Public Safety

Emergencies

In case of an emergency, a staff/faculty member should be contacted immediately. If a rescue squad is needed, call 9-1-1. Campus Public Safety Department should also be contacted; dial 8499 from any campus phone or call (419) 995-8499 from any cell phone.  There are also outside Call Box Phones that are located throughout campus.  These are easily identifiable at night because they have a blue location light.  Simply press the call button, and you'll be connected to the Campus Public Safety Department. The Call Box Phone hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 05:00 am-11:00 pm. Outside of those hours, for emergencies, Dial 9-1-1. For non-emergencies, call the Allen County Sheriff’s Office at (419)227-3535 or the Ohio State University Police Dispatch at (614)292-2121. If the fire alarm sounds while on campus, students should walk calmly and silently to the nearest exit and leave the building. Do not use the elevators. Remain outside the building until the all-clear sounds.  The College utilizes the Buckeye Alert Emergency Notification System to notify people of emergencies via text, phone, and email.  Students may sign up for Emergency Alerts by texting “AlertRSC” to 67283 or by clicking here. If you choose to opt-in, you will need to re-opt-in every year because your opt-in status expires after one year.

Our downtown Borra Center is also patrolled by Campus Public Safety personnel who may be reached at the security desk or by dialing 8499 from any campus phone or call (419) 995-8499 from any cell phone. There are also outside Call Box Phones that are located in the parking areas and at the front of the Borra Center. These Call Boxes are monitored during the same hours listed above. Outside of those hours, for emergencies, dial 9-1-1, or for non-emergencies, call the Lima Police Department at (419) 227-4444.

School Closing/Delays

The College will remain open except under extreme weather conditions or emergency situations. School closings and delays will be communicated via Rhodes Alert, posted on the College's homepage, and reported to local television and radio stations.  Students may sign up for Rhodes Alert to receive this information via text, email, or phone.

Lost or Stolen Articles

Do not leave books or other personal articles unattended. The College is not responsible for any personal articles which are lost or stolen.  Lost articles should be turned in to the Campus Public Safety Department, located in the Technical Education Lab Room 140. Any thefts should be reported immediately to the Campus Public Safety Department at (419) 995-8499.

Campus Parking Rules and Regulations

Parking is permitted in all paved and gravel parking lots designated for student parking. Parking is not permitted in fire lanes; within 10 feet of a fire hydrant; along yellow-painted curbs; within 20 feet of a crosswalk; within 30 feet of an intersection, stop sign or other traffic control device; alongside or opposite any street excavation or obstruction, outside designated parking lanes or any place where signs prohibit parking.

Students are not permitted to park vehicles in visitor parking areas. Only vehicles displaying a State of Ohio handicap placard shall be parked in handicap parking areas. Illegal parking in handicap zones, whether on public or private property, is a minor misdemeanor punishable under state law.

Vehicle registration is mandatory. No vehicle shall be parked on campus which does not display a campus parking decal, except for visitors to the campus. Vehicles may be registered at the Campus Public Safety Department located in the Technical Education Lab Room 140. For the Borra Center, please visit the security desk in the Borra lobby. Vehicle Registration is free of charge. 

Campus traffic and parking regulations are derived from Ohio Traffic Laws and were developed for the safety of all persons on campus and to ensure the orderly flow of traffic and uncongested parking.  Parking violations may result in a fine and/or the vehicle being towed and impounded with the owner having to pay all costs associated therewith. Unpaid fines may result in registration for future classes being withheld. Fines can be paid online via CashNet or by credit card, cash or cashier’s check at the Business Office, Public Service Building Room 126. 

For more information, contact the Campus Public Safety Supervisor located in the Technical Education Lab Room 140 or by phone at (419) 995-8499.

Campus Environment

Students have the right to a campus and classroom environment that is safe, secure, and conducive to learning. In support of this, the student has the right to express his/her concerns if it negatively affects his/her environment. For classroom issues, the student should first contact the course instructor. If the student is not satisfied with the outcome of this discussion, then he/she has the right to contact the program chair of the department in which this course is housed. For student services issues, the student should first contact the department chair or the Office of Student Affairs. If there is a reason to believe there is immediate danger, the student should contact the Campus Public Safety Department either in person (Technical Education Lab Room 140 or the security desk at the Borra Center), by campus phone (8499) or cell phone (419) 995-8499. More information can be found on the Public Safety webpage.

Tobacco-Free

Rhodes State College is a tobacco-free campus.  The Tobacco-Free Policy at Rhodes State College requires that all faculty, students, staff, visitors, and contractors not use tobacco products on campus, either inside or out. The College strives to enhance the general health and well-being of its faculty, staff, students, and visitors. The College desires to support individuals to be tobacco-free, to achieve their highest state of health, and to launch students into their careers at a high level of health and well-being. To support this commitment, smoking and the use of tobacco and tobacco products are prohibited in or on all college-owned or leased property, including vehicles.