Dear UNCG Faculty and Staff,
The start of a new academic year is an exciting time. As we welcome back our students, we want to take this opportunity to raise awareness regarding campus safety to help ensure that everyone is prepared to have a safe, productive year. In the wake of the recent, heartbreaking mass shootings, we suspect safety is top of mind for many of you. The safety of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors is the highest priority for the campus leadership team. That’s why I am sending this note today, and we are also communicating this information to our students as the semester begins.
First, know that our team is trained, prepared, and focused.
Our Police and Public Safety Department is staffed with full-time officers who have been professionally trained and fully equipped to respond to active shooter and other tactical emergency situations 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Student Affairs Personnel are also intensely focused on supporting student well-being and helping those in crisis. Part of their work in the Dean of Students Office is to ensure students, faculty, and staff have access to support resources they need to help individuals who may be facing personal challenges in their lives. If you are concerned about the behavior of any member of our community, you are encouraged to submit the concern through the Report Concerning Behavior link. For assistance or consultation prior to completing the referral form, please contact the Dean of Students Office (336-334-5514) or UNCG Police (336-334-4444). If the concerning behavior requires immediate attention, please contact UNCG Police at 336-334-4444 or dial 911.
Still, we must remain vigilant and prepared for any and all possibilities. You can help us make the campus safer by participating as follows:
1. Most important: React immediately, exactly, and without hesitation to Emergency Alerts (only sent in the time of an emergency or critical incident): To receive Spartan Alert text messages you must register your mobile phone and opt-in to text alerts in UNCGenie. It only takes a minute. Click here for instructions. You can also add friends and family to Spartan Alert through the MyConnect Portal. Instructions are available here.
2. Download the UNCG mobile app: It is a crucial component to our safety efforts, providing you with easy access to services, support and emergency resources, including the critical LiveSafe app, emergency alerts, and other services. Through the LiveSafe app that is prominently featured in the UNCG mobile app, you can submit tips directly to UNCG Police, request a Walk Safe escort, receive active crime alerts, and use the real-time Spartan Chariot locator.
3. Participate in Run, Hide, Fight Training: This is the recommended training from the Department of Homeland Security for active shooter response. The free class takes approximately one hour and gives participants an opportunity to practice what they learn. To get more information or to register for the class, visit https://police.uncg.edu/run-
4. Be Aware of Classroom Locks: UNCG has worked closely with our Facilities Staff to ensure that classrooms with an occupancy of less than 50 people are equipped with a thumb-turn indicator lock. If you are unable to leave the building, locked doors may be used to help protect occupants from an active threat. To support this effort, make yourself aware of the doors that have these locks and do not prop them open or prevent them from being secured quickly.
5. Know and Use our Emergency Preparedness Scripts: Our Emergency Management web page features guidelines of what to do in case of an emergency. These Emergency Response Guidelines are provided for quick reference in the event of an active shooter, bomb threat, severe weather, or other emergency situation. For more information, visit the following links:
| • | Faculty/Classroom – http://emg.uncg.edu/ |
| • | Staff/Workplace – http://emg.uncg.edu/ |
6. Use (and Refer Those in Need to) the Campus Violence Response Center (CVRC): Too often the situations that make people –especially our students — feel unsafe happen within the context of interpersonal relationships. If you or someone you know is experiencing a relationship that feels threatening in any way, the CVRC can help you think through the situation and develop a plan for safety. The CVRC is located on the ground floor of Gove Student Health Center, or you can call 336-334-9839.
Keeping our community safe is a top priority for all of us at UNCG, and it is a SHARED responsibility. The same guidance we give to students applies to our faculty and staff as well: Be alert about the situations you encounter, the people you interact with, and the places you go. Respond as directed in emergencies. Access the tools and training available to you. If you see something that seems wrong, out of place, or dangerous, report it right away. If you have any questions or if there is anything we can do to help, please ask.
We look forward to working together with all in our community to make this another amazing year at UNCG.
Sincerely,
Chancellor Gilliam