The UNC Campus Security Initiative report that was provided Thursday, July 31, to the UNC Board of Governors by President Tom Ross was developed by a team of individuals focused on different aspects of safety from each of the 17 campuses. UNC Charlotte was actively engaged in developing the report, which will be blueprint for the University system to further strengthen its protection of our students. The entire report is online.
“UNC Charlotte is a safe campus with well-trained safety and security staff, where crime has dropped steadily in recent years,” said John Bland, director of public relations. “To accomplish the education of our students and the fundamental research performed by the University, we must maintain a safe and secure campus environment in which our students, faculty and staff can flourish. “
UNC Charlotte has been an industry leader in matters related to campus safety, Bland said. UNC Charlotte launched its Campus Safety and Security Committee in 2008 in response to the work of UNC’s 2007 Campus Safety Task Force, with representation from faculty, staff, and students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Since that time, the University has invested more than $7 million in programming, technology and personnel dedicated to preserving and enhancing campus safety.
UNC Charlotte was the first campus to introduce a Collegiate Recovery Community that provides resources for students who are recovering from addictive disorders, and the first UNC campus to assign one of its sworn police officers to serve as a Clery Act compliance officer. It has installed improved lighting in its parking decks, state-of-the-art door access systems, parking lot watch towers and building security cameras, and over 300 “blue light” emergency telephones in strategic locations throughout campus.
UNC Charlotte’s police chief, Jeff Baker, was selected in 2013 as the Campus Safety Director of the Year by Campus Safety Magazine.
“As exemplified by the Initiative, UNC Charlotte has also consistently worked with colleagues on other campuses to learn from their experiences and to share the strides the University has made with respect to campus safety,” Bland said.
Three UNC Charlotte representatives served on the working group that developed the report: Arthur Jackson, vice chancellor for student affairs; Dave Spano, associate vice chancellor for health program and services; and Jeanne Madorin, director of employee relations, training and compliance.
UNC Charlotte is one of five campuses that will continue this work as part of a pilot program that emphasizes prevention and treatment. University representatives will also serve on the Governor's Substance Abuse and Underage Drinking Prevention and Treatment Task Force.