More on preparing for a potential campus lockdown

cops_dellsIn my last higher-education blog, I wrote about planning for how and when to lockdown a campus. Once the task force is in place and working, it’s time to…

In my last higher-education blog, I wrote about planning for how and when to lockdown a campus and the first step of creating a task force to plan for potential problems such as a natural disasters, chemical spills, and a gunman on campus.

Once the task force is in place and working, it’s time to talk with an experienced security systems integrator about helping with a campus risk assessment. This is a chance to look at the strengths and weaknesses of your system in academic buildings, dormitories, parking lots, power plants, and other facilities that impact day-to-day campus functions. The integrator may recommend changes such as adding or moving cameras, increasing lighting, or modifying landscaping.…Read More

Hotline goes 21st century

PhoneHotlineI applaud the state of Missouri for taking one of my favorite ideas for deterring campus crime and violence…

I applaud the state of Missouri for taking one of my favorite ideas for deterring campus crime and violence–an anonymous hotline–and moving the concept into the 21st Century.

The state‘s Department of Public Safety recently posted a page on its web site known as “Report It!” As with the hotline, created in 2001, Report It! is intended for use by students, parents and teachers to anonymously report fights, weapons on campus, thefts, and bullying.…Read More

Use summer to upgrade campus lockdown procedures

chained_doorSummer is a good time for a college or university administration to review its emergency/crisis plans. Your first step in creating or upgrading a plan should be…

As we tend to slow down a little for summer, this is a good time for a college or university administration to review its emergency/crisis plans to make sure it is still up to meeting the challenges it may face.

Any number of events–a gunman on the grounds, a chemical spill, or violent weather–might lead to the difficult decision to call for a campus lockdown. Students, faculty, staff and the surrounding community will scrutinize that decision. But it is one that may very well save lives.…Read More

Don’t take chances with information

textingWhile Twitter delivers quick messages, mass notification systems have several key advantages that make them invaluable to school administrators in an emergency…

Twitter, which started as a way for friends and family to share quick 140-character messages, has gone mainstream. So much so, I’ve even heard suggestions that school districts consider using it as a means to notify parents and students of emergency situations on campus.

It’s an interesting idea. After all, Twitter is free and can reach hundreds, even thousands of followers in seconds. It can reach people by their smartphones, laptops, or desktop computers.…Read More

Focus on higher education security

Rotunda in SunlightThe recent death of a University of Virginia student and the arrest of her former boyfriend for suspected murder once again casts a shadow over the safety of our nation’s colleges.

The high level of media attention paid to this case and other events gives us a sense that campuses are out of control. In reality, our college and university campuses are safe places.

But administrators could do a better job in some areas……Read More

New system combines classroom audio, emergency alert

A new system could help campuses respond to emergencies much quicker.
A new system could help campuses respond to emergencies much quicker.

A new classroom product that combines sound amplification, lecture capture, and emergency alert capabilities in a single system could have a big impact on the safety of K-12 and higher-education classrooms.

The Safe Security system, from Panasonic and Audio Enhancement, features a button on a microphone worn around the instructor’s neck that, when pressed, sends a silent alarm to a school’s central offices and to administrators. Once alerted, school leaders have access to a live video feed courtesy of a networked camera inside the classroom, as well as to the audio feed captured on the microphone, and they can immediately assess what type of emergency is occurring in the classroom.

Jeff Anderson, president of Audio Enhancement, said many teachers wear wireless microphones around their necks as part of standard classroom audio systems, and incorporating a built-in security alert system was a logical next step.…Read More

Use summer to upgrade campus lockdown procedures

chained_door

Summer is a good time for a college or university administration to review its emergency/crisis plans. Your first step in creating or upgrading a plan should be…

As we tend to slow down a little for summer, this is a good time for a college or university administration to review its emergency/crisis plans to make sure it is still up to meeting the challenges it may face.…Read More

Oops! We could not locate your form.