Building Access
SECTION: Index I - Safety & Risk Management
POLICY NUMBER: I-01
POLICY
The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all facilities, including student housing, owned, leased, managed or controlled by the University of Houston-Victoria (UHV) are accessible during hours that are necessary to accommodate the needs of faculty, staff, students and the general public.
PROCEDURE
Building Access Hours
Access protocol will help to increase the safety and welfare of students, employees, visitors and properties through minimizing incidents of vandalism and theft, aiding security personnel in identification of suspicious activity and reducing the university's exposure to liability. Posted access hours will also increase the efficiency of custodial and maintenance personnel in completing duties after hours. Unauthorized access may result in university disciplinary action, the summoning of civil authorities and/or the filing of criminal charges depending upon the seriousness of the incident.
UHV facilities have varying hours of operation to accommodate the needs of users.
Exceptions to Posted Hours
The only exceptions to posted opening and closing hours will be for special programs or events sponsored by the university and attended by one or more staff or faculty sponsors. Opening and closing hours may be adjusted during periods when classes are not in session; i.e. spring break, semester break.
Use of Facilities after Normal Hours of Operation
Only faculty and staff will be allowed in university facilities after official building closing hours. Non-employees are to vacate facilities at closing unless working at the request of a faculty or staff member of the university.
Employees are to accommodate the needs of building and custodial staff when staying after hours and shall not interfere with cleaning operations by crossing work barriers, walking on wet or waxed floors or entering other temporarily restricted areas.
Computer Lab Access
Computer Labs, including open and teaching labs are for the use of faculty, staff, and currently enrolled students only. The Senior Director, Technology Services, may authorize exceptions for special events.
Security Schedule
The campus security schedule is maintained by the Campus Police and is available to university departments upon request. Employees may email securityofficer@uhv.edu or Campus Safety to schedule security services for a university sponsored event.
Texas Administrative Code
Texas Statutes
Title 3, Higher Education
Subtitle A, Higher Education in General
Chapter 51. Provisions Generally Applicable to Higher Education
Refusing or Failing to Leave Building Closed to Public – (Section 51.242, Texas Education Code)
“No person may refuse or fail to leave a building under the control and management of a public agency, including a state-supported institution of higher education, during those hours of the day or night when the building is regularly closed to the public, upon being requested to do so by a guard, watchman, or other employee of a public agency, including a state-supported institution of higher education, controlling and managing the building or property, if the surrounding circumstances are such as to indicate to a reasonable person that the individual or individuals have no apparent lawful business to pursue.”
Unauthorized Person; Refusal of Entry, Ejection, Identification – (Section 51.209, Texas Education Code)
“The governing board of an institution of higher education or a private or independent institution of higher education or the governing board’s authorized representatives may refuse to allow persons having no legitimate business to enter on property under the board’s control, and may eject any undesirable person from the property on person’s refusal to leave peaceably on request. Identification may be required of any person on the property, and the person must provide that identification on request.”
Trespass, Damage, Defacement. – (Section 51.204, Texas Education Code)
“It is unlawful for any person to trespass on the grounds of an institution of higher education or of a private or independent institution of higher education or damage or deface any of the buildings, statues, monuments, memorials, trees, shrubs, grasses, or flowers on the grounds of an institution of higher education or of a private or independent institution of higher education.”
Approved by:
Signature Obtained 01/07/2022
Robert K. Glenn, Ph.D. Date
President
Next Review Date: January 2027 (5 years)
Origination: Safety & Risk Management
COMMENTS/QUESTIONS
If there are any comments and/or questions regarding this policy, please contact the Director of Emergency Management.