Striking Conversations with Campus Safety Heads....
Commemorating the Campus Safety Month....
Each year, colleges and universities throughout the United States recognize September as Campus Safety Awareness Month to bring attention to the issue of safety on campus. Campus Safety Awareness Month provides opportunities to encourage public conversation about violence prevention at American Colleges and Universities.
It also offers an opportunity to address the background of campus safety areas and to share information about an Institution’s Campus Safety Programs.
Every year College students across the America become victims of stalking, sexual assault, robbery, homicide, and other crimes.
College students who use illegal drugs and misuse prescription drugs are at risk for a substance use disorder and may commit or become a victim of drug-related crimes.
The law enforcement, mental health, student affairs, and legal professionals charged with identifying, assessing, and managing the risk for violence at Colleges and Universities throughout the United States provide an incredible service under unique and often challenging circumstances.
Navigating the intricacies of Privacy Laws, Preserving Academic Freedoms, Complying with Civil Rights Laws, while simultaneously ensuring a Safe Campus and Workplace Environment are tasks not easily accomplished.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics, a majority of four-year colleges and universities in the United States use sworn police officers to provide law enforcement services.
Nearly all campuses have a mass notification system that use e-mail, text messages, or other methods to alert and instruct students, faculty, and staff in emergency situations.
Efforts made to maintain a safe campus are most successful when the community encourages collaboration among campus staff, administration, students, parents, and community groups.
Though the challenge of Campus Safety might not be that acute in India, yet Indian Campuses do have a differential set of Campus Safety Challenges and their very own innovative designs to cater to them.
ReTHINK INDIA Institute has taken upon itself to commemorate a similar such Campus Safety Awareness Month for India Colleges and Universities and would be striking conversations with Campus Safety Heads across the month of September on Weekdays at 4 pm.
If you are interested to participate, do ping Dr. Surbhi at 9910050597.
You may also send your Campus Safety Write-ups to editor@rethinkindia.in for wider publication.
The Significance Of Campus Security In Educational Institutions
Virender Singh Parmar is the Hostel Manager cum Security Supervisor at V. M. Salgaocar Institute of International Hospitality Education (VMSIIHE). The institute offers a BSc and MSc programme in hospitality.
Educational institutions aid in the overall development of a student and are an inexorable prerequisite towards quality education. A place that provides for a cohesive learning environment coupled with varied interactions of learners with different stakeholders including faculty, administrators, and visitors.
A provision for a safe and secure milieu is a quintessential part of any educational establishment.
Since the last couple of decades, instances around violence and crime have gradually seen an uptrend in the college setting. In addition to that, concerns around threats and accidents both man-made and natural and the current scenario of the Covid-19 pandemic have reiterated the need for a well-established security and surveillance system and procedures on and off college campuses.
The trends of globalization have swept across educational establishments to highlight the diversification of safety-related issues within dynamic social environments of a higher educational institution and the evolution of a multifaceted security mechanism being explored and standardized to tackle the same.
From a watchman moving around campus to a technologically sophisticated system of CCTV’s and other advanced devices, the transformational shift in the essentiality of campus security is relatively evident.
Campus safety issues in contemporary times have expanded from violence and crime to complex socio-cultural issues with regards to ragging, sexual harassment, bullying, drug-related incidents, etc.
For these very reasons, campus security is a paramount responsibility of the educational administration.
There have been well-defined guidelines evolved around campus safety in higher educational institutions by the University Grants Commission of India as well.
A well-established Security Management System guarantees protection towards the sizable population of students, faculty, and administrative staff in academic institutions.
Ensuring strict compliance with the standard operating procedures under the security management system on educational campuses is of utmost importance in instances of emergencies like a fire, theft, and other illegal works.
A well-equipped system handled by an efficient team of security personnel is incredibly important to keep an educational institute safe from the likelihood of any such accidents.
Subsequently, the staff, faculty, and students can also be trained with the usage of extinguishers and briefed regarding fire exit plans.
With the increase in a sizable population in colleges, students from various spectrums of society under one roof, the existence of conflicts is often a major issue that has had a tremendous effect on the learning environment on campuses.
The security authorities, being well trained and equipped with the know-how, are able to cope with adverse situations with a professional approach.
Institutions with hostel facilities are prone to theft, ragging and bullying, and a drug usage culture among the younger generations. Such activities due to intoxication or substance abuse in the premises can be tackled timely and the likelihood of the same can be prevented in the future.
In such cases, the CCTV systems and Other Control Systems inside colleges are a must on the premises. Trained professionals with the technical understanding of operating the same is indeed an asset in enhancing campus safety.
A Visitor Management System is also a variant to manage the security in educational institutions to ensure stability against any espionage dangers.
During instances of violence or sexual harassment, an efficient system of patrolling guards can help to respond and protect a victim falling prey or even aid in ceasing the act in time.
Safety and enhanced security systems in educational institutions with well-equipped professionals to manage the same are an inherent component while setting up any educational institution.
This not only enhances the reputation and image of the institution but also promotes a secure environment for individuals to develop intellectually and creatively.
In unfortunate scenarios, an efficient security and surveillance system is absolutely crucial and can manage an aggravated situation before any law enforcement agencies arrive.
Therefore proper security management systems should always be evolving with the changing demands of institutions.
Hence it is apparent that the necessity for an efficient security system should be a prioritized subject- matter of mainstream institutional security discourse.