Campus Reactions To Virginia Tech Tragedy Are Surveyed Nationwide

Apr 15, 2008 3:17 PM

Nearly nine out of 10 respondents to a recent survey indicated that their college or university had conducted a comprehensive review of campus safety and security in the wake of the mass shootings at Virginia Tech in April of last year, and a similar proportion indicated that changes had been made to policies, procedures or security systems as a result of the tragedy, according to the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC).

The nationwide survey of student life officers and campus safety directors provides a snapshot of how colleges and universities responded to the tragic events at Virginia Tech and the changes that have resulted from safety and security audits conducted both internally and externally at institutions across the country. The survey included questions about emergency notification systems, security and monitoring systems, communications and training, changes to administrative structure and policies related to student behavior and mental health.

Preliminary results of a full report due to be released in mid-May show 87 percent of survey respondents indicating that their college or university had conducted a campus safety and security audit after the Virginia Tech tragedy. Of the institutions that conducted audits 95 percent included a review of emergency notification and broadcast alert systems; 89 percent included a review of policies related to securing campus facilities in the event of an emergency; 88 percent included a general review of the campus police or other security department operations; and 71 percent included a review of policies related to student mental health.

"Campus leaders throughout the country are very concerned about improving campus safety and security," comments Chancellor Thomas George of the University of Missouri-St. Louis. He adds, "This report will be helpful to my campus and will provide others with further ideas for action and review on their campuses."

Based on the survey, the biggest change under way on college campuses appears to be the expansion of emergency alert systems to include students' cell phones and other mobile communications devices. Emergency notification was an area where officials at Virginia Tech were criticized for a perceived failure to warn members of the campus community in a timely manner about the murders in a residence hall that were followed by a mass shooting in a classroom building.

Less than 5 percent of respondents to the MHEC survey reported that mobile phones were included in their institutions' emergency notification system prior to the events at Virginia Tech. Of the remaining 95 percent of survey respondents, 75 percent indicated that they planned to acquire the technology or had already implemented systems since April of last year allowing for the inclusion of mobile phones in emergency alerts. Similarly, only 14 percent of respondents indicated that campus buildings were linked to a public address system prior to the Virginia Tech tragedy. Of the remaining 86 percent of respondents, 34 percent indicated that plans were underway to change that while another 27 percent indicated that the issue had been discussed but no decision had been made.

"The survey indicates that many campuses are being proactive about making changes to ensure better campus safety and security," comments Missouri State Senator Charlie Shields, chair of the MHEC Commission. He adds that campuses must remain diligent about continually reviewing their procedures.

Campus officials were asked about a number of security enhancement and mitigation strategies that theoretically could help prevent or minimize the impact of a shooter or events of a similar type and scale including: remote locking of classroom buildings; closed-circuit security cameras; training for faculty and staff and general awareness campaigns to recognize disturbing and potentially threatening behavior of students; and revised language in student handbooks related to this type of behavior.

Survey respondents were widely distributed across the country with an equal proportion hailing from the Midwest and the South (32 percent), 23 percent from the Northeast and 13 percent from the West. Nearly 40 percent described the location of their institution as rural, a quarter said they were suburban, and a third indicated that they were in an urban setting. Nearly half the respondents were from schools enrolling less than 2,500 students, while 37 percent were from institutions of 2,500 to 10,000 students and 15 percent enrolled more than 10,000 students.

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