Perkinston Campus Section

Perkinston Campus Directory

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Faculty Advisors

Guide to Campus Services for Students

(What, Who & Where)

Perkinston Campus Emergency Procedures

Reporting Procedures:

1. Any person discovering a fire, serious medical emergency or other emergency situation should immediately dial:
   
   1. 9-911, if calling from a campus extension.
   2. 911, if calling from cell phones or non-campus phones.
2. The person reporting the emergency should call the campus switchboard by dialing:
   
   1. “0”, if calling from a campus extension, (601) 928-5211, if calling from a cell phone or non-campus phone.
   2. If after 5 p.m., contact the Campus Police Dispatcher at ext. 6327 or 601-928-6327.
3. The switchboard/dispatcher will then immediately call the 911 Center to confirm the emergency call was made.
4. The switchboard/dispatcher will then notify members of the Campus Response Team until at least three individuals have been contacted.

The Campus Incident Commander, in conjunction with Incident Command Center Section Leaders, is responsible for securing the scene, implementing evacuation or other appropriate procedures, insuring local firefighters, law enforcement and/or medical personnel are on the way, and insuring the safety of students and other persons.

The technical aspects of firefighting, rendering assistance to seriously injured person, etc., shall be done by the appropriate county agency, i.e., Perkinston Volunteer Fire Department, Emergency Medical Technicians, Stone County Sheriff’s Department, etc.

NOTE: Under NO circumstances shall a college vehicle be used to transport an injured person.

Evacuation Procedures

The instructions outlined below should be carried out as indicated upon notification by telephone, other communication systems or the sound of an alarm.

1. Each instructor (for classes) or residence hall supervisor (for halls) will be responsible for leading students to the appropriate designated places.
   
   1. Turn light on and exit room.
   2. Maintain silence, walk, and keep to the right in hallways and stairs.
   3. Do not use elevator.
   4. Evacuate by exits and open stairs at the end of the building. Interior center stairways should not be used.
   5. Render assistance to the incapacitated persons. Check bathrooms, laundry rooms, etc.
   6. Move to the area designated for your building.
   7. Remain outside and in your designated area until a re-entry signal is given by the appropriate authority.
      
      NOTE: PERSONS FAILING TO RESPOND DURING AN EMERGENCY EVACUATION WILL FACE DISCIPLINARY ACTION. PERSONS CAUSING A FALSE ALARM WITHOUT ANY REASON MAY BE SUSPENDED FROM THE COLLEGE.
2. BUILDING MONITORS AND EMERGENCY ASSEMBLY POINTS
   
   WHEN THE ALARM SOUNDS and ANNOUNCEMENT SAYS EVACUATE, ALL BUILDINGS MUST BE EVACUATED IMMEDIATELY. BUILDING MONITORS SHOULD SEE THAT BUILDINGS ARE VACATED TO THE DESIGNATED EMERGENCY RALLY POINTS.

Evacuation Rally Point Locations/Managers

North  – Stadium parking lot – Steve Campbell/Gary Rath
Southeast  – Alumni Hall parking lot and the grassy areas in front of alumni Hall – Tommy Snell/Chris Handy
Southwest  – Hayden Hall parking lot – Kenny Long/Logan Hundley

All persons (administration, faculty and staff) responsible for the welfare of students shall see that all persons are moved from the building to the designated locations above and remain together for further instructions. Persons in charge of groups should use their best discretion in providing for the safety of the group.

Persons designated above will also be responsible for implementing severe weather procedures in their respective buildings as stated on Page 4  of these Procedures.

Bomb Threat

If the emergency is a bomb threat, the person receiving the call will get as much information as possible from the caller and immediately record it and the exact time the call was made. The person receiving the call will then immediately notify campus police who will notify members of the Incident Command Center Team until at least five people are contacted.

The Incident Command Center Leader who arrives first shall implement evacuation procedures and notify the Stone County Sheriff’s Department (601-928-7251) and Perkinston Fire Department (601-928-2800). When the Sheriff’s Department, Biloxi Bomb Squad (228-392-0614), or Fire Department arrives, they should take charge of searching the buildings for a bomb and notifying ICC Leader if buildings are safe for personnel to re-enter. Evacuation Procedures should be used and all persons should remain 300 feet from the building.

Meeting Scheduled Classes During Building Evacuations

It is the intention of the administration and faculty on the Perkinston Campus to hold regularly scheduled classes no matter what the distraction or inconvenience.

CLASSES WILL BE HELD. In the event of future evacuations of buildings due to bomb threats or other causes, the following procedures will be followed:

1. If the evacuation occurs during a class period, faculty members may continue class outdoors for the remainder of that period at the designated location as indicated in the emergency plan. The Dean of Instruction must approve any exceptions to these locations.
2. All canceled classes will meet in the appropriate order in their regularly scheduled classrooms on the day of the evacuation, beginning at 3:00 p.m. (Example: if 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m. classes are postponed, they will meet at 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m., etc.) All extracurricular activities (i.e. band, athletics, etc.) will be canceled in order to allow students to attend their rescheduled classes.
3. If we are not able to reschedule classes for that afternoon, students will meet classes on the following Saturday according to their regularly scheduled times and classrooms. (Example: 9a.m. MWF classes will meet 9a.m. Saturday; 9:30 TT classes will meet 9:30 Saturday.)
4. If classes cannot meet on Saturday, we will add class days at the end of the semester.

Everyone should understand that the act of causing a false alarm by reporting a bomb threat is a felony violation of the law. Bomb threats are not pranks. Bomb threats are serious violations of other students’ rights to an education as well as violations of public order. In addition, bomb threats pose a potential danger to persons and property. These actions will not be tolerated, and, if apprehended, the perpetrators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

False Fire Alarms/Tampering with Fire Safety Equipment

Activating or causing a false fire alarm or tampering with fire safety equipment, which includes discharge of a fire extinguisher are considered very serious violations. Students involved in these type incidents will be referred to the Campus Judicial Committee for disciplinary action.

Severe Weather Warnings

(Tornado, Thunderstorm)

Stone County Emergency 911 will notify the campus switchboard of approaching severe weather.

Reporting Procedures:

1. Campus Dispatch shall notify the following:
   
   1. Campus Police Officer Radio – 601-928-6327 or 601-476-0132
   2. Housing Office – 6306, 6270, or 6220
   3. Business Office or 6230, 6293, 6327, 6306, 6220
   4. One Campus Administrator:
      
      1. Dean of Student Services (6267)
      2. Dean of Business Services (6230)
      3. Dean of Instruction (6207)
      4. Dean of Career, Technical, Workforce & Community Education (6346)
      5. Asst. Dean of LRC (6380)
      6. Dean of Athletics (6224)
      7. Campus Vice President (6250)
2. Campus Police will sound emergency alarm and initiate email message outlining the warning. A ConnectEd message will be initiated by the ICC Leader on site at the time of emergency.
3. The first campus administrator contacted will direct clerical staff to call each building on campus to inform of approaching severe weather conditions.
4. A supervisor of each building on campus shall be notified of the severe weather warning by the campus switchboard operator. Appropriate action shall be taken. Persons listed in parentheses under Evacuation Procedures are responsible for their designated building. (See Evacuation Procedures). When a tornado warning has been issued, supervisors of each building shall prohibit anyone from exiting the building and move students to the ground floor inner most part of the building.

Hurricane Warning Procedures

When a hurricane warning is issued, administrative, maintenance, grounds, and other personnel assigned by the Vice President will remain on alert to carry out assignments as follows:

1. The Vice President will call a meeting of the Incident Command Center team and other essential personnel and review the plan of action and make specific assignments.
2. The Dean of Instruction will notify all department chairs of procedures for equipment and building protection.
3. The Dean of Student Services will be in charge of all residence halls. They will direct supervisor’s receptionists and resident assistants to account for students and direct them to the appropriate county shelters.
4. Incident Command Center will be established eight (8) hours prior to landfall. Essential personnel will be housed in Dees Hall. Denson Hall will be utilized as an emergency shelter only for students who are unable to be housed at the county public shelter.
5. The Chief of Campus Police will be responsible for insuring that police officers are on duty at all times during the hurricane threat and all shelters are furnished with walkie-talkies, radios and flashlights. They will monitor the Incident Command Center at all times.
6. All essential personnel (as designated by immediate supervisor) must prepare the campus prior to hurricane. Immediately after the hurricane has passed, all maintenance, grounds and housekeeping personnel are to report (pending ability to travel safely) to their supervisors (Maintenance, Grounds, Housekeeping).
7. Deans, department chairpersons and supervisors will be responsible for taking care of emergencies, securing all buildings and other areas, and covering up electronic equipment. After the emergency, they will do whatever is necessary to put the campus back in operation.
8. All administrators and essential personnel are to report to the Campus Vice President in the Incident Command Center immediately following emergency for specific assignments, as needed. (See - Essential Personnel List)
9. The cafeteria manager and/or his staff will be in charge of all food preparations as assigned.
10. Campus Police and shelter supervisor will be responsible for notifying the Campus Vice President of any illness or injury.
11. A designated shelter manager will maintain an accurate roster of all persons in each campus shelter.

Essential Personnel

• Campus Vice President
• Deans
• Assistant Deans
• Directors
• Department Chairs
• Student Services Staff
• Maintenance Personnel (all)
• Janitorial Personnel (all)
• Buildings and Grounds Personnel (all)
• Campus Police Chief
• Person(s) selected by Campus Vice President to take digital pictures

Active Shooter

In general, how you respond to an active shooter will be dictated by the specific circumstances of the encounter, bearing in mind there could be more than one shooter involved in the same situation. If you find yourself involved in an active shooter situation, try to remain calm and use these guidelines to help you plan a strategy for survival.

 At the first sign of an active shooter call campus police at 6327 (or cell 601-476-0132) or call 9-911 from a campus phone or 911 from a non-campus phone. The procedure for the campus during an active shooter situation is to go into lock down. Tell the dispatcher what is taking place, and inform him/her of your location; remain in place until the police or a campus administrator known to you, gives the ―all clear.

If an active shooter is outside your building, proceed to a room that can be locked, close and lock all the windows and doors, and turn off all the lights; if possible, get everyone down on the floor and ensure that no one is visible from outside the room. Unfamiliar voices may be the shooter attempting to lure victims from their safe space; do not respond to any voice commands until you can verify with certainty that they are being issued by a police officer.

If an active shooter is in the same building, determine if the room you are in can be locked and if so, follow the same procedure described in the previous paragraph. If your room can’t be locked, determine if there is a nearby location that can be reached safely and secured, or if you can safely exit the building. If you decide to move from your current location, be sure to follow the instructions outlined below.

If an active shooter enters your office or classroom, try to remain calm. Alert police to the shooter’s location; if you can’t speak, leave the line open so the dispatcher can listen to what’s taking place. If there is absolutely no opportunity for escape or hiding, it might be possible to negotiate with the shooter; attempting to overpower the shooter with force should be considered a very last resort, after all other options have been exhausted. If the shooter leaves the area, proceed immediately to a safer place and do not touch anything that was in the vicinity of the shooter.

Lock down Procedures

Lock down may be implemented when a situation occurs that may be a hazard to health or is life threatening. Lock down is intended to limit access and hazards by controlling and managing staff and students in order to increase safety and reduce possible victimization.

Buildings will have restricted access until an― “all clear” is given by PA system, Connect Ed system or one of the methods listed below. A lock down will be called by the campus incident commander. Lock down may be called for a variety of reasons such as person(s) with weapons, intruders, police activity, terrorist events and other situations that pose a threat to the campus community when evacuation is not a safe alternative.

Notification: Due to the varying nature of situations that may cause lock down, communication to begin lock down may come in a variety of ways:

Announcement of ― “LOCK DOWN” repeated for a period of time and followed by the siren
By phone to Building Supervisors
E-mail to campus employees
Connect Ed message to cell phones registered in the system
By handheld loudspeaker
Message by runners
Voice commands from Campus Police or other law enforcement officers.
The Campus Incident Commander will determine the methods of notification. As many methods as can be utilized under the circumstances will be used to notify the campus community of lock down.

Actions to be taken:

Building Supervisors with the help of Instructors should make sure all students are in a classroom.
Building Supervisors should lock all exterior doors.
Instructors should lock all classroom doors, close windows and pull down blinds.
Direct students to sit on the floor away from windows and doors.
Attempt to locate students in an area in the classroom that cannot be seen from the outside.
Do not answer any voice you are not absolutely sure of.
Use your best judgment as the situation unfolds and take whatever steps you think necessary in order to protect lives.
Be prepared for law enforcement to enter the building and obey commands.
“All Clear” will be communicated when it is safe to move.

Canine Searches on Campus

In an effort to create and maintain a drug-free campus, canine (K-9) drug detection dogs may be utilized to search all public and common areas in all campus parking lots and buildings for the purposes of detecting illegal drugs and narcotics.

The Perkinston Campus Chief of Campus Police will supervise and coordinate all canine searches with the assistance of campus police officers, appropriate housing personnel, administrators, and local law enforcement. Searches will be performed by handlers and canines trained in the detection of illegal drugs/narcotics.

Canines will be allowed to search areas such as Residence hall rooms, offices, and vehicles after the canine alerts to one of these areas, thus, developing probable cause. Once probable cause is established, the canine will be allowed to enter the room/office/vehicle and continue searching.

Upon the discovery of illegal drugs/narcotics, persons who are determined to be in violation of State/Federal law and/or College rules and regulations, may be arrested and face College disciplinary action.

Children on Campus

Students are not allowed to bring children to campus except for special activities in which children are invited to attend, i.e., Halloween, Christmas activities, etc. Students are not allowed to bring children to campus during or between the times students are attending classes, using the library, learning lab, other resources, or during work-study hours. Other students or non-students may not care for children while parents are in class, using campus resources or during work-study hours.

Under no circumstances are children to be left unattended on campus. When children are attending a special activity designed for attendance by children, parents have the responsibility of supervision at all times.

The College assumes no responsibility for the supervision of children and disciplinary action may be taken against students who violate any part(s) of this regulation.

Intercollegiate Athletics

The Intercollegiate Athletic Program at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is consistent with the college mission by contributing to the educational development of individual athletes. Through training and competition, students gain discipline and opportunities for social, moral, and personal development.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College is fortunate in having a highly successful athletic program, which was already in existence on the Perkinston Campus when the two new campuses were created. The Bulldogs, as the college athletic teams are known, compete in the Mississippi Junior and Community College Athletic Conference in baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, softball, and tennis. These competitive teams have won local, state, and national championships in recent years with many students being named as All-Americans.

Students who participate in intercollegiate athletics must comply with the existing rules and regulations of the Mississippi Community and Junior College Athletic Association and the National Community and Junior College Athletic Association. Therefore, all athletes must fulfill college admissions requirements and remain in good academic standing in order to participate in intercollegiate athletics.

Recreational Sports

Recreation contests are held under the supervision of the coordinator of recreation and wellness, and the games are conducted at various times of the day. Sign-ups for intramural activities will occur at announced times during the semester.

Wellness Center

The Wellness Center is located inside the Barry Mellinger Student Center. The facility includes a weight room, a circuit training room, and a state of the art cardio theatre. The area also includes a multipurpose room which is available for volleyball, basketball, table tennis, and other activities at advertised times throughout the semester. The Wellness Center is free to all current students who present a valid Student ID.

Other Pertinent Information

Bookstore

The campus bookstore is located in the Student Center. Its main function is to provide textbooks for students as part of the college textbook rental system. In addition, the bookstore sells various supplies, supplementary course materials and novelty items. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Friday.

Student Post Office

Student mail can be received on campus in the Student Center from the attendant on duty. To receive mail, use the following address:

Student Name
MGCCC
PO Box 248
Perkinston, MS 39573

Cafeteria & Meal Plan

The cafeteria is located in Heidelberg Hall. Serving hours will be as follows except during holidays and campus closings:

A minimum five day meal plan must be purchased to live on campus. All guests or visitors pay on cost-per-item basis. State law requires that shoes must be worn at all times in the cafeteria.

Updating Personal Information

During the course of your enrollment, your mailing address and legal name should be maintained appropriately. To update your address, please log into Web Services and access the “Update Mailing Address” under the Personal Information tab. Change of name requires legal documentation. Please see the Director of Admissions & Records in Huff Hall for additional information.

Check Policy

The Business Office will cash checks not to exceed $25 drawn on the student or parent-guardian. The Business Office reserves the right to refuse to honor checks on anyone who has previously had checks returned for non-payment, regardless of the reason why the check may have been returned. There will be a $40 fine for writing bad checks.

Identification (I.D.) Cards

Students are issued I.D. cards during the registration process. Students are required to carry I.D. cards on their person at all times while on campus or when attending a campus-sponsored activity off campus. Students should report lost I.D. cards to the Admissions Office and obtain a replacement. A $10.00 charge will be assessed for replacement cards. Students are required to present I.D. cards upon the request of any College Official. Students living in a residence hall must have their ID activated in the office of Residence Life located in the Barry L. Mellinger Student Center.

Learning Resource Center Regulations

Located in the Willis H. Lott Learning Resource Center (LRC), is the library (with printed materials), the Media Center (with audiovisual materials), and the Learning Lab (offering individual assistance in reading, writing, math, science, and other subjects).

The LRC is open approximately 60 hours a week, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays. The LRC is closed weekends.

Each student is urged to become familiar with and make full use of all LRC facilities. School policy prohibits eating, beverages, and disruptive behavior when in the Learning Resource Center.

All books, except reference and reserves, may be checked out for a two-week period; renewals are permitted. Reserve books may be used only in the library or checked out according to the specifications of the instructor who reserves the books.

If books are lost, students must pay reimbursement costs before being issued official school grade transcripts at the end of the school year. Students may not take final exams unless library charges are paid.

Current magazines, current encyclopedias, and reference books are used only in the library.

Withdrawal Procedure Full-Time or Part-Time Students

A student is classified as full-time when he/she is taking 12 or more semester hours of course work for credit.

A student is classified as a part-time student when enrolled in less than 12 semester hours of course work.

A full-time student becomes a part-time student if he/she drops below 12 semester hours for any reason. Dropping below 12 semester hours can result from the student withdrawing from a class(es) or by being dropped from a class(es) for excessive absences or other reasons.

The procedure for withdrawing is as follows:

1. Report to the Admissions Office to secure the proper Class Withdrawal Form.
2. Secure all necessary signatures required on the official withdrawal slip.
3. Return the form to the Admissions Office for processing.

NOTE:

1. Students who withdraw from class on or before the date shown in the current catalog as the last day to withdraw are assured a “W”, even though a drop card might have been submitted by the instructor for lack of attendance.
2. Students who withdraw from class after the deadline will be addressed on a case by case basis.
3. Students residing on campus must maintain 12 or more hours.
4. Students receiving certain scholarships must maintain 15 or more hours.

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