According to The Crime Prevention Website, students are 2.5 times more likely to experience a security threat than the average citizen. If you’re a student, it’s your responsibility to help campus security keep your campus safe.
So, what can you do to make your campus a safer place?
Keep reading for the five steps you can take to ensure your university is where students can thrive and learn without worrying about their safety.
Safeguard Your Student ID
Students are granted keycards and IDs at universities like The University of Manchester to move around campus. The University Of Manchester uses card key systems that provide students with keycards to enter university buildings and for their parking lot’s vehicle access control system.
Your student ID or keycard for your university’s security technology is essential for entering buildings on campus and accessing university resources. So, safeguarding your student ID from theft is in your best interest. It also helps to keep the campus safe for other students and prevents the theft of valuable campus resources.
You must report missing the card if you lose either your student ID or key card. When you register the key card missing, your university’s security staff will be able to organise a replacement card, and they will be able to deactivate the old card to prevent a security breach. If you don’t report the card missing, your university’s security will be compromised, and the person with your ID could use it to enter campus property.
To keep your student ID safe, you can keep the following tips in mind:
- Never leave your keycard unattended – if you’re in public, ensure you always have your keycard on your person. Leaving it unattended could lead to theft.
- Use a lanyard – you can quickly lose such a small object in a bag or your pockets. Using a lanyard helps you to always have your keycard on hand for when you need it and secures it around your neck so you don’t lose it.
- Keep your keycard in the same place at home – choose a spot that isn’t close to your door at home to keep your keycard. This way, you’ll always know where your keycard is, and you won’t risk losing it.
To eliminate the security risks posed by lost keycards, some universities opt for mobile credentials instead of physical cards. Instead, students can simply download access credentials onto their mobile devices.
Don’t Allow Tailgating
Tailgating is one of the key vulnerabilities in any security system. If you walk into a campus building and hold the door open for the person behind you, you may not know who that person is or whether they’re even a student at the university.
If someone tailgates you to enter the building, they can access university resources without authorisation, and having unauthorised users on campus property will put students in danger.
So, when travelling around campus, don’t allow others to enter the building after you without swiping their ID card. It might feel rude not to hold the door open, but it keeps campuses safer in the long run.
Don’t Prop Doors Open
Similarly, you shouldn’t prop any doors open around campus without authorisation. There will be some cases where propping university doors open is safe. For instance, if the door were to open into a gated garden area or courtyard, it might be safe to prop the door open with university permission.
However, you generally should not prop doors open due to the risk. If you forget that the door is propped open, this could lead to a devastating security breach at the university – and you could be held responsible.
Keep Your Door Locked
You should always keep your door locked when you’re in your university accommodation. Typically, student accommodation is shared, and you can’t control who enters your shared facility. So, to prevent an intruder from entering your private space and to keep your belongings safe, it’s best to keep your door locked at all times, even when you’re inside your accommodation.
If You See Something, Say Something
If you see any suspicious activity on campus, you’re responsible for reporting the incident to campus security. If you don’t report the incident, campus security may not know it, and they could fail to prevent an incident from occurring on campus.
Some things to look out for when walking around campus include:
- Bike theft – if you see someone stealing a bike from a campus bike rack, report it to campus police immediately.
- Inebriated individuals – if you see someone intoxicated, report it to campus police so that they can help the person get home safely. Even if others accompany the person, you don’t know they are friends, so it’s best to report it.
- Property damage – if you see someone attempting to damage campus property, report the incident immediately.
No matter what you see, it’s better to be safe than sorry. So, if you see something suspicious, always report it to campus security. Some universities offer mobile applications for students where they can report suspicious activity or report their keycards stolen.
Summary
Many students are living independently for the first time, and a security breach could jeopardise their confidence and feeling of safety. Campuses should be a safe environment for students to enjoy the beginning of their independent adult life. If you’re a student on campus, keep these security tips in mind to ensure your campus is an environment where students can thrive.
