Community Services
Building Access, Admittances, & LTA
In order to access campus buildings and spaces, individuals must have the proper authorization. Some of this access is implicit, such as employee access to their office building or student access to their assigned on-campus residence. Other access must be authorized by an appropriate campus department or employee.
When possible, access is facilitated by use of your Aquinas ID card. Individuals may also call the Campus Safety Office to request an admittance when necessary. Admittances are provided in person by a Campus Safety Officer and individuals must provide photo identification to the officer before the admittance will be provided. Campus Safety will not admit individuals by unlocking doors remotely.
Individuals will not be admitted into a building or space if Campus Safety has not received written notification of authorization by an appropriate campus employee or department. All authorization must be sent to the Campus Safety Department digitally in writing, though a phone call may occassionally serve for a one-time admittance.
Current Students and Employees: Employees and students automatically have access to buildings and spaces during a facility's hours of operation when this information has been communicated to the Department of Campus Safety. This includes access to buildings where and when classes are being held, offices/departments are open, and services are being provided, such as:
Access to the Academic Building when department offices are open and/or when classes are being held.
Access to Wege Center when the Cafeteria or Nellie's Corner are serving.
Access to Cook Carriage House when the Moose Cafe is open.
Access to Sturrus & Alksnis Center during the Fitness Center/Weight Room hours of operation.
Access to Jarecki-Lacks-Hauenstein Center when classes are being held, departmental officers are open, and/or when the Grace Hauenstein Library is open.
Employees: All faculty and staff automatically have access to their own office space and office building. Some employees are granted additional building access due to their position, department, or specific responsibilities.
Student Access: Students living on campus have access to their residence hall and assigned living space. Access for student employment, athletic teams, or for academic purposes must be authorized by an approrpiate employee or department via the LTA process (see below). This policy is designed to allow students or other persons access to secure areas that their supervisor or instructor feels they need in order to perform their job responsibilities, complete their academic work, or participate in extra-curricular activities.
Authorizing Student Access (LTA)
LTA stands for long-term authorization. LTA is how Aquinas College employees communicate to Campus Safety who needs access to areas around campus. A student being enrolled in a class or employed by a specific department on campus does not automatically mean that they are authorized to access a building or room without supervision. By submitting the Student Authorization (LTA) Submission Form, employees can authorize individuals for access to a specific building, work space, room, etc., and set the parameters for that access.
LTA may submitted for a maximum of one semester at a time. Requiring the renewal of LTA on a semesterly basis helps to ensure that authorization lists remain accurate and up-to-date.
LTA may only be authorized for students for time periods falling between 6:00 am and 2:00 am. Please contact our office if you require an exception to this rule.
LTA is not active on days that campus is closed due to holidays, severe weather, utility outages, etc. Please advise your students of this to save them time and possible frustration.
Students will not be granted access to a space after their LTA expires. Please communicate this to your students so they can plan accordingly.
To ensure that Campus Safety has all of the information necessary to accomodate your authorization request(s), please utilize the Student Authorization (LTA) Submission Form. Thank you.
Safety Escorts
Campus community members may contact the Department of Campus Safety at (616) 632-2462 to request an escort to and from locations on campus and close to campus (i.e. within an appx. 1-mile radius). Escorts may be provided on foot (on campus only) or with a vehicle, per the discretion of the on-duty staff. Please notify the dispatcher if you need to be transported via vehicle due to a specific concern, situation, or circumstance.
The escort service is provided in order to ensure student safety.
Students are encouraged not to walk alone on campus after dark.
Escorts must originate or conclude at an on-campus location.
Please inform Campus Safety of all individuals in the group when calling to request an escort.
Campus Safety will not provide escorts to restaurants, retail stores, or parties.
Campus Safety will provide transport to the Family Fare near campus, located at 1415 Fulton St E, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.
Students with vehicles on campus are expected to use their vehicles for their own transportation needs in compliance with the Aquinas College Parking & Traffic Regulations.
Campus Safety will provide escorts to and from student vehicles parked on campus, especially after dark and during inclement weather. Don't risk a ticket - we'll pick you up!
Response Time: In most cases, Campus Safety Officers are able to respond to escort requests within 10 minutes. Occassionally, situations arise that may delay an officer’s response time. Students will be advised by the dispatcher of any expected delays.
If you find that you have been waiting 10 minutes or longer and were not advised of the delay, please contact the Campus Safety Office again for an update. Campus Safety officers will never neglect to provide a requested escort that has already been agreed upon.
>>Download our Escort Boundary Map (pdf)
Transport on Campus for Health Conditions and Injuries: Mobile escorts are available to Aquinas College students and employees dealing with
a mobility-impairing medical condition or injury. Please email cso@aquinas.edu for more information.
Emergency Transport: When it is safe to do so, Campus Safety will transport individuals in need of immediate or emergency medical care to Blodgett Hospital. When it is not safe for Campus Safety to provide transport, on-duty staff will contact 911 for medical support and transport.
Aquinas ID Cards
Identification cards are issued to Aquinas College commumity members at the Campus Safety Office. See Aquinas ID Cards for more information.
Vehicle Assistance
Campus Safety can provide a limited number of services to our community members for vehicles parked on campus. Please be aware that Campus Safety officers are not able to assist with changing tires or diagnosing/repairing vehicle trouble/issues.
Lock-Out Service
If you lock your keys in your vehicle while parked on campus, you may call the Department
of Campus Safety and an attempt will be made to open your vehicle as time allows.
The driver must provide proof of ownership and identification as well as complete
a waiver releasing the College from liability prior to the service being provided.
There is no cost associated with this service.
Battery Jump Start Service
Should you find that your vehicle won't start while parked on campus, you may call
the Department of Campus Safety and an attempt will be made to jump start your vehicle
as time allows. The driver must complete a waiver releasing the College from liability
prior to the service being provided. There is no cost associated with this service.
Tire Air Pressure
Campus Safety can assist with adding air to vehicle tires when the vehicle is parked on campus. The driver must complete a waiver releasing the College from liability prior to the service being provided. There is no cost associated with this service.
CONTACT INFO
Campus Safety
(616) 632-2462
On-campus Emergency: x.3333
cso@aquinas.edu