Missouri Governor Unveils Campus Security Task Force Recommendations

August 21, 2007 -- JEFFERSON CITY - As students begin returning from summer break, Missouri Governor Matt Blunt today released the recommendations of his 29-member Campus Security Task Force to help improve the safety and security of students, educators and visitors of Missouri’s many higher education facilities.

Mark James, director of Public Safety and Dr. Robert Stein, commissioner of Higher Education served as co-chairs of the Task Force which began meeting shortly after the governor established the group on April 17, 2007 following the tragedy on the Virginia Tech Campus. Over the past three months the group has examined the safety and security at Missouri’s higher education institutions by drawing upon the knowledge and experience of its members and from other concerned individuals throughout the state.

“I charged the Campus Security Task Force to evaluate our campus emergency response plans and to enhance our ongoing efforts to help make every school campus in Missouri a safe learning environment,” Gov. Blunt said. “They have provided some very good recommendations to make our campuses safer. Parents, students, academic leaders and first responders can feel confident in their work and the recommendations contained in this report. I want to thank the members of this important Task Force for their dedication and diligent review of campus security protocol.”

Through collection of data, vibrant debate and careful deliberation task force members reached agreement on several key areas of improvement, including increased communication among local and university law enforcement; university and college faculty, staff and students; and state and federal partners who could assist in the event of an emergency. The report also recognizes mental health as a key function of any emergency operations plan and the need for more widespread education about the mental health needs of responders and victims.

“Recognizing that it is a privilege to move about freely and unfettered throughout college campuses, our report identifies a set of comprehensive recommendations for improving campus safety without abandoning a commitment to an open academic culture,” Dr. Stein said.

“Ensuring that Missouri’s colleges and universities remain safe environments is a task that cannot be taken lightly,” Director James said. “To effectively mitigate risks, campuses must consider preparedness a top priority that is continuously evaluated and improved.”

The Task Force included the following recommendations in their report to the governor:

* Every campus should have a designated individual to coordinate emergency and homeland security operations, serving as the point of contact with the Missouri Office of Homeland Security

* Each institution’s chief executive officer should ensure that an all-hazard emergency response plan is in place – this plan should be developed in conjunction with local emergency responders

* All colleges and universities should use the Emergency Response Information Program (ERIP) web-based tool to construct their all-hazard plan

* All students, faculty and staff should have regular campus emergency procedure training

* Institutions should ensure that adequate police protection is available

* All members of the campus community should have full time access to on-campus, license mental health services; every emergency plan should include specific mental health responses and practices

* A statewide official representing postsecondary education should be appointed to the Missouri Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC)

* A higher education subcommittee of Missouri’s Homeland Security Advisory Council should be formed

To access the full report of the Governor’s Campus Security Task Force, visit http://www.dps.mo.gov/CampusSafety/index.htm.

In September, Missouri’s office of Homeland Security will be providing a free training opportunity to higher education senior administrators with responsibility for ensuring campus safety. The course is entitled “Homeland Security Planning for Campus Executives” will be held in Columbia. For more information please contact Jim Charrier at (573) 526-9120 or June Simonton at (573) 526-9121.

Source: Missouri Governor

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