Page 37 - AUCSO Newsletter - Winter 2023

Students and faculty look to campus security to respond to incidents and critical situations in a

calm, problem-solving manner. In most cases, larger universities have created expansive public
safety departments that include sworn law enforcement officers, security technicians, analysts, and
security officers. With law enforcement professionals being in such high demand, public safety
departments are relying on security officers to fulfill non-policing functions.

When hiring armed-or-unarmed campus security personnel, it is important to recruit individuals
who understand and respect that today’s college environment and brand demand that every officer
understands the impact of Title IX. At institutions that receive federal funding, Title IX provides
protective services to those who have suffered sex discrimination, harassment, or abuse and
disciplines those who perpetrate these acts. Skill sets that ensure a high appreciation of diversity,
equity and inclusion are essential for officers. Campus security must understand how to effectively
and compassionately interface with young adults and must be well-versed in contemporary trauma
and bias-informed response techniques.

Security firms should provide a variety of vital training, including Clery Act, Title IX, and Family
Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) awareness training, residential life security, dealing with
high-risk situations, young adult behavior, drug and alcohol education, CPR/First Aid/AED
training, campus crime prevention, campus emergency preparedness, evacuation planning, as well
as fire safety and campus escort services. This exhaustive list of responsibilities highlights the need
for college campuses to hire security professionals with skills and experience beyond those of a
traditional security guard. The right person, with the right mindset, and the right training and
support can make all the difference in providing proactive, capable, and engaging interaction and
support we each expect within today’s campus communities.

Full Story Here: Campus Safety Magazine

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