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Departments requesting security cameras must comply with the Safety and Security Camera Acceptable Use Policy and these Safety and Security Camera Procedures.
The university is committed to enhancing the quality of life of the campus community by integrating the best practices of safety and security with technology. A critical component of a comprehensive security plan is utilizing a security and safety camera system. Surveillance of public areas deters crime and assists in protecting the safety and property of the UB community.
All personnel, departments, colleges, campus organizations, subsidiaries, tenants, and public/private partnerships with the university that wish to install video surveillance equipment on campus or in any university-owned or leased spaces must submit a written request to their vice president, dean, or department head describing the proposed location of surveillance devices, justifying the proposed installation, and identifying the funding source(s) for purchase and ongoing maintenance of cameras and related software and hardware licenses.
Security cameras must be purchased with State funds. Research Foundation and UB Foundation funds may not be used to purchase security cameras.
Approvals
University Police approval is required to purchase security cameras to be installed on university property.
UB Procurement Services will not accept, approve, or process any order for security cameras or video management systems without the approval of University Police.
University Police will oversee the installation, support, maintenance, replacement, and decommissioning of all approved security camera systems with the assistance of the Vice President and Chief Information Officer, University Facilities, and external vendors as appropriate.
Access to the video management system (VMS) to monitor and review video from departmental cameras will be granted to a limited number of staff members (VMS Users) as designated by the vice president, dean, or department head based on a business case need.
All access to the VMS must be approved by the Chief of Police or designee.
All personnel with access to the VMS (VMS Users) must be trained in the technical, legal, and ethical parameters of appropriate camera use.
VMS Users must provide written acknowledgment that they have received and understand the contents of the:
Video surveillance must be conducted in a manner consistent with all existing university policies.
VMS Users will monitor based on suspicious behavior, not individual characteristics.
VMS Users will not view private rooms or areas through windows.
All VMS Users and supervisors involved in video surveillance must perform their duties in accordance with the Safety and Security Camera Policy and these Procedures.
Individual requests to export and save video must be submitted, in writing, to their appropriate vice president, dean, or department head describing the reason and justification for the video export request.
Surveillance recordings must not be altered. Access to the VMS is configured to prevent VMS Users from tampering with recorded information. Exporting, copying, duplicating, or retransmission of live or recorded video is limited to persons within University Police as authorized by the Chief of Police.
Video recordings and surveillance records must not be exported or stored by individual departments.
All surveillance video and records are stored in a secure, centralized university VMS for a minimum of thirty (30) days and then promptly erased or written over, unless exported and retained as part of a criminal investigation or court proceedings (criminal or civil), or other bona fide use as approved by the Chief of Police or designee.
Requests to retain video from specific security cameras for periods longer than thirty (30) days must be approved by the Chief of Police or designee.
All VMS server logs are stored in a secure, centralized university VMS for a minimum of one year and then promptly erased or written over, unless exported and retained as part of a criminal investigation or court proceedings (criminal or civil), or other bona fide use as approved by the Chief of Police or designee.
Individual departments are not allowed to export or store video surveillance recordings.
University Police or their designee is responsible for the testing and coordination of the support and maintenance of all security cameras that are part of the university central VMS.
University Police is responsible for funding the maintenance, repair, and replacement of:
Individual departments that request cameras to be added to the central VMS that cover interior or exterior departmental spaces must provide the necessary funding for the maintenance, repair, and replacement of those cameras.
The Vice President Chief Information Officer is responsible for the installation, support, maintenance, replacement, and decommissioning of hardware and software components that comprise the university central VMS with the assistance of the following university groups and external resources as required:
| Contact | Phone | |
|---|---|---|
| Daryl Kempf, University Police | 716-645-8398 | dlkempf@buffalo.edu |