Administration Policies

VI-99.02(A)

UMB Video Surveillance Policy

Administration   |   Approved September 1, 2015

Responsible VP/AVP

Dawn M. Rhodes, DBA, MBA

Policy Statement

I.              Purpose

UMB is committed to promoting a safe campus environment for students, faculty, staff, volunteers, visitors, and affiliate employees. Surveillance cameras can aid in this goal by providing a visual deterrent to crime, assisting with overall security measures, and increasing the potential for identification and apprehension of persons who violate UMB policies and commit criminal acts. Surveillance cameras extend the ability of the UMB Department of Public Safety to monitor locations throughout the campus. The primary use of surveillance cameras is to record images for future identification of individuals or activity in the event of violations of law or policy.

The purpose of this policy is to regulate the use of surveillance cameras at UMB.

II.            Definitions

As used in this policy, surveillance cameras include only those cameras that are operated by the Department of Public Safety. Other recording devices may be subject to other laws or policies, not addressed here.

III.           Policy Statement

UMB reserves the right to place surveillance cameras on campus where necessary and appropriate to monitor certain public areas on campus, to improve safety and security for the UMB community, to deter crime, and to assist the Department of Public Safety in the pursuit of its mission.

Information obtained through video surveillance will be used by UMB exclusively for authorized investigations, safety, security, and law enforcement purposes. Surveillance cameras will only be located in areas where there is no reasonable expectation of privacy. UMB may post signage giving notice of a surveillance camera in order to enhance the crime prevention and deterrence value of the video surveillance system. Recorded video footage will ordinarily be stored for approximately 14 days.

IV.          Responsibilities

The Department of Public Safety oversees and coordinates the use of video surveillance cameras on campus. The Associate Vice President or designee authorizes video surveillance camera monitoring for safety and security purposes on campus.

Department of Public Safety personnel or Parking and Transportation personnel (when appropriate) are responsible for the daily operation of the cameras. They will adhere to the law, this policy and other university policies when monitoring cameras.

  1. Only authorized personnel will be involved in the use of the video surveillance system and have access to camera data.
  2. All personnel involved in the supervision, application, use, or monitoring of surveillance cameras must receive appropriate training related to video surveillance system use.
  3. Authorized personnel will conduct video monitoring and/or video review of surveillance camera data as needed.
  4. Camera data may be used for immediate, incident driven observations or for follow up investigations.
  5. Recorded images should be stored in a secure location with access by authorized personnel only.
  6. The Associate Vice President for Public Safety or his designee may authorize copies of video surveillance camera images to be used for purposes consistent with this policy. 
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