Page 38 - Campus Security & Life Safety, July/August 2021

Safety Checklist
"People need to understand what is happening and what is expected of them. The longer it takes to get a message out, the more potential there is for bad situations to worsen."
The past school year required campus leaders to think on their feet as they addressed the evolving challenges presented by COVID-19. While the threat of the pandemic has not com- pletely passed, this fall will undoubtedly bring new obstacles for campuses across the country to tackle so they can con- tinue to provide a safe learning environment for all. When complica- tions arise, whether expected or unforeseen, one of the biggest issues is communication. People need to understand what is happening and what is expected of them. The longer it takes to get a message out, the more potential there is for bad situations to worsen.
At Biola University, the team leveraged InformaCast, a mass noti- fication system, to help streamline communications and improve effi- ciencies when it came to alerting and responding to emergency situ- ations on our campus. Success didn’t happen all at once, and some parts are still ongoing. Securing a campus isn’t as simple as flipping a switch or plugging in the right tool. It takes planning, collaboration and many considerations before executing different phases to build a solid foundation that allows for future growth.
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As the new school year approaches, many campuses are likely con- sidering what more they can do to further bolster their campus safety plans. Whether budgets are tight, timeframes are short or other resources are limited, here is a list of projects to consider for the start of the year and beyond to enhance safety and security on campus for students and staff.
Collaborate with Other Departments
This may not be the most obvious place to start, but when done right it can pay big dividends in the long run. Campus safety is no single person or department’s responsibility. Creating and executing an effective plan takes input from multiple groups working towards the same goals. Campus safety teams may be running day-to-day opera- tions, but they need assistance from IT and facilities to ensure the infrastructure is in place to implement solutions. Building relation- ships between these departments will help keep everyone working in the same direction.
Working with multiple departments also helps ensure that cam- puses create the most comprehensive plan possible. Different per- spectives can help highlight overlooked obstacles or reveal unexpect- ed solutions. It can also alleviate some of the previously mentioned challenges. Pooling budgets and sharing team members can mini- mize headaches and speed up the time it takes to build a better plan. If nothing else, remember that it doesn’t cost anything to start a con- versation with someone, but a lack of communication can be costly down the road.
Prepare for the Unexpected
Emergency events don’t abide by a schedule. They happen when and
38 campuslifesecurity.com | JULY/AUGUST 2021