Chancellor Dubois' Message on Campus Safety

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Over the past week, I have heard questions and concerns from members of our university community regarding campus safety in the wake of the recent report of a sexual assault in the Fretwell Building. I want to update you on the incident and to share some information and observations about campus safety.

You should know first and foremost that our own Police and Public Safety, with the assistance of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, are carefully and vigorously investigating this incident. The university’s full resources are devoted to assisting the investigation, but the collection and review of evidence will be a deliberate process.

In the meantime, UNC Charlotte continues to implement improvements to keep our campus a safe place to live and work. As shown by the university’s most recent Annual Security Report, reported crime in virtually every category has decreased consistently in recent years. In response to a request earlier in the year, I have allocated funds to provide even more foot patrol officers on campus. The Student Government Association will soon issue the findings from its most recent annual Safe Walk, in which key university staff members and representatives of the SGA inspect our campus for safety and security issues; in the last few years, more than $1 million has been allocated to address the issues and concerns raised during the annual Safe Walk alone. UNC Charlotte has additionally invested nearly $5 million in a range of safety and security initiatives including lighting, state-of-the-art door access systems, the Safe Ride program and its continual assessment of effectiveness, and the installation of security cameras.

Ensuring that the UNC Charlotte campus is a safe and secure environment requires constant review and assessment of our campus safety plan. The Chancellor’s Campus Safety and Security Committee, which was chartered in 2008, is comprised of faculty, staff, and students who carefully review and provide recommendations for security measures which have been instituted across campus. The committee’s Safety and Security Report from earlier this year, as well as information regarding the committee’s work and membership, can be found at http://campussafety.uncc.edu.

Members of the university community can also help ensure their own safety by taking the precautions advised by Police and Public Safety. When possible, walk/jog/bike in groups in clear, well-lighted, well-traveled areas. Remember that you do not need to walk across campus at night. The university has developed extensive shuttle and SafeRide transportation systems that are available. You may find the SafeRide schedule of operation online. You may also use one of the 300+ “blue light” emergency phones to request an escort or report suspicious activities.