Enrollment Growth Means Increased Focus on Campus Security

University of Arkansas Police are prepared to meet security needs on the Fayetteville campus, night and day, even as student enrollment is projected to reach another record, nearing 21,000 students for the fall 2010 semester. It's a job they don't have to do alone.

"We are absolutely committed to the safety of students, faculty, staff and visitors here at the university," said Stephen Gahagans, director of the University Police. "Our enrollment and the campus are growing every year, and we work hard to prepare for that growth and even stay ahead of it. We continually evaluate our procedures, our training and our equipment to make sure we are taking advantage of every opportunity to improve. I'm pleased to say the same is true for other divisions of the campus, as well."

For University Police the commitment to security begins with the officers themselves. Two-thirds of the 30 sworn officers in the department are regularly assigned to patrol the campus and the streets around it day and night, seven days a week. The number of patrol officers increases each year during the first week of classes, when UAPD puts its "Operation Saturation" into effect. Officers patrol in cars, on foot, by bicycle and on Segways. The operation has two purposes: to let students see that the officers are available when needed, and to deal with the additional calls for assistance that always come at the start of the school year.

Those calls come in to the UAPD's state-of-the-art communications center, which operates 24/7, just like the patrol officers. The center was completely renovated in 2008 specifically to serve a growing campus. Emergency 911 calls made on the university telephone system are routed directly to the dispatchers in the communications center. There are also more than 90 emergency/information "e-phones" located across campus that are directly connected to the communications center. Students are also encouraged to program the UAPD central number, 479-575-2222, into their cell phone speed dial to ensure a swift connection.

The UAPD central station is on Razorback Road, but a police substation is also located in Reid Hall. It was opened in response to construction of new residence halls on the north side of campus, which resulted in an increased overnight population. The substation staff is being increased, and will be on duty for more hours starting this fall, which will enable officers to respond faster to any kind of call.

One of the chief safety issues is security on campus after dark. To address this concern, University Police services are enhanced with help from other university divisions. For example, the department of facilities management is responsible for making sure the campus is well lit and that shrubs along the campus sidewalks are kept trimmed. The office of university housing maintains lighting, surveillance cameras and security systems around all residence halls, and also provides night security personnel to patrol outside the buildings.

Student volunteers operate the Razorback Patrol, which is screened and supervised by UAPD, and offers security escorts for anyone who does not want to walk across campus alone at night. Razorback Patrol operates from 6 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. Sunday through Thursday. University Police officers are available as security escorts when Razorback Patrol is off duty.

In addition, University Parking and Transit runs the Safe Ride program, providing students with a safe means of transportation from any uncomfortable or inconvenient situation. Safe Ride operates demand-response vans from 10:30 p.m. to 3 a.m., Wednesday through Saturday. These vans can be dispatched to a student's location for a ride to the student's residence. Safe Ride can be reached by calling 479-575-SAFE (7233).

Monday through Saturday nights, from 10:30 p.m. to 1 a.m., the program offers a campus- only service called Night Owl on Demand. Students can call 479-575-NOWL (6695) for a ride home from a parking lot, a late class or anywhere else on campus.

Both Safe Ride and Night Owl are free of charge to students.

"The safety of students, faculty, staff and visitors to the university cannot be taken for granted," said Gahagans. "Everyone involved in security at the University of Arkansas is always looking for the best ways to make the campus a safer place."