Today marks the official launch of the new 32NCSI (National Campus Safety Initiative) - the program inspired and initiated by the families of the victims and survivors of the April 16, 2007 shooting tragedy at Virginia Tech. This is a major milestone for those dedicated to improving campus safety.
32NCSI is the online self-assessment tool that enables institutions to identify gaps, strengths, and opportunities to improve their campus safety policies and procedures. The survey questions were guided and assembled by key experts in campus safety spanning multiple disciplines, including:
- Alcohol and other drugs
- Campus public safety
- Emergency management
- Hazing
- Mental health
- Missing students
- Physical security
- Sexual violence
- Threat assessment
Why is this so important?
In an ever changing and more connected world, schools are faced with unprecedented campus safety challenges. With so many issues surfacing ranging from mental health, sexual violence, to public safety, the need for a guideline to establish common standards has become necessity.
The creation of a resource to enable an institution to reflect on their strengths and weaknesses will provide insight into ways to improve their policy and procedures. Only with this insight can a school identify areas to improve, then take the necessary steps to becoming a safer campus.
We are all unified in the belief that students have the right to be safe on campus. There is no other way - period. By working together within a common framework, we can elevate the ability to prevent and respond to threats to the well being of campus communities.
Kudos to the families at VTV Outreach Foundation for taking leadership in transforming a historic tragedy into a movement that will positively impact the lives of countless students.
To my friends in campus safety and administration, I urge you to begin the self-assessment process today by visiting www.32NCSI.org.
