A/PPS 08.01 - Athletic Facilities Security and Operations

POLICY STATEMENT

Texas State University is committed to providing and maintaining safe athletic facilities and operations.

1. FACILITY SECURITY AND ACCESS

   1. Keys

      University keys remain the property of Texas State University, are issued by Ingress Management, and coordinated by the Office of Athletic Facilities and Game Operations. Unauthorized duplication of university keys is strictly prohibited. To protect both the individual and the department, coaches and staff may not loan their keys to any other person.

      Athletics personnel receive keys based on job responsibilities and must return them to Ingress Management upon separation. Lost or stolen keys must be reported immediately to the University Police Department and to the associate Athletics Director, Facilities and Game Operations.

   2. Card Access

      Athletic personnel and student-athletes may be granted facility access through an assigned code, card reader, or ID number. This access is individually assigned, monitored, and strictly limited to the authorized user; sharing codes, cards, or credentials is prohibited. The Office of Athletics Facilities and Game Operations, in coordination with Ingress Management, will oversee and manage this access.

   3. Facility Security and Lockdown

      The security and proper lockdown of athletic facilities are the shared responsibility of all authorized users, including event and facilities staff. All administrators, coaches, faculty, and institutional staff granted access to athletic facilities must ensure that all facilities are properly secured and locked upon completion of use. Any misuse of athletic facilities by authorized or unauthorized individuals must be reported immediately to the associate Athletics Director, Facilities and Game Operations

2. ACCESS TO RESTROOMS, CHANGING ROOMS, SHOWER ROOMS, AND LOCKER ROOMS

   1. As required by Texas Government Code Chapter 3002 and HOP 4-140 (interim), all muti-occupancy restrooms, changing rooms, shower rooms, and locker rooms in any Texas State Athletics facility being used by intercollegiate athletics for practice or competition activities will be designated for use only by individuals of one sex. To ensure that individuals of the opposite sex do not enter these designated facilities, Event Operations staff will ensure that home and visiting teams are made aware of such designations and of this policy in the visiting team guides.

   2. State law (Tex. Gov’t Code 3002.053) and HOP 4-1040 (interim) provide exceptions describing certain situations in which opposite-sex individuals are permitted to enter these designated facilities. Listed exceptions with particular relevance to intercollegiate athletics include those allowing opposite-sex entry for:

      1. custodial, maintenance, or inspection purposes, which will include setup and cleanup for games and practices;

      2. rendering of medical assistance, which will include medical assistance provided by athletic trainers, team physicians, or other medical personnel designated by the institution to provide such services; and

      3. purposes of law enforcement and preventing a serious threat to safety, which will include security services for coaches, employees, and student-athletes.

   3. In conformance with Athletic Department policy requirements, coaches or employees may designate times during which a locker room may not be used as a private space due to the need to opposite-sex coaches to speak with their teams, for athletics development cultivation or prospective student-athlete recuring purposes, or other instances approved by the vice presidents or the Athletic Director in consultations with Sports Administration and Facilities and Game Operations management. At those designated times, coaches and/or Athletics Department employees may restrict the use of bathrooms, showers, and changing facilities associated with the locker room in order to ensure compliance with state law.

   4. During periods of time when a locker room is designated as a non-private space as described above, individuals of the opposite sex shall use all reasonable efforts before entering, such as knocking on doors and loudly announcing their identity and their intent to enter the room, to provide notification of entry to the occupants inside the locker room. At all other times, individuals of the opposite sex who meet exceptions within the law to enter such space shall also use all reasonable efforts before entering, such as knocking on doors and loudly announcing their identity and their intent to enter the room, to provide notification of entry to the occupants inside the locker room.

3. TRAINING FACILITIES/WEIGHT ROOMS

   1. Locations

      1. Jowers Center;

      2. Strahan Arena at the University Events Center;

      3. Bobcat Soccer Complex;

      4. Johnny and Natali Weisman Performance Center; and

      5. North Endzone Complex at UFCU Stadium.

   2. Authorized Users

      Department of Athletics training facilities are for the use of current student- athletes with supervision by certified Strength and Conditioning staff.

      Department of Athletics full-time staff members and families may use the training facilities as long as it does not conflict with sport access. Children of staff members that are under the age of 18 must complete a liability waiver prior to use. Former student-athletes may have supervised access to the training facilities on an occasional basis and must complete a liability waiver prior to use.

      Additional training facility access may be granted to the following groups:

      1. insured event participants;

      2. visiting teams, including staff and coaches; and

      3. interns and student workers with prior approval and waivers.

      Club sports are not allowed to use athletics training facilities. Students taking classes in Jowers are allowed to use the training facilities only during the designated class time, and all activity must be supervised by an instructor.

   3. Training Facility Rules

      The following rules apply to all Department of Athletics training facilities. Failure to adhere to these requirements may result in suspension or revocation of facility privileges.

      1. A Strength and Conditioning coach must be present during all workouts;

      2. Users must report to workouts on time;

      3. Only Texas State-issued apparel may be worn;

      4. Closed-toe, flat athletic shoes are required;

      5. Loose jewelry is prohibited during workouts;

      6. Cell phone use is prohibited during workouts;

      7. Food, chewing gum, and tobacco products are prohibited;

      8. Users must clean and properly return all equipment after use;

      9. Any injury must be reported immediately to a Strength and Conditioning coach or Athletic Trainer

4. LOCKER ROOMS

   1. Authorized Use and Access

      Lockers rooms are designated for use by assigned student-athletes and coaches only. Access by any other individual must be authorized in advance by the associate Athletics Director, Facilities and Game Operations. Use is limited to normal operating hours or times approved by a coach or designated staff member.

      Locker rooms are accessed through individually assigned ID numbers or card readers. Access codes and cards are issued to specific individuals and may not be shared. Student-athletes may only access the locker room to their assigned team. Coaches are responsible for communicating and enforcing this policy. When visiting teams are assigned locker room space, signage will be posted to indicate designated use. Student-athletes must respect visiting team assignments and may not enter those locker rooms unless authorized by a coach or staff member.

5. FACILITY MAINTENANCE

   1. Work Orders

      All Department of Athletics work orders will be initiated and processed through the Office of Facilities and Game Operations in order to monitor and streamline costs.

   2. Grounds and Sport Turf Management

      The Office of Facilities and Game Operations is responsible for maintaining safe, functional, and well-maintained athletic fields. This includes supervision, scheduling, and planning of routine maintenance, contracted services, and preparations for practices and competition. Requests for additional services or equipment usage must be coordinated with the director of Sports Turf Management.

6. REVIEWERS OF THIS PPS

   1. Reviewers of this PPS include the following:

      Position	Date
      Associate Director, Facilities and Game Operations	June 1 E7Y
      Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director, Business Operations	June 1 E7Y

7. CERTIFICATION STATEMENT

   This PPS has been approved by the following individuals in their official capacities and represents Texas State Athletics policy and procedure from the date of this document until superseded.

   Associate Director, Facilities and Game Operations; senior reviewer of this PPS

   Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director, Business Operations

   Director, Athletics