Security Alarm Policy

Over the last ten years, the University has more than doubled the building capacity on campus and has equipped those buildings with millions of dollars of electronic and academic equipment. In order to safeguard this investment in equipment, a large number of security alarms have been installed.

The purpose of this policy is to coordinate and control the installation, monitoring, response, and maintenance of security alarms.

TYPES OF ALARMS

The building electronic security alarm system at CSUSB is defined into the following five (5) categories: Emergency, Intrusion, Surveillance, Panic, and Temporary. It does not apply to the fire alarm system installed per California Fire Code.

• Emergency
  Emergency alarms are installed in locations that may have life-threatening, medical or other situations that require immediate police or fire response. Installation of this type of alarm is limited to areas where the use of the alarm is controlled by authorized personnel.
• Intrusion (Motion or Contacts)
  Intrusion alarms are used to detect entry into an area during specified hours by unauthorized persons. This protection may be used in conjunction with the panic button to provide 24-hour coverage of critical areas.
• Surveillance
  Video surveillance equipment may be used in conjunction with or independently from other alarm devices to record pedestrian traffic and/or access to campus facilities, and will be used in compliance with legal requirements.
• Panic Button
  Panic buttons are reserved for use by cashiering points, areas where money is handled, and critical office areas. They are designed to be activated when a hold-up takes place or when a threat of violence is directed toward an individual employee of the University.
• Temporary
  Temporary alarms will be used at the discretion of the University Police Department. A temporary alarm is portable and can be used for immediate short-term protection in any of the above categories.

Installation of Security Alarms

A process has been implemented to assure that new alarms meet applicable codes and standards and can be monitored by the University Police Department. The departments listed below are assigned the following responsibilities:

• Facilities Planning Design and Construction (FPDC)
  • System design, equipment lists, and bid specifications for new buildings
  • Review of equipment, hardware assessment, and compliance
  • Coordination of installation and performance testing of third-party systems
  • Installation and construction logistics and scheduling coordination
  • Verification of vendor compliance with local/ state/ university/ applicable building codes

• Telecommunications & Network Services (TNS)

  • Review of system design, equipment lists, and bid specifications

  • Review of equipment, hardware assessment, and compliance

  • Coordination of monitoring and compliance with telephone or radio communication rules and regulations

  • TNS installation/construction and coordination service

• Facilities Management (FM)

  • Review of system design, equipment lists, and bid specifications

  • Review of equipment, hardware assessment, and compliance

  • Coordination of monitoring and compliance with Facilities Management utility infrastructure rules and regulations

  • Coordination of basic contracted maintenance and/or repair functions through the established work request process

• Procurement and Contracts (Purchasing)

  • Bid specifications and processes

  • Bid assessment and acquisition services

  • Vendor and contractual obligations

  • Compliance requirements and services

• University Police (UPD)

  • Security assessment, review, and recommendations

  • External consultants and security services availability

  • University Police Department monitoring and protocol standards

  • Relationships with third-party organizations and individuals

  • University Police Department hardware/software interface requirements

Within a broad context, the University departments are charged to work in concert to achieve the following University security objectives:

• Providing a centralized core of expertise and consistent responses to departments, program centers and others in electronic security design and development.
• Establishing and maintaining an institution-wide perspective which supports the integration of decentralized security systems as part of a centralized resource.
• Ensuring that the acquired systems are of quality products, designed and functioning to meet security objectives with longevity in mind.
• Providing technical procedures, standards, monitoring processes and coordination for managing the design, acquisition and construction of security systems.
• Establishing operational procedures and protocol for monitoring and responding to an 'alarm' condition whether reported locally or remotely via a third-party service bureau.
• Establishing operational procedures and protocol for accessing alarmed areas in support of routine maintenance and emergency repair operations.

The Process

The design and implementation of an electronic security system can vary dramatically. Each system is therefore customized to meet the specific objective of the program or department. To assist in defining these objectives and the design process, the initiating department shall obtain authority from the Division Vice President, who will then forward the request to UPD. An assessment of the requesting department's security concerns will be conducted by the UPD, and an appropriate security option will be recommended, as described under 'Types of Alarms.' Unique applications may also require engaging a security consultant, at the expense of the requesting department. Recommendations reached by UPD, the initiating department, and consultant shall represent a proposal requiring approval by the requesting department's and/or the senior administrators of the program units.

Should the department or program unit decide to implement the proposal, the Division Vice President shall forward the request to Procurement and Contracts for purchasing. Funding for the ongoing repair and maintenance of the installed system must be identified prior to approval and installation of the system. Procurement & Contracts shall coordinate with the departments of University Police, Facilities Planning & Management, and TNS for the design reviews, hardware assessments, confirmation of campus infrastructure connectivity, and protocol for gaining access to the areas when necessary to support ongoing operations.

Funding

Currently no funds are budgeted for the design, maintenance, or installation of alarms. As no funds have been budgeted for these purposes, requesting and user departments will be responsible for their own expenses associated with alarms.

Alarms located on the CSUSB campus will be monitored by University Police at no charge to the user departments. Alarms located off campus (e.g., Palm Desert Campus) will require monitoring by contract and the department using the alarm will be responsible for the monitoring fee.