article on door barricade devices

Effective Security Requires Thoughtful Decisions

Christine L. Peterson, CPP, ISP News, Security Assessment, Security Master Planning

In her Editor’s Note published in the January/February 2020 Campus Safety magazine, Robin Hattersley reminds us all of the power of seeking professional advice when lives are at stake. Would you go to a pharmaceutical company to advise you about health concerns that you have? Would you invest in health equipment based on a good sales pitch? Why should effective …

Workplace Violence Gets Personal

Christine L. Peterson, CPP, ISP Training, Workplace Violence

Last night I had the opportunity to address the Raleigh Financial Executive Networking Group (FENG) and lead a presentation on Managing Aggressive Behavior & Workplace Violence (workplace violence). This particular opportunity to train industry leaders was especially meaningful to me as I was giving thanks for the safety of one of my nieces. She attends STEM School Highlands Ranch where …

Campus Safety Article

Campus Security: Parents So Concerned They Are Willing to Pay for It Themselves

Christine L. Peterson, CPP, ISP News, Security Program Development, Workplace Violence

Campus security and safety of students, faculty, staff and infrastructure should be a foregone conclusion. Unfortunately, it is not. Campus Safety recently published an article entitled Parents So Concerned about School Safety They Are Willing to Pay for It Themselves. You can read the entire article here. Active Shooter Events Time and again we are horrified by active shooter events targeting …

OIG guide for audits

Possible Clery Act Compliance “Game Changer”

Christine L. Peterson, CPP, ISP Compliance, News

Clery Act Compliance “Game Changer”– What Is It? Why Does It Matter? Security professionals inherently know the steps to make a case – one thing leads to another and then connect the dots. At colleges and universities, security leadership is acutely aware that they play a large role in Clery Act compliance. They also understand that an investigation by ED …

Higher Education Clery Act

Clery Act Changes: Challenges Facing Higher Education

Christine L. Peterson, CPP, ISP Compliance, News

The primary role of an institution of higher learning is to educate, and their greatest asset is their reputation. Government entities and donors generate a significant portion of an institution’s revenue. Non-compliance jeopardizes this revenue. How can it be reasonable that Clery Act and Title IX compliance is so lacking in resources and emphasis? Some of the answers, if not …

Department of Education

Department of Education Increases Clery Fines

Protus3 Compliance, Security Program Development

The maximum fine for any violation of the Jeanne Clery Act has increased from $35,000 to $54,789. The new fines posted by the US Department of Education in the Federal Register are effective for civil penalties imposed on or after August 1, 2016, whose associated violations occurred after November 2, 2015. The costs for non-compliance just got higher. In recent …

campus safety article

3 Traits of a Successful Clery Compliance Coordinator

Christine L. Peterson, CPP, ISP Compliance

Campus Safety Magazine published “3 Traits of a Successful Clery Compliance Coordinator”, an article that highlights some of the challenges and nuances facing institutions and Clery Coordinators trying to comply with its requirements. It also drives home that elevating compliance from a departmental/individual response to a coordinated institutional response will drive success. In the business world, this seems like such …

campus safety article

The Security Strategy That Works for Two College Campuses

Christine L. Peterson, CPP, ISP Security Master Planning, Security Program Development, Security System Design Development

Above all, a security strategy is about integrating people, processes, and technology. Although there are some significant differences, these strategies apply to any other campus as well, not just colleges and universities. From the original article: Colleges and universities must develop a security strategy that protects the heart of their campus: students. Digital tools can help schools improve their physical …

plan, protect, prosper

Prevention or Mitigation: Which Do You prefer?

Christine L. Peterson, CPP, ISP Compliance, News

How important is a security program? The first role of any organization’s leadership is the protection of the organization. In higher education, reputation is an institution’s greatest asset. Reputation attracts the talent – students, faculty/staff, business collaboration, and academic and non-academic recruitment. Reputation also attracts the resources – research, innovation, donors/investors, and funding. As security consultants, we have seen organizations …

Baylor University headline

What Can We Learn From Baylor University?

Protus3 Compliance, Security Program Development, Training

The Dallas Morning News recently published an article entitled “Sex assault reports at Baylor nearly quadrupled in 2015, report says”. Read the full article here. What can we learn from Baylor University? If campus leaders do not set the example and provide the necessary resources, it is nearly impossible to engage the population in a comprehensive and effective manner. A …