[1] University Police (UCAPD)
The University of Central Arkansas (UCA) Police Department is the jurisdictional police agency for the University of Central Arkansas and is charged with the enforcement of all state and local laws and university regulations, as well as the development and delivery of crime prevention, public safety, traffic and parking services. The services of the UCA Police Department focus on the protection of persons and property, preservation of the peace, enforcement of state and local laws, prevention and repression of criminal activity, emergency preparedness planning, and management and control of parking and traffic on the campus.
The Department employs 25 full-time armed police officers who provide protective and law enforcement services to the university community of over 13,000 students, faculty and staff, which includes approximately 4,000 students who reside in campus housing and off-campus fraternities. The operating jurisdiction of the Department extends to all on-campus properties including 12 residence halls and numerous campus-owned or leased apartment complexes and houses within several blocks of the main campus. Officers actively patrol concurrently with the city of Conway all campus peripheral streets and major thoroughfares. In addition, the Department maintains mutual aid and operating jurisdiction agreements with the city of Conway and Faulkner County. University police officers are granted full investigative and arrest authority on the campus and contiguous streets and highways pursuant to A.C.A. 25-17-305.
The UCA Police Department is accredited through the Arkansas Law Enforcement Accreditation Program which is reviewed every three years. University police officers are commissioned law enforcement officers and are professionally trained and certified by the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training. University police officers must meet mandatory state training requirements and, in addition, receive specialized training in university law enforcement, public safety, and critical incident response. University police officers are specially trained to understand the safety and security needs of students, staff, faculty, and visitors within a richly diverse academic community. The wide spectrum of specialized training enables officers to successfully interact with diverse people, behaviors and social problems encountered within a university environment on a daily basis. The Department maintains and promotes respect for the individual rights and dignity of all persons and is dedicated to excellence in all of the services that are offered on a year-round basis.
[2] How to Summon Assistance
The UCAPD is located on campus between State and Hughes Hall. Persons needing EMERGENCY assistance at any time may call 9-1-1 from campus office telephones or 9-1-1 from residence hall telephones. General assistance can be obtained by calling (501) 450-3111. Assistance can also be summoned by pushing the call button on any blue light emergency or elevator emergency telephone located throughout the campus. The dispatcher instantly knows the location of the caller and will ask what type of assistance is needed. The UCAPD lobby is open 24 hours a day. The on-duty dispatcher is available to assist at the lobby window.
[3] Annual Campus Security Report
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act requires that institutions of higher education publicly disclose an annual security report. This report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University of Central Arkansas; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The report is published annually by the University of Central Arkansas and is available in the Clery Annual Security & Fire Safety Report at the UCA Police Department, or online at uca.edu/police/safeuca/clery-annual-security-and-fire-safety-report/.
[4] Office of Parking and Traffic Services
Students may operate and park automobiles on the UCA campus in accordance with the University’s Parking and Traffic Regulations once they have obtained a student parking permit. UCA’s Parking & Traffic Rules & Regulations are available from the UCAPD website at Policies & Regulations or directly from the UCA Board of Trustees website (Board Policy 421).
A vehicle parked on campus must display a current UCA parking permit and must be parked in accordance with regulations. The UCAPD provides assistance to motorists who need a jump start or who are locked out of their vehicle. Call (501) 450-3111 for help.
Vehicles not displaying a proper parking permit and those found parked in violation of regulations may be cited or towed and impounded. Violators must pay all citation fines and tow, impound, and storage charges. A traffic or parking citation or any other communication from a university police officer is an official university notice. The recipient who does not respond to such a communication is subject to disciplinary action.
Motorcycles and motorbikes must be parked in areas designated for motorcycle parking.
Skateboarding, skates, rollerblades or other coasting devices cannot be used in any manner that places pedestrians at risk; their use for acrobatic, racing or other stunts is strictly prohibited on UCA owned/controlled property. Coasting devices may not be used within any building on the UCA campus or on any surface features (ramps, benches, or other architectural features) that might reasonably be expected to incur damage because of such use.
The UCAPD Parking and Traffic Services Office is open 8:00 am-4:00 pm, Monday through Friday.