Campus Security Task Force

Themes and Recommendations

I. Dedicated Leadership

• Shared responsibility
• Strong leadership
• Preparation for critical incidents
• Partner across boundaries
• Make use of existing tools

Recommendations:

1. Designate one contact to coordinate emergencies with homeland security and local first responder community
2. Ensure senior staff of institution are trained and familiar with NIMS and ICS
3. Ensure all hazards emergency plan developed by interdisciplinary team is in place
4. Review and rehearse plan regularly
5. Establish agreements for a unified command structure as promoted by NIIMS/ICS

•           Develop technological solutions using worst case scenarios
•           Support all resources with back-up systems

1. Utilize failsafe systems to notify entire campus community
2. Implement physical access control mechanisms (locks, policies for after hours access)
3. Installation of surveillance cameras
4. Crime Prevention through Environmental Design in new and remodeled buildings
5. Access to emergency phones and lighting for high traffic areas
6. Evaluate assessment tools (MOSAIC) to identify potentially violent individuals
7. Experiment with use of ERIP

• Involve all members of the community in sharing responsibility for safety and security of all
• Organized ongoing educational programs are important
• Address confusion about Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) that influence flow of information sharing
• Overcome norms that create stigma for seeking out help, especially mental health support

Recommendations

1. Regular training for students, faculty and staff
2. Integrate information in orientation sessions for new students  
3. Utilize student and employee handbooks and institutional websites
4. Provide access to mental health services 24/7
5. Provide mental health consultation and referral with public and private facilities
6. Use multidisciplinary team to share information and develop intervention strategies
7. Prevention programs for alcohol and drug abuse
8. Use consistent messages and interventions
9. Share useful safety and security programs freely (lack of funding not justification for no action)

• Maintain autonomy yet seek consistent protocols
• Make planning and coordination between campus and responding public safety agencies a priority

Recommendations

1. Pilot use of ERIP in FY 2009 and provide feedback to Homeland Security Advisory Council higher education subcommittee
2. Campus law enforcement agencies should seek accreditation
3. International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA)
4. Access to disciplinary records at previous institution by waiver of transfer student

• Colleges and universities like small cities
• Many function on a 24-hour clock
• High expectations for responders
• Expectations may not be realistic

Recommendations

1. Fully commissioned, POST (Police Officer Standards and Training) certified armed police officers provide the best level of first response
2. Consideration of staffing arrangements with local law enforcement agencies
3. Campus and local police should receive specialized training in recognized and accepted law enforcement protocols included but not limited to
4. Active shooter response and crisis intervention
5.  Include crisis specific mental health responses, protocols and recovery functions in emergency plans
6. Evidence-based practices to treat those exposed to violence or trauma
7. Agreements involving mental health as a function of the emergency operations plan or available to the incident command staff for decision making, planning and support of responders.

• State can provide specialized assistance
• Homeland Security a valuable resource
• Government should maximize safety and security of college campuses (valued resources material and human)

Recommendations

1. Appoint statewide official to Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC)
2. Form Higher Education subcommittee of HSAC 
3. Design method for needs analysis and fiscal impact study of needed changes
4. Establish amount of new resources needed
5. Identify multiple funding sources including state appropriations, institutional reallocations, gifts, bequests, and grants 
6. Analyze the rationales for and against allowing private postsecondary institutions to establish police departments staffed by POST-certified police officers
7. Determine whether legislation is needed in this regard
8. Consider designing a competitive grants program narrowly focused and including expected results
9. DPS work with subcommittee to identify resources and training opportunities
10. MDHE and DPS collaborate on identification of skill sets necessary to prepare students for careers in emergency preparedness and response –Institutional development and modification of degree programs to meet needs
11. State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) ensure that adequate involvement from mental health professionals is included in response and recovery efforts for all crises.