Registration, Director of Compliance and Safety, and the Marketing and Communications Specialist.

Student Emergency Contact Information

Each student may register contact information to be notified in the event the student is determined to be missing. Student contact information will be registered confidentially, will be accessible only to authorized College officials and may not be disclosed except to law enforcement personnel in furtherance of a missing person investigation. 

If a missing student is under 18 years of age and is not emancipated, MCCN is required to notify their custodial parent or guardian within 24-hours after the student is determined to be missing, in addition to notifying any additional contact person designated by the student.

Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report

Mount Carmel College of Nursing prepares an Annual Security Report (ASR) to comply with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act. The ASR includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus and on public property within or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the MCCN campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security and other matters.

The College maintains a daily log of crimes reported to Mount Carmel Health System (MCHS) Safety and Security and the Fairfield Medical Center Campus Police. The crime log for the most recent 60-day period is publicly available during normal business hours from the Director of Compliance and Safety/Clery Coordinator. The log includes the nature of the crime, date and time, general location, and disposition (if known).

The College is also required to publish an annual report on fire safety policies and procedures related to the resident apartments which is included as part of the ASR.

The full text of this combined report is available here: Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report 

A hard copy of the report is available by contacting the College’s Director of Compliance and Safety.

 Weapons on College & Premises

On-Site Possession

Mount Carmel (Health System and College of Nursing) prohibits any person from carrying a concealed firearm or other deadly weapon onto the premises of any Mount Carmel property. No person shall knowingly possess, have under the person’s control, convey, or attempt to convey a deadly weapon or dangerous explosive onto these premises.

College students, faculty, and staff members are prohibited from carrying concealed firearms or other dangerous weapons while functioning in any College-related role, regardless of location, unless specifically permitted as part of an official College program or experience (such as ROTC, etc.).

Law Enforcement and Safety & Security Exemption  

Active law enforcement officers and qualified retired law enforcement officers entering the property while on duty or off-duty are exempt from this policy as long as they are not patients. Off-duty is required to have appropriate law enforcement credentials and carry concealed. 

Designated and authorized Mount Carmel Safety & Security colleagues are permitted to carry firearms in the performance of their duties. The Director of Safety & Security/Manager maintains a list of authorized carriers.

Definitions and Notes

Mount Carmel premises: All Mount Carmel owned or operated facilities, buildings, vehicles, and posted parking lots, garages and campus grounds.

Deadly Weapon or Dangerous Explosives:

• Firearms: including BB guns, air rifles as well as traditional guns.
• Weapons: all articles designed to or intended to be used to cause serious physical injury or harm such as but not limited to knives, straight edge razors, and similar items, which can cause injury.
• Explosives: any devices or chemicals capable of rapid ignition including fireworks.

Although Ohio law enables concealed and carry licensees to carry concealed handguns anywhere in Ohio, all licensees are prohibited from carrying handguns or deadly weapons into Mount Carmel owned and operated facilities, buildings and vehicles except as noted above.

Those in possession of a handgun must secure their handguns or deadly weapons in a locked vehicle before entering Mount Carmel facilities.

Violations of this policy can result in sanctions up to and including removal from campus housing or premises, dismissal from programs and the College (for students), and for employees, corrective action up to and including termination of employment.

Emergency Notification and Response

Mount Carmel Franklinton Safety & Security (“MCF Security”), the Fairfield Medical Center (“FMC”) Police and the College President receive information from various offices and departments on and off campus. If MCF Security or one of these offices confirms that there is an immediate threat to the health or safety of some or all of the members of the campus community, MCF Security or FMC Police and the President/Dean of the College will determine the content of the message and either or both entities will use some or all of the methods described below to communicate to the campus community or appropriate segment of the campus community.

The emergency messaging system may be initiated from on-campus and from remote locations. The College will, without delay and taking into account the safety of the community, determine the content of the emergency message and initiate the emergency messaging system, unless issuing a message will, in the judgment of the MCF Security, the Police or other responsible authorities, compromise efforts to assist a victim or to contain, respond to, or otherwise mitigate the emergency situation.

College-Wide Emergencies - Potential Changes to Courses

In the event of a College-wide emergency, course requirements, classes, simulation experiences, clinical experiences, labs, deadlines, and grading schemes are subject to change.  Changes may include but are not limited to alternative delivery methods, alternative methods of interaction with the instructor, class materials, and/or classmates, alternative experiential learning (including but not limited to: practical/clinical and simulation experiences), a revised attendance policy, and a revised semester calendar and/or grading scheme in accordance with accrediting and regulatory bodies.  Although MCCN reserves the right to execute changes in the event of an emergency, it will ensure that course implementation permits learners the opportunity to achieve course outcomes. Irrespective of the delivery format, the College’s tuition and course fee structure shall remain the same for academic courses, consistent with published tuition and fee schedules. There will be no refund or reduction of tuition or course fees, since the College will be providing a full semester of instruction and awarding full academic credit to those who satisfactorily fulfill course requirements.  

Inclement Weather

During extreme weather conditions, MCCN administration will make a decision about closures or delays (which also includes clinical experience cancellations) before 5:30 a.m. on the day of the closing, or by 10:30 p.m. on the night before closing the college. For afternoon and evening classes, an announcement will be sent by noon, if possible.

The Lancaster campus administration may also determine closures or delays if the Mount Carmel College of Nursing-Columbus campus delays or closes.

Road conditions may also vary substantially throughout Central Ohio; personal judgment should be utilized when deciding to commute to class/clinical when the college is not closed.

Notification of the closing or delay will be sent via text message and email through Rave Mobile Safety, reported on local television and radio stations, and posted on social media (Instagram, Facebook and Twitter).

Emergency Codes

Fire Alarm – Code Red

Fire drill or suspected fire in the College is announced through the alert system as “Code Red, College of Nursing.” The fire alarm will sound and warning lights will blink. All College community personnel are to exit the building. The ruling to always exit the building is a decision made by the Columbus Fire Department.

Evacuation routes are posted in each classroom as well as in other prominent places throughout the College. Students should take time to review them and be familiar with the various evacuation routes.

Reporting a Fire

If a fire is discovered in the College, follow this procedure:

1. Activate the building alarm by breaking the glass or pulling the handle on the wall fire alarm break station.
2. Use the nearest phone to call 911 or Safety at 614-896-1489. Report the exact location of the fire, type of fire, and your name.
3. Close windows and doors in the immediate area to confine the fire.
4. If you are not in danger, do the following:
   disconnect electrical equipment in the immediate area, if able; and
   use a fire extinguisher to fight the fire.
5. Turn on overhead lights so the firefighters can find their way through any smoke.
6. Report the exact location of the fire to the Marian Hall receptionist as you leave the building.
7. Evacuate the building.
8. DO NOT ENDANGER YOURSELF.

Evacuation Procedure

When the page indicates a fire drill or suspected fire in the College, students must leave the building immediately. Prior to leaving the building, follow these guidelines:

1. Turn the light on in the room you are leaving.
2. Close the door of the room you are leaving.
3. Knock on the doors on either side of you to alert others.
4. Exit the building via the nearest fire exit. Do not use elevators.
5. Exit outside to the parking lot across from the College and wait until instructed to return to the building. Do not wait on the front steps of the College.
6. In the event of inclement weather AND
   • the alert indicates a fire in Marian Hall only, go to the CLE lobby and wait until instructed to return to Marian Hall; or
   • the alert indicates a fire in the CLE only, go to the Marian Hall Gym and wait until instructed to return to the CLE.

Students may return to the building when a Security Officer indicates that the building is safe. Students should not return to the building until authorized to do so.

Severe Weather – Code Gray

If threatening weather includes the possibility of a tornado, an alert will be annoucned over the College alert system a “Code Gray, Tornado Watch” or a “Code Gray, Tornado Warning.” These announcements are made in conjunction with the National Weather Service.

Tornado Watch

A “Tornado Watch” means that weather conditions are right for a tornado to develop in the area. There is no specific response for students during a tornado watch, except to be on the alert for an announcement of worsening weather conditions.

Tornado Warning: Option One

If a funnel cloud is sighted within Franklin County, the operator will announce a “Tornado Warning Option One.” All students are required to report to the skills labs on the lower level of Marian Hall and remain there until an “all clear” announcement is made.

Tornado Warning Option Two

A “Tornado Warning Option Two” announcement means that a funnel cloud has been sighted in the immediate vicinity. All students are required to report to the skills labs on the lower level of Marian Hall and to remain there until an “all clear” announcement is made.

Bomb Threat – Code Black

“Code Black” indicates a bomb threat has been received or a suspicious package has been found on the MCCN campus. It is very important that the recipient of the bomb threat logs the communication (possibly a telephone call) e.g., the caller’s characteristics, time of the call, any other pertinent information, and then immediately contact Mount Carmel Security 614-896-1489.

There is no specific response for students in the College of Nursing other than reporting any suspicious looking boxes or hardware. College of Nursing staff will secure all doors and conduct a controlled search of adjacent areas.

Weapon or Hostage Threat – Code Silver

“Code Silver” indicates someone is threatening with a weapon or holding another person against their will. If a student observes an emergency of this nature in the College, they should report the situation (614-896-1489), describing the incident and location. When “Code Silver” is alerted, all personnel should stay away from the area in question.

Disaster Alert – Code Yellow

To ensure readiness in the event of a major accident in the community, Mount Carmel College of Nursing has a detailed plan to respond to a disaster. A “Disaster Alert” will be sent out when there is a condition that requires extra personnel to help in an emergency. A disaster may be an accident, major internal mishap, or a major community disaster.

When a “Disaster Alert” is called, all available Mount Carmel College of Nursing employees may be asked to report to a central locaction which will function as a center to dispatch personnel to areas needing help. Students may also be asked to report, if needed.

Reporting of Sexual Offenders

Information Regarding Registered Sexually Violent Predators

The Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act requires sex offenders, who must register under state law, to provide notice of enrollment or employment at any institution of higher education (IHE) in that state where the offender resides, as well as notice of each change of enrollment or employment status at the IHE. In turn, this information will be made available by the state authorities to the local law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction where the IHE is located.

Ohio law requires that convicted sex offenders must register with the county in which they reside. In Franklin and Fairfield Counties in Ohio, sex offenders register with the Sheriff’s Office for a designated time period. Sex offenders are classified as 1) sexually oriented offenders, 2) habitual sex offenders, and 3) sexual predators.

Registered Sexual Predators Enrolled in or Employed at Mount Carmel College of Nursing

Mount Carmel College of Nursing will make available to the entire College constituency, information on any sexual predator who enrolls in or is employed at the College. The information is made available to the College by the Sheriff’s Department and includes the offender’s name, address, physical description, photograph, and the offense of which the person was convicted. The file is located in the College office. Please contact the College President’s office for specific information on individuals.

Notification Procedure

The President’s office, in consultation with Compliance and Safety, will notify the College community in writing if a sexual predator has been enrolled or hired by the College.

Related Information

Public Law 106-386-OCT.28,2000

Franklin County Sex Offender Registry

Fairfield County Sex Offender Registry