Policies and Guides

The Desert Community College District, to the fullest extent possible, ensures that students, faculty and staff who are victims of sexual assault committed on or upon the grounds of facilities maintained by the District, shall receive treatment and information to deal with the assault. Sexual assault includes, but is not limited to rape, sodomy, oral copulation, rape by a foreign object, sexual battery, or threat of sexual assault.

The District recognizes one of the most important ways to assist students, faculty and staff who are victims of sexual assault is to help them regain a sense of control over their lives. It is not the function of any district service provider to urge a particular course of action upon the victim of a sexual assault, not to make any factual determinations as to the events which occurred. Instead they are to help make the victim aware of the options and alternatives available, to aid the victim in making an informed decision as to a course of action, and to enable the victim to follow through in that decision. The provider will not take any action based upon a subjective evaluation as to the merit of any charges made, nor will they attempt to convince the victim that any course of action is preferable to another.  

Applicable state and federal provisions will be applied in maintaining confidentiality in handling of all sexual assault cases. Individual rights to privacy in these matters will dictate District policy practice and procedure.  

The District Sexual Assault Liaison (SAL) is designated as a central referral source for information relating to the rights, options, and services available to a sexual assault victim. The Sexual Assault Liaison has been designated as the Executive Director, Human Resources and Labor Relations. The school nurse, counselors and Campus Safety can also assist with this information and assist with contacting the SAL.

Upon request the District will do everything possible to assist the victim with a change in academic schedule.

The victim and the accused are entitled

to both have someone present during the disciplinary hearing. Both parties will be informed of the outcome of any sanctions taken as a result of the disciplinary hearing. If found guilty of a sex offense the district maintains the right to expel the accused from any and all campus controlled and owned by the Desert Community College District.

The Campus Safety Department in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Act every April will host Sexual Assault Awareness month. Informational material will be provided and Campus Safety Officers will be available to assist with information.

The manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of an illegal drug, or the unlawful possession, use or distribution of alcohol, is prohibited in all buildings, property, facilities, service areas, off campus sites of the District, or in any location where any District activity is occurring. Anyone caught with or under the influence of the above will result in a disciplinary hearing and is subject to arrest from local law enforcement. The District maintains the right to impose disciplinary action separate from arrest.

Materials and information on counseling, treatment and rehabilitation resources, health risks, Federal trafficking penalties, and uses and effects of controlled substances, are available in Counseling, the Student Health Center and the library. Campus Safety Officers can also assist with getting this information for you.

It is the Desert Community College districts policy that any fire that is a result of negligence or purposely set requires the Fire Department as well as the Campus Safety Department to be contacted. Campus Safety will be responsible to follow up with the local police department to file a report.

The cause of fire will be determined by the appropriate fire department personnel. The report will include the cause of the fire as well as the estimated value of property damage. The property damage will include the value of the loss of structure and contents, in terms of the cost of replacement. It is the Campus Safety Department’s responsibility to request a copy of the report 10 days after the incident and maintain a copy for their file as well as provide a copy to the appropriate College personnel.

Responsibility of Supervisors, Managers, and Faculty:

The supervisor, manager, and instructor are to supervise the clearing of his/her area during an emergency evacuation, in an orderly manner using the designated evacuation paths to the designated safety areas. Attendance will be taken of each area evacuated with a census form. The Dean of each department will be responsible to ensure that all instructors have a copy of the census form.  

Fire Drills:

Eastern Valley Campus (EVC) and the Western Valley Campus (WVC) and Mecca Thermal Campus will do a fire drill annually as set up by their Education Site Directors and coordinated with the Campus Safety 
Department. College of the Desert's main campus will hold a fire drill semiannually consisting of full evacuation of at least two buildings with the assistance of the Campus Safety Department. The Child Development Center will do monthly fire drills as required by law.

Fire Safety System: 

Campus Fire System Information:

College of the Desert’s Palm Desert, Eastern Valley, Western Valley, Mecca 
Thermal, Palm Springs Campuses use Simplex as its fire system. The Simplex 4100 fire system has 4 general functions.  

1. It monitors fire alarm initiating points (smoke detectors, heat detectors, and pull stations)  

2. It activates fire alarm notification appliances (horns, strobes, audio evacuation messages) when an initiating point activates.  

3. It monitors and controls auxiliary building equipment (fan dampers, relays, security devices).

4. It contacts appropriate departments and outside public safety agencies. 

The main fire control panel is in the Maintenance and Operations Building 
located at the North West side of campus. The Campus Safety Department has a computer terminal that identifies the type of alarm and the location. Fire 
Department personnel can view a real-time campus map showing the physical location of the alarm on campus. This map is also available in the Campus Safety Department office.

College of the Desert’s Golf Center and KCOD Fire System Information:

Fire life safety system @ K.C.O.D use BOSCH FPD-7024 Control Panel, Golf 
Range use Honeywell Vista 32FB Control Panel.

Both systems have the same functions: 

1. Monitors fire alarm points (Smoke Detectors, Pull Stations) 

2. All input and output circuits are supervised. 

3. Activation of notification appliances (Horn, Strobe) when fire inputs are activated. 

4. System will notify Central Station who will notify local Fire Dept and Campus Safety.