Purpose

Beloit College is committed to enhancing the quality of campus life by integrating the best practices of safety and security with technology. Video camera utilization is a critical component of a comprehensive security program. Camera coverage of public areas is intended to deter crime and violations of campus policy while providing college security and others a valuable resource for investigating crimes and other incidents that have occurred on campus.

These guidelines for camera installation, footage access, and use address the college’s safety and security needs while respecting individual privacy of those attending, working, or visiting Beloit College. To ensure the protection of individual privacy rights and to ensure compliance with related state and federal laws, this statement will guide the process of installing surveillance
equipment on college property. Additionally, these guidelines cover the viewing, retention, dissemination, and destruction of recordings.

Installation Procedures and Locations

Security camera use is limited to those areas that do not violate a person’s “reasonable expectation of privacy”, as that term is defined by law. (For example, there is no reasonable expectation of privacy outside of a campus building.) In accordance, the college will limit camera positions and views of certain areas where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Permanent camera locations will be made available to the campus community via signage and/or an internal access-only web page. All security cameras, including any in temporary locations or for active monitoring, will only be installed with the advance approval of the Director of Security and the appropriate college senior staff member (most often the Dean of Students and the Vice President for Human Resources and Operations), depending on the proposed location. Security cameras must be used in a professional, ethical, and legal manner consistent with all existing college policies.

Security cameras and software will be installed and configured to prevent tampering with or duplicating recorded information. All new camera installations must connect to the college’s camera server and management software.

Viewing

The existence of this policy does not imply or guarantee that cameras will be monitored in real time, however the college reserves the right to do so. Only authorized personnel, as determined by the Director of Security and appropriate college senior staff member (most often the Dean of Students and/or the Vice President for Human Resources and Operations) have access to camera feeds and/or recordings. Only the Director of Security and the Director of Information Technology will have administrative access to system logs. Typically, footage review will only occur in conjunction with criminal or disciplinary investigations.

Retention and Release of Information

Images obtained through video camera recording normally will be retained for a minimum period of fourteen (14) days. Recordings more than fourteen days old may be overwritten unless required for criminal and/or judicial investigation in accordance with this policy. Video recordings will be stored in a secure location with access by authorized personnel only.

All information and/or observations made during the use of security cameras are confidential and can only be used or disseminated for official college, law enforcement, and/or judicial purposes. All requests from sources external to the college for the release of information and results obtained through surveillance monitoring or recording must be submitted to the Director of Security. All dissemination must be authorized by the Director of Security, the Director of Communications and Marketing (for non-law enforcement release outside of campus), and the Dean of Students and/or the Vice President for Human Resources and Operations, depending on the nature of the request.

Rev. 08/17/19

Camera Locations

• 609 Emerson Street, exterior of north patio, looking out over the 609 Quad.
• 810 College Street, exterior north wall, looking out over College Street.
• Aldrich Hall, exterior west wall, looking out over the Aldrich parking lot.
• Art Annex, north exterior work area.
• CELEB - North Fire Escape.
• Chapin Hall, interior Commons main entry areas.
• Chapin Hall, exterior south wall, looking out over the Chapin Quad.
• Emerson Hall, exterior east wall, looking out over the Emerson Hall parking lot.
• Emerson Hall, exterior east wall, looking over the east entrance & driveway.
• Emerson Hall, exterior southwest wall, looking out over the Chapin Quad.
• Moore Hall, exterior north wall looking over the North Lot.
• Moore Hall, exterior northeast wall looking over the entry to Aldrich Lot.
• Moore Hall, exterior east wall looking toward Maurer Hall entries & loading dock.
• Pearsons Hall, interior west entry.
• Powerhouse, east wall, overlooking the Powerhouse bridge.
• Powerhouse, parking lot.
• Powerhouse, interior, main east stairs.
• Powerhouse, interior, Hamilton’s.
• Powerhouse, interior, Bel-Mart and bike rental area.
• Powerhouse, interior, Retail shop.
• Sanger Center for the Sciences, exterior of south tower, east side.
• Smith Hall, exterior northwest wall, looking into the parking lots.
• Smith Hall, exterior northeast wall, looking at the east entries and lot.
• Smith Hall, exterior southwest wall, looking over the entry and parking lot.
• Sports Center, exterior northwest wall, looking out over the Sports Center parking lot and the Power House walkway bridge.
• TKE House, exterior southwest wall, looking out over the 609 Quad and Aldrich Field.
• Whitney Hall, exterior southeast wall, looking out over College and Clary Streets.
• Whitney Hall, interior south wall, looking at the Whitney lobby & entrance.
• Whitney Hall, interior Lab, looking over the lounge.
• Wright Museum.

Revised 12/09/22