CAMPUS SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS
The following message is from Dan Burkey, senior vice president for Operations
Last March a campus wide survey as well as an on-site independent assessment was conducted to review Campus Safety and Public Safety’s operation. Valuable insight was gathered from the 2,800 survey respondents and various recommendations were developed by the evaluation team. As a result, several initiatives are being pursued this year that will improve the capabilities of the Public Safety department and address important campus safety concerns.
- Improved Public Safety Presence/Visibility: Public Safety’s staffing will increase by four officers and two supervisors over the next 12 months to provide additional patrol resources across all three daily shifts. This will allow officers to be assigned to specific areas on campus and enable them to better address the safety needs of that area. Public Safety vehicles will undergo changes in decal signage to make them more visible and further design changes will occur as vehicles are replaced over time.
- Lighting Upgrades: Improved lighting for the Burt St. parking lot between 24th and 27th St. will be completed by the end of September. More efficient and brighter bulbs along with two new light poles are being added to the lot. Last spring, lighting was installed near the Law School and at the Morrison Stadium parking lot. A blue light emergency post was also installed at Morrison Stadium this summer.
- Shuttle Service Enhancements: GPS tracking equipment has been installed on shuttles to enable students, faculty, and staff to determine a shuttle’s location while on route. The tracking service is available to anyone with internet access using a computer or smart phone and is expected to be fully operational by mid October. Watch for more information on this new feature in the next several weeks.
- Escort Service Improvement: After fall break, Public Safety and Shuttle Services will pilot a new student transportation program between the hours of 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. A dedicated vehicle will be used to respond to individuals requesting a safe ride between locations on campus. Further information on this program will be communicated in early October.
- Collaboration with Student Groups: Public Safety will hold frequent meetings with the Division of Student Life and also meet regularly with the leadership of Creighton Students Union (CSU) to review progress and to continue dialogue on important safety matters.
- Equipment Upgrades: Improvement in campus camera technology and the need for enhanced telephone and computer technology in the operation of Public Safety will receive additional planning efforts.
Other campus safety programs will continue over the course of the year, including safety briefings for students, faculty and staff; regular emergency preparedness drills (fire drills in the fall and tornado exercises in the spring); and more. Important safety information is also available on the Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness websites. Our campus partner, Creighton University Medical Center, has also instituted several safety measures that include off-duty Omaha Police officers in the lobby, a new emergency notification system for hospital staff, and increased badge security access to exterior doors.
Campus safety remains a top priority for the University and the programs in place today will continue to be evaluated and refined in order to provide our students, faculty, staff, and visitors a safe living and learning environment. Annual surveys are planned to help gauge progress and provide feedback. If you have any questions about safety programs or the services offered by Public Safety and Student Life, please contact Jim Dorsey at jamesdorsey@creighton.edu.