PRESENTATION FOR EDHE 6710Ranita Wyatt

December 5, 2008

How safe are students and faculty on our college

campuses?

What has been done to ensure a safe environment in Higher

Education?

How have these issues been addressed at Pasco-Hernando Community College (PHCC)?

PHCC is a multi-campus institution located on central Florida’s west coast.

(PHCC) was established by the Florida Legislature in 1967 to be the final link in the state’s system of 28 community colleges.

The first classes were held in rented facilities in August 1972.

The opening enrollment was 603 students. Currently nearly 15,000 students are enrolled in the college’s credit and noncredit offerings. http://phcc.edu/about/history.php

When classes began, the college employed only 12 full-time employees. Today, PHCC employs over 338 full-time faculty and staff.

The budget has also grown substantially over the past years. The legislature allocated $36,492 for PHCC’s initial operating budget. In comparison, the 2007-2008 operating budget was $30.1 million. http://phcc.edu/about/history.php

PHCC primarily falls under the bureaucratic administrative structure.

PHCC also presents some political structure.

WHY A PRESENTATION ON SAFETY?• August 1, 1966: Charles Whitman killed 16 and

wounded 31 on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin and the surrounding community.

• November 1, 1991: Gam Lu killed 5 and wounded 2 on the campus of the University of Iowa. Lu then killed himself.

• August 15, 1996: Frederick Martin Davidson killed 3 on the campus of San Diego State University.

• August 28, 2000: James Easton Kelly killed 1 and then took his own life on the campus of the University of Arkansas.

• January 16, 2002: Peter Odighizuwa killed 3 and wounded 3 on the campus of the Appalachian School of Law.

• October 28, 2002: Robert Flores killed 3 and then killed himself on the campus of the University of Arizona Nursing College.

• September 2, 2006: Douglas W. Pennington killed his 2 sons and then himself on the campus of Shepherd University.

http://www.psp.state.pa.us/psp/lib/psp/CampusAssessmentRpt.pdfMost recently the April 16, 2007 Virginia

Tech violence that left 33 dead, nearly the total from the previous 7 shootings cited

CURRENT SITUATIONThe Virginia Tech massacre brought to light the

inability of administrators and security officers to notify students and faculty of imminent danger and therefore the inability to keep them safe.

Studies were undertaken and actions recommended.

The Pennsylvania State Police published Pennsylvania College Campus Security Assessment Report which represents most U.S. institutions.http://www.psp.state.pa.us/psp/lib/psp/CampusAssessmentRpt.pdf

PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED

Security forces on most campuses are not police officers, they are unarmed and they do not have the authority to arrest

Most hazard planning deals with weather or hazardous material spills

Most campus police communications centers are staffed by students

Campus police and security are rarely included in student orientations

SITUATION AT PHCCFACULTY SENATE MEETINGS September 12, 2003

Faculty want to be informed of “disruptive” student eventsFaculty expressed concerns of lack of communication from the classroom – suggest 1. classroom phone2. panic buttons3. intercomsConcern for lack of evening administrators

November 7, 2003Faculty questioned the college president concerning two incidents of student threats and what was being done to resolve the issues

December 5, 2003Faculty involved in the student threats are still waiting for follow-up information

January 23, 2004Administrators want the faculty to identify issue areas and resolutions for workplace violenceFaculty still awaiting resolution from October incidents

February 20, 2004Faculty recommend a zero tolerance policy for guns and knives on campus resulting in expulsionPresident recommending hiring a consultantCollege attorney to visit next meeting

March 26, 2004College attorney could not attend

August 16, 2004Noted that workplace violence issues began in 2002 and still no action has occurred

November 5, 2004 Workplace violence a faculty concernEmergency procedures not yet posted in classrooms

January 21, 2005 Faculty members expressed concern that if help is needed in the classroom, a cell-phone must be used and many of the campus buildings block the signal

February 18, 2005 Reported that dedicated phone lines for campus security will be provided

March 18, 2005 Report on all campus safety review1. Inadequate lighting in parking areas2. lack of documentation and communication

October 21, 2005 Workplace safety review1. Lack of evening administrators2. No classroom phones3. No emergency procedures available in classroom4. Absence of psychological services

April 21, 2006 Crisis response flip charts to be posted in all classrooms

August 16, 2006 Fall general faculty meeting survey reported workplace safety as the #1 issue

September 15, 2006 PHCC to hire a Safety and Risk Management personFlip charts still not installedAdministrators working on rotating evening duty

November 17, 2006New signs for evening emergency contact posted on one of the four campuses

January 18, 2007Mid-year report- workplace safety #1 issueAdministrators seeking bids on “panic” buttonsDeveloping Emergency ManualFlip charts still being developed

September 14, 2007All campuses have emergency numbers posted

November 16, 2007Administration looking into “Ed-connect” warning system and “panic” buttonsAdditional lighting at night

February 15, 2008Ed-connect installed

March 21, 2008Emergency manual available on the intranetPanic buttons to be installed(as of this posting, 12-5-2008, the buttons are installed but have not been tested nor has faculty been trained)

ADMINISTRATORS RESPONSES

The following were taken from the Presidents Cabinet meetings over the last 2 1/2 years.

Presidents Cabinet meetings occur twice a month and include all campus provosts, faculty senate president, all department deans, as well as, the college president and assistant.

1/11/06 – President requests more lighting of gymnasium

6/5/06 – Due to recent break-ins, alarm systems added and security coverage increasedDecals to be placed campus-wide that “Areas are Alarmed” even if they aren’t

7/17/06 – Pursuing a police mobile phone be installed on one of the small campuses to increase police visibility

8/18/06 – Evening coverage by administrators will begin soon

2/5/07 – Concern over individuals on campus during closed hours, 11pm – 6am

4/11/07 – additional lighting installed on North CampusCall box installed on one campus and seeking one on North campus

4/30/07 – Moment of silence held in memory of Virginia Tech tragedy No security issues update

6/4/07 – Emergency flip charts ready for printer

6/18/07 – Flip charts at the printers, installation to be completed by end of July

7/16/07 – Flip charts are installed; asks that each campus verify that the numbers are correct

7/31/07 – local sheriff dept. representatives will conduct security audits on all campusesBomb threat check lists to be distributed to all employees

8/20/07 – Safety manual sent to Board of Directors for approvalSafety training available to all employees on-lineAwaiting reports on safety audits

7/16/07 – Flip charts are installed; asks that each campus verify that the numbers are correct

7/31/07 – local sheriff dept. representatives will conduct security audits on all campusesBomb threat check lists to be distributed to all employees

8/20/07 – Safety manual sent to Board of Directors for approvalSafety training available to all employees on-lineAwaiting reports on safety audits

11/5/07 – Discuss methods for communicating emergency information

11/19/07 – Presentation of “Ed-Connect” and recommended approval

12/13/07 – Report on safety audit – most recommendations already implemented

2/18/08 – training begins on “Ed-Connect” system

Demonstration of panic button system 3/17/08 – Presentation of Virginia Tech: From Tragedy

to Recovery 3/31/08 – Panic buttons to be installed in the summer 4/14/08 – Emergency Response Handbook now

available non the intranet

Still seeking quotes on panic button system 5/5/08 – Panic buttons have been ordered and should

be installed for Fall term 9/2/08 – Panic buttons have been installed on 2

campuses

New Ed-connect system used to inform students and employees of campus closure due to hurricane Fay

9/15/08 – contracting waiting on parts to complete panic button installation

11/3/08 – All panic buttons are installed and operational. Information meetings to be held on all campuses regarding use of panic buttons

11/17/08 – additional panic buttons have been installed and should be fully operational by 11/18/08

WHAT WOULD I DO?Reading through all of the faculty senate minutes and the Presidents Cabinet’s minutes has been a disturbing process. Obviously the faculty have been concerned about safety for many years and the response of administration has been slow at best. Even the events at Virginia Tech didn’t hasten actions to improve safety. The bureaucratic nature of the institution tends to slow the processes down. I am currently full-time faculty and beginning this semester I am chair of the business department and just learning how cumbersome it is to accomplish change. I would like to think that if I was in charge I would pay more attention to my faculty and install systems to accomplish important tasks in a much more timely manner. Is this possible in a bureaucratic system?