Personal Safety Policy

Wheaton College is an open campus. During business hours, the College campus (including academic, recreational, and other facilities, but excluding residential facilities) will be open for students, parents, employees, guests, and invitees.

During non-business hours and/or when buildings have been locked, access to facilities is only permitted to individuals who have been granted prior approval by staff or faculty members with proper authority to allow access to the location in question.

Visitors are welcome on campus; however, sometimes the presence of visitors can pose an increased risk to the campus community. Therefore, students and employees are strongly encouraged to immediately report any suspicious behaviors or activities to Public Safety at 630.752.5911.

Wheaton College reserves the right to prohibit any individual from trespassing on the College’s private property for any reason, criminal or otherwise. Visitors who engage in any type of dangerous or inappropriate behavior may be issued a trespass letter advising them that they are no longer welcome on Wheaton College property, and that their future presence on any College property is grounds for their arrest.

During hours of darkness, or anytime students do not feel safe walking alone, they may call 630.752.5911 to request an escort from a Public Safety Officer. Public Safety has limited resources; officers may not always be immediately available to provide an escort if they are responding to another call. Therefore, students are encouraged to do their best to request a ride from a friend or another source and call Public Safety as a last resort.

There are security doors leading into most living areas in the residence halls. Students place the safety of others at risk if they prop open security or exterior doors.

Tampering with any component of an access control system or other security device, including key cards, card readers, door locks, security cameras, alarms, etc., is a crime and may lead to disciplinary action by Wheaton College and/or criminal charges. Malfunctioning access control doors, or any other security-related system, should be immediately reported to Public Safety (630.752.5911) 24 hours a day.

Window screens must always remain in place. Removal of any window screen will result in a $50 fine.

Campus Safety works with the Facilities Department to identify maintenance issues on campus that may be safety hazards. Safety checks are completed to identify street or safety lights that are not functioning properly, or to determine if shrubs or other landscaping might need trimming. Maintenance personnel regularly check to ensure there is adequate lighting on pathways and that egress lighting is working in hallways and stairwells.