Serving the CCAC Community

The Community College of Allegheny County consists of four main campuses and several centers and satellite sites. Each campus (Allegheny, Boyce, North and South) has a Director of Safety & Security who is also a sworn police officer as recognized by the Office of the Governor of the State of Pennsylvania and governed by the Office of the State Secretary of Education. These directors are charged with all the duties and responsibilities pertaining to campus safety and security, and report to the Executive Director of Emergency Management/Safety & Security. The safety and security of the campus community (students, faculty, staff and visitors) is a priority issue at CCAC.

The majority of safety and security patrol and service is provided by a contracted guard service with on-site supervisors who work under the auspices of the campus Director of Safety & Security. The contracted guards are not police officers but do serve a vital function in the safety and security of the campus community.

Some off-campus sites and centers have security offices. Normally these are located conveniently near the main entrances. Security questions for these sites can be directed to the campus responsible for the site or to Security or Administration at the specific site.

For the safety and security of the CCAC community and visitors—CCAC is an educational institution and as such has the right to request identification from anyone on CCAC property or on property under the control of the college. Identification may be requested by staff or security. Failure to comply with such request may result in the individual(s) being ordered off property; such order will be enforced by local law enforcement personnel.

 

Need Help?

Contact Safety & Security. If you are in an emergency, call 911.

Contact Us

 

CCAC Emergency Alerts

In the event of an emergency or urgent campus closure due to weather or other issues, CCAC uses the Rave Mobile Safety emergency alerts system to send push notifications to students and staff. This alerts system, in conjunction with the free Rave Guardian phone app, allows us to instantaneously message students and staff via voice, email and text with important emergency information and instructions.

CCAC Students & Staff
CCAC students and staff are automatically enrolled in the service through their CCAC student or employee accounts. There is no additional sign-up process needed.

To make sure you receive these alerts at your preferred phone number and email address, log in to your MyCCAC account, go to your User Profile under the Student or Employee section of CCAC Self-Service, and double check that the contact information on file is accurate and that your primary contact number type is set to Cellular.

To confirm that you consent to receive texts, log in to MyCCAC, click on Rave Alerts in the Quick Links menu to the right, and follow the screen prompts to confirm that you wish to receive texts. You may not receive text alerts until this has been completed, though you will still receive email and voice alerts.

CCAC Visitors or Families of Students
Anyone who doesn't have an active CCAC student or employee account can still sign up to receive text alerts from CCAC, but not voice or email alerts.

To sign up for SMS text alerts, text CCACALERTS to 67283.

CCACALERTS doesn't need to be all caps, but it does need to be one word. If done correctly, you will receive text confirmation that you are signed up to receive CCAC Alerts texts.

In the event of a preemptive weather closure or delay, CCAC will distribute alerts via email, text and voice phone call/voicemail to the primary email and phone numbers listed in the student or employee profiles.

Note: We make every effort to send these types of communications out as early as possible so that students with long commutes can plan accordingly. If there is bad weather being forecast, those without early morning classes may want to silence their phones the night before.

Alerts will also be posted to the CCAC website and MyCCAC portal, the CCAC Facebook, as well as reported to the local TV and radio news stations for broadcast. If you did not receive a text alert, you can check any of these other locations to verify whether the college is closed. You may also receive a Rave Guardian app notification in an emergency. Do not contact Security in the Rave Guardian app for nonemergencies.

In the event of a midday closure due to weather, facilities issues or emergency situations, alerts will also appear on all CCAC networked computers and on digital signage on campus. Follow the directions posted in the alert as relevant to the situation.

In an emergency situation, information may also be broadcast on the campus emergency announcement speakers.

″Keeping CCAC safe is everyone's responsibility.″
Andre Henderson, Executive Director, Emergency Management & College Safety & Security

College-Wide Emergency Response Team

College President

Provost & Chief Academic Officer

Vice President & Chief Facilities Officer

Executive Director of Emergency Management

Director of Safety & Security for the affected location

Campus Administrator & Business Manager for the affected location

Vice President and Chief Marketing & Public Relations Officer

Chief of Staff & Assistant to the Board of Trustees

Vice President and Chief Legal & Administrative Officer

Vice President of Enrollment Services and Student Affairs

Vice President and Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer

Security Tips

  • Keep purses, bags and backpacks closed when not in use. Do not hang purses on the backs of chairs. Do not keep valuables in the outside pockets of backpacks. Keep track of your books, especially during the buy-back period (when most thefts occur).
  • Be aware of others around you, inside and out. If you are uncomfortable with your surroundings, leave, backtrack, etc., until you feel secure. If needed, ask for an escort from Security or someone you feel safe with.
  • If you see something, say something. Report suspicious activity to Security or law enforcement.
  • Know where the exits are in case of an evacuation order or building alarm. Always assume the emergency is real, follow audible instructions, and exit the building immediately. Exit the building from the closest exit and not the one nearest to your car.
  • Take advantage of the campus safety app; download the Rave Guardian app.
  • Lastly, if you think a situation is potentially dangerous, it probably is. Follow your instincts and seek assistance.

If You See Something, Say Something Challenge

Safety is a top priority at CCAC, and we are constantly working to improve our students' knowledge and skills that will keep them safe on campus and in the community. CCAC is proud to be a part of the "If You See Something, Say Something" campaign from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Take the challenge! Watch the videos below to challenge yourself and your situational awareness.

Clery Act

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (The Clery Act) requires colleges, including Community College of Allegheny County, to report campus crime data, support victims of violence, and publicly outline their policies and procedures they designed to improve campus safety. It was first enacted by Congress in 1990 and most recently amended in 2013 by the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA). The CCAC 2024 Annual Security Report (ASR) can be found here or in the Quick Links section below.

Emergency Notification Testing

It is the intent of the Community College of Allegheny County to comply with all aspects of the Jeanne Clery Act mandates as issued under the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008. In this respect, the college assures that at regular intervals the various aspects of the emergency notification system are tested by certified professionals and that a record is made of the tests. The public address system is routinely tested by the Directors of Safety & Security as is the two‐way radio system used by Security, Maintenance, and Housekeeping at each campus. A building evacuation alarm test is conducted each semester in conjunction with the public address system test.

In addition to the Campus Crime Log, any building alarm system (formerly, fire alarm) activations are recorded in the Campus Fire Log. The Campus Fire Log is new for 2010 and is a record of every incident involving the alarm's activation if it is fire or fire‐sensor activated or tested. This log is maintained in the campus Security office and is available for viewing by interested parties upon request.

At least annually, and more often if deemed necessary, a building evacuation test will be conducted using the building alarm system, the public address system, and the Area Monitors. The test will be evaluated for speed and effectiveness, and any deficiencies will be noted and addressed. A report on the test will be made and included in the Campus Fire Log.

Annual Security Report

Emergency Evacuation Procedures & Quick Reference Guides

Megan's Law, Sex Offenses & Offenders

Antihazing Regulation

Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

Roof Access Procedures

Escort Services

Each campus, through the Security office, provides escort services. Services may be requested through the use of a hallway phone by pressing the "Campus Security" button or by dialing the number for the campus Security office listed below.

Each campus may have variations on escort availability, but all requests will be honored (usually in the order in which they are received).

Campus Contact Information

To contact Security within a CCAC building, use the "Campus Security" button on the phone.

 

Allegheny Campus

Boyce Campus

 

North Campus

South Campus

 

West Hills Center