Safety Policies & Procedures

The Student Conduct Policy at Eastern Florida State College and other appropriately published policies and procedures regarding conduct play an important role in the College's commitment to provide for the safety and security of all its community members.

Failure to comply with these policies or procedures may subject violator(s) to appropriate action by the college or other appropriate civil authorities. Such action may include referral to college disciplinary processes and even possible arrest.

Eastern Florida State College does not attempt to shelter students, employees and visitors from federal, state or local laws.

It is the policy of Eastern Florida State College to provide a drug-free college environment for all of its students and employees.

Consistent with the Drug- Free Workplace of 1989, the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989, and related Florida Statutes, it shall be College policy that employees and students of the College will not unlawfully purchase, use, sell, manufacture or deliver (or possess with intent to unlawfully purchase, use, sell, manufacture, or deliver) drugs or alcohol on any College campus, at any function sponsored by the College, or while conducting College business.

Alcohol is recognized as a substance, the unlawful use or abuse of which, is inconsistent with and a violation of this policy.

View the Drug-Free & Alcohol-Free Campus and Workplace Annual Notification

Pursuant to the concerns expressed in Florida Statute, Chapter1012, Florida Statute, Chapter 943, Florida Statute, Chapter 110, and Florida Statute, Chapter 435, the College finds that certain employees or volunteers are in positions of special trust and responsibility or work in sensitive locations and, as such, require a security criminal history check, including fingerprinting, as a condition of employment or service.

Accordingly, employees and volunteers in designated positions or departments will be fingerprinted for the purpose of increasing safety and security in the work/educational environment.

The College, as a local agency, has entered into an agreement with FDLE in which the College must comply with applicable federal and state laws related to employment screening.

New employees requiring fingerprinting should make an appointment with Campus Security at 321-403-5909 for the Melbourne Campus or 321-403-5907 for the Cocoa Campus.

Procedure 804 Campus Safety and Security-Firearms and Weapons on Campus

This policy/procedure applies to all students, staff, faculty, administration, employees, and invitees to EASTERN FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE property/campuses.

A. Introduction
EASTERN FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE is committed to maintaining an educational and workplace environment that is free of violence. The College further recognizes the existence of extensive legislative acts and constitutional provisions pertaining to the rights and obligations of those who own or possess firearms, especially those addressing the right to carry, store, and transport firearms on one’s person and within motor vehicles.

B. Authority
1. While on college grounds or facilities or at college-sponsored activities and events, students, staff, faculty, administration, employees, and invitees, hereinafter referred to as “person”,  are prohibited from introducing, exhibiting, possessing, using, storing, buying or selling weapons, firearms, destructive devices, or explosives. [§790.001; §790.115, Fla. Stat. (2018)]

2. Exceptions: The following circumstances shall not be a violation of this policy/procedure:
a.    It is lawful and is not a violation of Florida Statute or EASTERN FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE policy/procedure 804 for a person 18 years of age or older to possess a concealed firearm or other weapon for self-defense or other lawful purpose within the interior of a private vehicle (conveyance), without a license, if the firearm or other weapon is securely encased or is otherwise not readily accessible for immediate use. Nothing in this policy prohibits the carrying of a legal firearm other than a handgun anywhere in a private conveyance when such firearm is being carried for a lawful use.
[§790.115; §790.25; §790.251, Fla. Stat. (2018)]

b.    A person may carry self-defense chemical spray while on campus; provided, the self-defense chemical spray: (i) is a device carried solely for purposes of lawful self-defense; (ii) is compact in size and designed to be carried on or about the person; and (iii) contains no more than two (2) ounces of chemical. A person does not need a concealed weapons license to carry self-defense chemical spray. [§790.001(3)(b), Fla. Stat. (2018)]

c.    A person may carry a stun gun or nonlethal electric weapon or device designed solely for defensive purposes while on campus; provided: (i) it does not fire a dart or projectile; and (ii) the person is a registered student, employee, or faculty member; and (iii) the person possesses a valid concealed weapons license under Section 790.06, Florida Statutes (2018).
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d.   A firearm in the possession of a law enforcement officer who is authorized to possess the firearm whether on or off duty, by the employing law enforcement agency.

e.   A firearm in the possession of an Armed Security Office, as defined by College policy and procedure.

d.   Any other possession of a firearm specifically authorized pursuant to the provisions of Fla. Stat. §790.115.

When the fire alarm sounds it is critical that everyone evacuate the building at once. The Campus Security Office requests the assistance of all faculty and staff to ensure students exit the buildings immediately. If the fire alarm is silenced, do not reenter the building until the “All Clear” sign has been given by a Campus Security Office representative.

Eastern Florida State College has an Emergency Response process that includes alerts for students, faculty, and staff through emails, texts, phone calls, web and social media platforms when needed.

You should review emergency response tips and view the College's plan.

EFSC students, faculty, and staff need to keep contact information up to date in the Titan Alerts section available after logging into the myEFSC Portal. Keeping your Titan Alerts information current helps ensure you receive texts, phone calls, and emails in a timely manner in the event of a campus emergency or inclement weather incident.

All EFSC employees are required to have an identification badge, picked up from a Campus Secuity office. This ID should be visibly worn at all times when on any EFSC Campus or at a College function.

Campus Security personnel will routinely ask to see ID badges. Although many faces are familiar, employee status is ever changing and wearing a badge at all times will assist the Campus Security Office staff in doing their job more efficiently.

Campus security should be everyone's concern. If you notice someone who appears "out of place" or perhaps a worker on Campus with no apparent ID badge, do not hesitate to ask for identification or notify Campus Security to verify their status. Remember that Student Aids must wear ID badges as well.

If an ID badge is lost, please notify Campus Security immediately and a replacement will be issued. On all four campuses, you can go to the nearest Campus Security office and an officer will be able to assist you in obtaining an identification badge.