In times of crisis on a college or university campus, the ability to quickly communicate safety information to students, faculty and visitors is critically important. According to a recent study of Clery Act reports by Siemens Building Technologies division, analysis revealed that among institutions of higher learning, community colleges were least likely to have the integrated, multi-modal systems necessary to quickly reach the largest number of people when crisis strikes.
The Siemens-commissioned study Detailed Analysis of U.S. College and University Annual Clery Act Reports evaluated information submitted to the Federal government as part of the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). The study analyzed data from a sample of 77 U.S. colleges and universities to provide deeper insight into which types of institutions have the most advanced mass notification systems and how these differences manifest themselves geographically.
To make these determinations, the study classified the communications platforms into four types: At Your Side (text messaging, email, etc.), Indoor (public address system, digital signage, posted notices, etc.), Outside (outside public address system, warning sirens, blue light towers, etc.) and Extended (social media, CCTV, etc.). The institutions were then placed into five maturity levels that reflected the integration of different types of technology and the number of methods used in a notification system. None of the schools were ranked in the top level. Some of the report’s findings include:
- Community colleges are the least likely to have layered emergency communication plans, using mostly At Your Side methods
- Public universities tend to have the most sophisticated plans, including three or more types of communications platforms
- Overall, schools in the South have the most advanced notification plans with multi-modal systems that include three or more types of communications platforms.
As a follow up to their initial study, Siemens plans to analyze this year’s Clery Reports scheduled for release later this month. To download a copy of Detailed Analysis of U.S. College and University Annual Clery Act Reports, please visit www.usa.siemens.com/cleryreport. BD+C
Related Stories
| Apr 16, 2012
Altoon + Porter Architects renamed Altoon Partners
The global practice, with offices in Los Angeles, Amsterdam, and Shanghai, specializes in retail, residential and mixed-use developments.
| Apr 16, 2012
Drake joins EYP as science and technology project executive
Drake’s more than 30 years of diversified design and project delivery experience spans a broad range of complex building types.
| Apr 16, 2012
$80 million in export financing for solar project in India
The project, “Rajasthan Sun Technique Energy Private Limited,” is a subsidiary of Reliance Power and is being co-financed by the Asian Development Bank and FMO, the Dutch development bank.
| Apr 13, 2012
Arcadis merges with Davis Langon & Seah
Merger will help company expand business in Asia.
| Apr 13, 2012
Goettsch Partners designs new music building for Northwestern
The showcase facility is the recital hall, an intimate, two-level space with undulating walls of wood that provide optimal acoustics and lead to the stage, as well as a 50-foot-high wall of cable-supported, double-skin glass
| Apr 13, 2012
Best Commercial Modular Buildings Recognized
Judges scored building entries on a number of criteria including architectural excellence, technical innovation, cost effectiveness, energy efficiency, and calendar days to complete, while marketing pieces were judged on strategy, implementation, and quantifiable results. Read More
| Apr 12, 2012
Solar PV carport, electrical charging stations unveiled in California
Project contractor Oltman Construction noted that the carport provides shaded area for 940 car stalls and generates 2 MW DC of electric power.
| Apr 11, 2012
Shawmut appoints Tripp as business development director
Tripp joined Shawmut in 1998 and previously held the positions of assistant superintendent, superintendent, and national construction manager.
| Apr 11, 2012
Corgan & SOM awarded contract to design SSA National Support Center
The new SSA campus is expected to meet all Federal energy and water conservation goals while achieving LEED Gold Certification from the United States Green Building Council.