There will be no access to COA buildings between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. Access during other closed hours is governed by the following procedures: Prior arrangements will need to be made and approved by the appropriate campus vice president or dean. The security officer will need to be advised of the arrangements.

The Facilities Use Agreement/Campus Pass form is available in the GroupWise library for visitor access during closed hours.

A staff member, preferably from that department, will need to accompany students accessing any academic facility.

Two people must be present when using a facility where potential for injury exists, such as a shop or laboratory.

Security can be contacted for assistance at any time. Security officers (available only at the COA – Elizabeth City and COA – Edenton-Chowan) are available to escort students, staff, faculty, and visitors to and from any building and parking lot on campus. If security assistance is not requested, we suggest walking with a friend rather than alone.

Security officers are trained to observe and report. Upon receiving a call, security officers are dispatched immediately to the site of the complaint to render assistance, write a security incident report, take statements from witnesses and conduct follow-up inquiries as required. The police department and college personnel are notified of serious incidents requiring assistance and further investigation.

Incident Report Form

COA Security Report

Public Safety Report

Victims of sexual crimes may receive confidential assistance from the organizations listed below. Many sexual assaults and rapes involving college students are “acquaintance rapes” or “date rapes.” Victims of on-campus crimes have the right to choose counseling, medical treatment, prosecution and reporting of their case through the college reporting system and the off-campus court system. Victims also have the right to refuse to report the crime without reproach from any college personnel.

In accordance with the Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act of 2000, COA provides a link to the North Carolina Sex Offender and Public Protection Registry. The websites for North Carolina and other state registers are listed below.

NC Sex Offender and Public Protection Registry

State Websites

National Sex Offender Public Registry

In 1998, the Campus Security Act was amended and renamed the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. The Act requires COA to prepare and distribute (to all current faculty, staff and students) an annual report which sets forth our policies on crime prevention issues and provide statistics on the number of specific violent crimes (murder, negligent and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible and non-forcible sexual offenses, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, arson, motor vehicle thefts and hate crimes) which have occurred on campus, and also the number of arrests on campus for liquor law violations, drug use violations and weapons possession. The annual report is available at the U.S. Department of Education. Printed copies are available from the Vice President of Student Success and Enrollment Management.

It’s illegal to possess weapons on any property owned, leased or occupied by a North Carolina educational institution. This includes but is not limited to handguns, rifles, BB guns, air rifles, bows and swords. If you have any questions related to weapons on campus, contact your campus security office or dean.

Promoting a drug- and alcohol-free environment is everyone’s responsibility. COA supports and is committed to maintaining such an environment for all employees and students. The unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of a controlled substance by employees or students at any official college location, or any location while engaged in activities on behalf of the college, is prohibited. “Controlled substance” generally refers to drugs that have a high potential for abuse, including heroin, cocaine, crack, marijuana, PCP and legal drugs not prescribed by a physician. Possessing, consuming or serving alcoholic beverages at any college location is also prohibited.

All campus locations are smoke- and tobacco-free. No smoking is allowed inside buildings or anywhere on campus grounds, including parking lots and inside parked cars.

If you need assistance for any reason related to the use of drugs or alcohol, a member of the COA counseling staff will act as a referral source.

College of The Albemarle strives to offer high-quality instruction and learning experiences for students in its programs and courses. Courses are developed to ensure optimal student success. In the event of force majeure, the College reserves the right to modify instruction and/or delivery of its courses and coursework. This may include changing course modality from face-to-face courses to online or to utilize web conferencing.

“Force Majeure” shall include, but is not limited to the following situations: fire, earthquake, hurricanes, flooding, civil disturbances and pandemics.

In the event that a tornado or hurricane presents an immediate threat to individuals on a COA campus, the campus will be alerted by AlertNow, college employees or campus security. The safest location during a tornado or hurricane is in an interior room with no windows. Please close all windows and doors before you leave an area.

In the event of a medical emergency, call the emergency phone numbers listed above. If the victim is unconscious, call 911 and notify local campus administrators.

Buildings should be evacuated immediately whenever a building fire alarm sounds or when you are instructed to evacuate. When notified to evacuate a building, walk quickly to the nearest marked exit and alert others to do the same. Be sure to close office and classroom doors before you leave. Faculty and staff are to notify students and visitors to assemble in an area at least 100 feet from the building. Please assist disabled persons with exiting the building. COA conducts fire drills once per quarter.

When a campus state of emergency is declared, all nonessential personnel, students and visitors will need to immediately begin an orderly evacuation of the campus. Notification will be made by text message to those who have signed up for AlertNow, as well as through the security computer notification system. COA security and maintenance personnel will assist with directing traffic to ensure a safe and quick evacuation. At the beginning of each semester, instructors will identify all individuals who may need assistance exiting a building in an emergency, including wheelchair-bound individuals, those with any condition limiting mobility, visually- or hearing-impaired individuals, and anyone else who might have difficulty following directions in an emergency. Instructors will consult with these students as to the best way to assist them. The names and locations of these individuals will be given to the business office, and security will provide assistance in an emergency.

Building elevators are generally not available for use during an emergency, and individuals with limited mobility may require assistance from COA staff with using the stairs. If assistance is required, please notify security or the switchboard and someone will be dispatched to assist in the evacuation.

Evacuation Information for each Campus Locations & Illustrated Maps

The purpose of identification cards is to help identify students, staff and faculty as well as individuals who aren’t allowed on campus. While you’re not required to display your badge while on campus, you’ll need to have it in your possession. Students displaying suspicious behavior or violating any of the responsibilities identified in the student handbook will be asked to show their identification card. Those without proper identification will be asked to leave the campus. If a student refuses to leave, the police will be notified and the student will be charged with trespassing. Your identification card also serves as your library card.

Children aren’t allowed in any classroom, laboratory, library or student areas. Children may not be left unattended in vehicles at any time, or brought to special college events and registration. Exceptions to this may be cleared with the appropriate administrative officer or department chair.

Pets aren’t allowed on campus.