Every year, colleges and universities across the United States dedicate the month of September to bring attention to the issues related to safety on college campuses. These safety concerns range from minor things like underage drinking and marijuana use to major things such as stalking, sexual assault, and murder. All of these things happen on campuses across the U.S. and National Campus Safety Awareness Month (NCSAM) is a time when colleges share information about the institution’s safety programs.
Know the Facts
To better understand the importance of NCSAM, you should know some facts.
- In 2016, there were a total of 28,400 criminal incidents reported on college campuses
- 11.2% of all students experience rape or sexual assault
- Only 230 out of every 1,000 sexual assaults are reported to police
- About 696,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are assaulted by another student who has been drinking
- About 1,825 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol-related unintentional injuries, including motor-vehicle crashes
These are just some of the many frightening statistics that haunt college campuses across the nation. Knowing the facts and statistics that surround these campuses can help maximize awareness and help solidify preparedness.
What Colleges are Doing
Every institution has its own set of rules and protocols on how to deal with safety issues. students, faculty, and staff can feel at ease knowing that many campuses are using similar systems and protocols. For example, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics found that a majority of four-year institutions in the UnitedStates hire sworn police officers to provide law enforcement services.
In addition to employing sworn officers, nearly all colleges and universities utilize a mass notification system to alert students, faculty, and staff in the event of an emergency. People are notified via e-mail, text message, voicemail, or other methods to ensure widespread communication.
Campuses that Have the Right Software Make the Biggest Difference
National Campus Safety Awareness Month is the perfect time for safety departments across colleges and universities in the United States to evaluate their current systems. Do they have what they need to ensure safety for everyone on campus? If the answer is “no” or if you hesitate to answer, you may need to reevaluate your tools and protocols, including the software in place to track training. MdE, Inc. has the solution you need. We will help optimize the way you work so that you can protect your community. Call or contact us to learn more.
