Campus Security

According to a federal law known as the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, Advanced Welding Institute is required to disclose “statistics concerning the occurrence of certain criminal offenses reported to local law enforcement agencies or any official of the institution who is defined as a ‘Campus Security Authority.’” The law defines “Campus Authority” as: “An official of an institution who has significant responsibility for student and campus activities. The official at AWI is Mr. Richard Irick, School’s President.

The criminal offenses for which we are required to disclose statistics are murder/non-negligent manslaughter, negligent manslaughter, sex offenses (forcible and non-forcible), robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson, liquor law violations, drug abuse violations and weapons: carrying, possessing, etc.

We are also required to report statistics for bias-related (hate) crimes for the following offenses: murder/non-negligent manslaughter, sex offenses (forcible and non-forcible), robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson, larceny-theft, vandalism, intimidation, simple assault, and damage/destruction/vandalism of property.

We are required to disclose statistics for offenses that occur on campus, or in non-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by our school, and public property within or immediately adjacent to our campus.

Advanced Welding Institute has a responsibility to notify the campus community about any crimes which pose an ongoing threat to AWI’s community. We are committed to assisting all the members of the AWI’s community in providing for their own safety and security.

The data is available at http://ope.ed.gov/security/index.aspx, select Get Data for One Institution/Campus. If you would like to receive the Annual Security Report that contains this information, you can request at AWI’s office or calling at 802-660-0600 (Vermont), 715-337-0122 (Wisconsin).

Tobacco, Alcohol & Drug Policies

Advanced Welding Institute adheres to the federal, state and local rules regulations. In addition to the federal, state and local rules, Advanced Welding Institute has their own policies to insure the safety and well-being of the faculty, staff and students of the AWI community.

The following policies define prohibited actions and if these policies are broken there is the possibility of suspension and/or termination from Advanced Welding Institute:

Tobacco

Smoking: Smoking is permitted outside of the Advanced Welding Institute building in the designated student area only.

Smokeless Tobacco: Smokeless is permitted outside of the Advanced Welding Institute building in the designated student area only.

Alcohol

Underage possession and/or Underage Consumption: The sale, possession and use of alcohol must comply with Vermont law. Students under 21 years of age, which are in the acquirement, possession, transportation of alcohol must comply with state law and Advanced Welding Institute property. The consumption of alcohol by anyone over the age of 21 is not allowed on Advanced Welding Institute grounds.

Possession of Alcohol in an Open Container: Open containers of alcohol are not permitted anywhere on the grounds or in a motor vehicle. A beverage that is found on the Advanced Welding Institute grounds that looks and/or smells like alcohol is assumed to be an alcoholic beverage. A beer bottle in which the snap top has been placed back on it or a finger placed over the removed opening of a bottle top, is still considered an open container.

Under the influence of Alcohol: The equipment students use during their time at Advanced Welding Institute can become a health and safety hazard to students faculty and staff if used while under the influence of Alcohol. Indications that an individual is under the influence of alcohol may include but not limited too; bloodshot eyes, a strong odor on a person’s clothing or on his/her breath, excessive mood swings, excited behavior or irrational or erratic behavior that warrants a logical reason.

If the faculty or staff at Advanced Welding Institute feels that a student is in harm's way of themselves or others, due to possible alcohol usage, arrangements will be made for said student to return their residence and will receive an absence for that day.

Controlled Substances

Possession of a Controlled Substance or Use of a Controlled Substance and Distribution of a Controlled Substance: The possession or use, of illegal drugs or controlled substances, is prohibited at any time on the school grounds. The use of prescription drugs for anything other than their intended medical use or possession by the person to whom the medication was prescribed for. The distribution of illegal drugs or controlled substances is prohibited on school grounds at all times.

Under the influence of a Controlled Substance/Illegal Drug: A student may not be under the influence of a controlled substance or illegal drug at any times. Indications that an individual is under the influence of an illegal or controlled substance may include but not limited too; bloodshot eyes, a strong odor on a person’s clothing or on his/her breath, excessive mood swings, excited behavior or irrational or erratic behavior that warrants a logical reason.

If the faculty or staff at Advanced Welding Institute feels that a student is in harm way of themselves or others, due to being possibly under the influence of a controlled substance or illegal drug, the local or state authorities will be called. If reoccurrence happens the said student may be dismissed and AWI’s refund policy will be in effect.

Responsibility To Maintain A Safe-Environment School

When a violent or crime occurs, the school will keep informed the student population, staff, and faculty, of all the details, description, and step taken by the school to address the situation. The school is responsible to contact legal authorities (e.g. state police) when a particular event represents a danger to the student community, staff, and faculty. The notification to authorities will be made under this circumstances but not limited to the following:

Arson
Rape – sexual assault
Domestic violence
Terrorist Act
Burglary
Hate Crimes
Sale of illegal substances
Personal Attack
Violence due to intoxication of alcohol or illegal substances

The student community is responsible to collaborate in maintaining a safe-environment in the school. When a student is victim of a violent-related event, he/she must inform the school of how this event happened and the details related to the case. Also, this applies when a student witnesses an event that harm another student or could endanger the student community, the particularities must be informed to the school. The school will document the event and inform the student community of all the steps taken to address the event.

Emergencies & Unexpected Events

The school must notify the staff, faculty, and student community, of any loss, damages, or endangers safety when occurs an emergency caused by nature-related circumstances, accidents, or property-damaging events. The types of events are but not limited to the followings:

Fire
Flooding
Heavy storms (rain, snow, wind gusts)
Earthquake
Explosions
Body Injuries

When any of this events occurs and requires external and immediate interventions, the school will contact the emergency departments of the city/town. In addition, when there are the damages caused by the emergency or unexpected event, the school will contact a third party who will remediate the damages to the facility or equipment.

Students, staff, and faculty will be notified of all the details of the event by phone and through AWI’s Facebook page. The school will post any updates of the event and when the school will resume operations.

Harassment & Discrimination Policy

Advanced Welding Institute believes each student should feel safe and strives to provide a harassment free environment.

Advanced Welding Institute has a Zero Tolerance Harassment and Discrimination Policy. Any conduct based upon but not limited to a person’s race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, and disability will not be tolerated. Harassment may be verbal, non-verbal or physical. Examples of harassment include but are not limited to, racial or ethnic slurs, jokes or derogatory remarks, the use of threats, insults, or images based on a person’s characteristic or physical aggression.

Students are asked to report any harassment or discrimination to their Instructor or Director. Any student, faculty or staff found to have been involved in discriminatory harassment will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including suspension or termination.