POLICY: Regulating Persons On Minneapolis College Property
Minneapolis College
Public Safety Department
Effective Date: 2/13/2020
Number: #121
Subject: Regulating Persons On Minneapolis College Property
Review Date:
July 1, 2021
Revised Date:
Part 1. Purpose and Intent
To inform Public Safety Officers of the procedure for persons on Minneapolis Community and Technical College (Minneapolis College) property and to define both public and non-public areas of campus. The intent of this procedure is to provide guidance for the Public Safety Department in regulating persons on campus with a fair, consistent, and equitable process that respects the rights of all. This procedure also intends to provide a safe environment for the students, staff, faculty and guests to the campus.
Part 2: Definitions
College student- The term “student” includes all persons who:
Are enrolled in one or more courses, either credit or non-credit, through the College, including any type of course, but not limited to traditional, CECT, PSEO, TRIO, etc., OR
Withdraw, transfer or graduate, after an alleged violation of the student conduct code, but before an outcome is rendered, OR
Are not currently enrolled, but have been enrolled in at least one course in the preceding calendar year or are registered for at least one course in the upcoming term (traditional or non-traditional terms), OR
Have been notified of their acceptance for admission or have initiated the process of application within the last calendar year or have applied for admission to the college within the last calendar year.
College person- Those persons who are faculty, staff, or other employees of the College, and those persons who are in or on College facilities to fulfill contractual obligations or otherwise to conduct authorized university business.
Non-college person—all persons who are not classified above as college students or college persons
Guest- a guest is a person who has been invited onto Minneapolis College property by either a college student or college person and is the responsibility of the college person or college student. Additionally, a guest might be a person or persons utilizing a space within the college as identified by contractual agreement, generally through Central Scheduling.
College Business- business conducted on college property for the purpose of furthering the college’s mission, vision or engaging in the daily commerce of the college.
Camping- defined as use of a vehicle, tent, or other shelter, and/or to arrange bedding with the intent to stay overnight.
Loitering- means to enter or remain on any premises in which a reasonable person would conclude that the person does not have a legitimate connection with the business or activity of the legal occupant of the premises, or his or her agent. To include but not limited to causing a public inconvenience or obstructing or hindering the free passage of persons or vehicles.
Alumni- for the purpose of this procedure and with the absence of an official college policy defining “alumni”, alumni (those have a degree from Minneapolis College) but have no other connection to college (i.e. College Person) will be defined as either a Guest or non-college person and have no special privileges.
Public Area- Minneapolis College has designated the T-Building 1st Floor Common Area as a public area of campus. This area is free and open to the public during normal operating hours for non-college persons to utilize, the exterior of campus buildings are considered “public”. The Minneapolis College Parking Ramp is considered a Public-use facility.
Non-Public Area- area not defined above as “Public Area” are considered private and are not accessible by the public. Access to non-public areas by Guests are at the invitation of a College Person or College Student whom have proper authorization to access a particular area of the campus, or are a College Student or College Person participating in the normal course of their college business. Specifically, college offices, classrooms, and office suites are not public areas
College Lounge- A college lounge is an area of the campus that is not a Public Area but is a space for College Persons, College Students, and/or Guests to utilize during normal operating hours; within the boundaries of the Student Code of Conduct and other applicable College Policies.
College Official- For the purpose of this procedure, college employees including the Dean of Students, Human Resources administrators, Student Conduct Officer(s), and Public Safety Officers are considered the agents of the College. Agents of the College may ask for identification for those on Minneapolis College property, and are authorized to issue a trespass notice within the scope of their employment.
Part 3: Process
A non-college person is allowed access to the Public Area of campus during normal business hours and in accordance with college regulations governing the use of college facilities. Non-college persons are allowed access to college facilities for authorized college business, and are allowed to attend lectures, plays, and other activities on Minneapolis College property in designated areas or buildings when such attendance is permitted by a sponsoring organization. Non-college persons at college facilities for other than authorized college business, or where their continued presence at a college facility is deemed by a College Official to be disruptive to the orderly conduct of the college, may be requested to leave and/or issued a trespass notice.
Refusal by a party to provide identification to a College Official may result in the issuing of a trespass notice.
Non-college persons are not permitted to loiter in a Public Area of campus and Minneapolis College does not permit tents, temporary structures, or camping on the property of Minneapolis College without the written authorization of Director of Facilities, Director of Public Safety, and Vice President of Finance/Operations or their designee. Student Government and/or recognized student organizations may secure approval for use of tents or temporary structures for activities described by requesting authorization from the officials designated above. The officials above take into consideration time period, space, traffic, and other safety/aesthetic factors along with the health, safety and welfare of the participants, the College community and guests of the college.
For the purpose of this procedure, a non-college person whom has an odor which a reasonable person would deem to be distractive or creating a disturbance maybe asked to leave and/or issued a trespass notice.
An individual observed sleeping creates a safety and welfare concern for the college. As such a welfare check maybe conducted by a College Official to include asking for the individual’s identification. This welfare check is to ensure an individual is responsive, conscious, and not experiencing a medical emergency.
Specifically, the Helland Center is considered a space for use by College Persons, College Students, and Guests to further the mission of the college and is not considered a Public Area of campus. Non-college persons in this area will be asked to relocate to the Public Area of campus by College Officials.
The Minneapolis College Parking Ramp is a 24/7/365- Public Use parking ramp. Persons entering the Parking Ramp must be participating in commerce (i.e. utilizing the ramp for the purpose of parking an authorized motor vehicle). The Minneapolis College Parking Ramp is not open for non-college persons to utilize for anything other than the purpose of participating in commerce. Loitering and Camping within the property of the Minneapolis College Parking Ramp are not permitted.
The Minneapolis College Library has a specific policy regarding its use.
“Access to Minneapolis Community & Technical College (Minneapolis College) Library resources, services, and study spaces is provided to current patrons. Patrons include enrolled Minneapolis College students, Minneapolis College faculty/staff, community members and individuals from the Consortium of MnPALS Libraries.
Limited access is also provided to individuals who live or work in one of the Minneapolis Central Neighborhoods: Downtown East, Downtown West, Elliot Park, Loring Park, North Loop & Stevens Square/Loring Heights. To create a community member account, individuals will need to provide a State ID and a document verifying residence/work in the above neighborhoods.”
Additionally, while using library facilities, “patrons are subject to Minneapolis College’s Code of Conduct.”
Lastly, electrical outlets on the exterior of the Minneapolis College owned buildings and within the Parking Ramp are for the sole use of Minneapolis College Persons, College Students, and Guests. Use of these electrical outlets by non-college persons is considered “theft of services” under MN Statute 609.52 Theft. Within MN Statute 609.52, electricity is defined as “property” and according to clause “(13) except as provided in clauses (12) and (14), obtains the services of another with the intention of receiving those services without making the agreed or reasonably expected payment of money or other consideration;”