With the rise in mass shootings, campus safety is a growing concern. Every year, more and more students are threatened by the potential for exposure to this horrible situation. It is more important than ever for schools to improve their campus safety. The following five steps will help make the campus more secure.
- Define the Problem
Schools need to understand where the potential threats to safety lie on their campuses. They should consider factors such as the region, the population, the crime rate, and threats of violence. By understanding and defining the problem, they will have a baseline for a plan.
- Identify Weaknesses and Threats to Security
By taking note of current weaknesses and threats to safety, campuses will be able to make plans based on calculated risk factors. It is critical to know where security weaknesses lie so that they can be addressed. Campuses can evaluate recent incidents to have an understanding of what their weaknesses and strengths are, which will enable them to formulate a plan for improvement.
- Create New Security Plans
By using the information gathered in the first two steps, campuses can create new plans for security. The key is to prevent as many incidents as possible, which is dependent on knowing the risk and the response plan. Put this plan in place but pay attention so that it can be modified as needed to improve security further.
- Get Everyone on Campus Involved
It takes more than a security team to prevent dangerous situations from occurring. By engaging the help of everyone on campus, the security team can better do its job. Staff members should be trained so that they understand how to handle incidents that occur. Everyone should be aware of how to report, which could stop an incident before it gets out of control.
- Be Flexible and Open-Minded
No matter how great any plan is, it can always be better. As campuses put the new safety plan in place, they will notice places where it can improve. It is important to address any weaknesses as they occur and always be open to improvements. The end goal is safety and prevention of these incidents; keeping that goal in sight by allowing improvements and modifications as necessary will make the campus safer.