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Colleges and universities need to ensure their campuses are as safe as possible. But while the mission may be simple, developing the right approach is not. Institutions facing budget challenges are increasingly asking “how much risk is present and how much can we afford to pay to mitigate threats?”
There is not one solution that will accommodate every campus. The measures you implement to keep your students and staff safe should incorporate many factors:
• Police and/or security staffing in a variety of hybrid models
• Integrated technology solutions
• Training (including a higher education focus)
• Evidence-based crime prevention programming
• Facility design, access points to campus and buildings
• Neighboring threats
Emergency management planning and response
For the staffing element of a security plan, there are many considerations. You need staffing that is right for your budget, community and environment. Security professionals play an important role in deterring crime, identifying potential threats and providing help to students, staff and visitors. Even when there is a dedicated police department, campus security officers remain a critical resource for force multiplication and deterrence.
Some campuses use internal resources exclusively – turning to student workers to protect their peers. Others, seeing student workers as a risk, hire proprietary security officers. And those who recognize that managing a force of in-house security personnel is fraught with logistical, staffing and budgetary challenges, outsource the function to an experienced campus security contractor.
Today’s security officer is a true ambassador on campus – often the first impression of your brand is formed in their interaction with your community. It takes the right personality, training and supervision to ensure officers maintain a friendly smile, a helping hand and a wary eye.
When developing a security plan for your campus, carefully consider all factors and design a solution that is specific to your needs.
About the Author
Stephen Aborn is Director of Higher Education at Allied Universal.
