As colleges and universities gear up for the return of students and staff this fall, better, more effective campus security remains a top priority of many. The University of Minnesota, for one, is taking a multi-pronged approach to its security objectives, providing students and staff several layers of safety, whether they’re on campus or in nearby neighborhoods.
To extend the security measures beyond the campus property, the University of Minnesota (U of M) has partnered with the City of Minneapolis. U of M officially announced its plans for the campus and surrounding areas to WCCO. According to university officials, the safety of Dinkytown, Marcy-Holmes and other nearby neighborhoods to the campus is a “top priority.” The effort was spurred by shootings that happened in Dinkytown earlier this summer.
“We must not be deterred by these challenges,” stated Myron Frans, senior vice president for finance and operations at the university. “The various benefits of our campus location are what motivate us to make long-term investments in safety and stay focused on the solutions. While the UMPD’s jurisdiction is largely contained within the physical boundaries of our Twin Cities campus footprint, the university is also committed to being a good partner and citizen.”
Myron Frans, senior vice president for finance and operations at the university, released details on the steps to be taken:
- Installation of kiosks. The university wants to make sure that students can call for police assistance quickly no matter if they’re on campus or just outside of the property. The installation of at least seven security kiosks in Dinkytown will help connect students to campus police.
- Addition of police officers. The University of Minnesota Police Department (UMPD) will hire three more police officers and a full-time social worker, which will provide alternative resources to students and staff for cases involving mental health and chronic offender issues. These procedures will begin on August 2.
- Continuation of safety chauffeur program. To provide safe rides in and around campus, the university will resume with its Gopher Chauffer program, which provides free rides home for students, seven days a week. The university is currently hiring individuals for chauffer positions.
