Colleges and universities can spend upwards of $25 million on campus security updates to ensure every student receives the most responsive technology on the market. However, some low-cost strategies performed once or twice a year are priceless for ensuring long-term student safety.
Coordinating with first-response teams, law enforcement and other relevant regional agencies is a fundamental aspect of campus security that college leaders often overlook, says James Hayes, vice president of Guidepost Solutions, a security and technology consulting firm.
“Some school leaders may not feel like they have to sit down with agencies frequently because it’s their duty to respond to an emergency, but trust is built on both sides. Students are better off when those relationships are strong.”
Scheduling regular meetings with response agencies can foster better insight into specific campus needs. This can generate highly targeted emergency protocols and support public address systems that effectively respond to the most likely threats.
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Higher education leaders familiar with their regional teams can also promote a more coordinated emergency and evacuation response, such as in the case of a student demonstration becoming dangerous, Hayes says.
“Campuses are always going to be a hotbed of activity and social discourse, which is why it’s important to have updated emergency plans and response protocols in the event a protest turns violent.”
How to prioritize campus security budgeting
Staying up to date with the latest campus security features can potentially save an institution money in the long run, Hayes says. “Security is usually viewed as a cost, but we believe that ensuring the use of the best technology for campus security can drive down the expense because it promotes efficiency.”
Institutions can manage costs by focusing on the most immediate needs first.
- What do I need right now?
- What do I need one to three years from now?
- What are some wish-list items that may not be extremely necessary?
“The best campus security setup starts from the exterior and works inward,” Hayes says.
Bolstering perimeter safety can be done pragmatically and cost-efficiently. For example, leaders can fix or upgrade cameras that no longer record or store video data for future playback.
