Beyond academic growth, career preparation, and lifelong connections, the number one concern parents have for their children when choosing a college is their safety. This is why Azusa Pacific University has implemented new safety features around campus to protect the well-being of its students, staff, and faculty. Paul Dennis ’91, executive director of the Department of Campus Safety (DCS), shared that DCS’s goal is to safeguard students to the best of their ability. “President Morris and university leadership are prioritizing measures to keep APU’s campus safe,” Dennis said. “Some of these measures have already been implemented, with others to follow in the coming months.”
These new safety initiatives have been implemented as part of APU’s 10-year DCS master plan, including the Safe APU mobile app, which originated from a student suggestion. “Back in 2019, a student approached me and told me about a type of technology that other colleges use to help students stay connected to Campus Safety,” said Dennis. This is why it is crucial for students to consistently reach out to DCS with questions, ideas, and concerns. “We try our best to do it on our own, but we can’t do it all,” said Dennis. “So we try to give our community resources to help us, like Safe APU.”
As a part of these initiatives, the gate accessing the Shire Mods, APU’s apartment-style housing for upperclassmen, will be fitted with an automatic license plate recognition system in the coming weeks.
Vehicles registered with DCS will be recognized automatically, providing fast, efficient, and contactless entry to campus. “If your car is registered in our system, the license plate reader will read your license plate, and it will automatically open the gate,” said Dennis. “Pedestrians will be able to swipe their student ID to enter.” The new gate was intentionally designed to ensure that students with and without cars will be able to access the Shire Mods easily and securely.
A part of this security update is an increase in height for the fences along Alosta Avenue by two feet. “There’s a fencing plan developed for both the East and West campuses. Phase One included the wall that divides the Stater Brothers Shopping Center and the Shire Mods, coming down Alosta Avenue to the baseball field. That’s where it stops for now, but Phase Two will pick up at the baseball field and continue west on Alosta Avenue,” said Dennis. “We also recently upgraded the server system that supports our cameras, and added several new cameras throughout the campus to help us keep the community safe.” The Information Technology Support Center partnered with DCS to upgrade these devices, which has increased their ability to surveil areas throughout campus. Buildings are continually being monitored and are locked down daily during non-operational hours, so only students, faculty, and staff have access.
While DCS officers cannot see everything that happens on campus, they continually work to become aware of what students go through daily, so they can protect the APU community effectively. “I encourage students to talk with Campus Safety officers around campus. If you have a question, don't hesitate to ask. If you have an idea, a thought, a concern, please share it with us,” said Dennis. Students can also connect with DCS through the Safe APU app, Instagram (@apucampussafety), and stay alerted through the Everbridge notification platform. These safety measures and avenues of communication are in place to protect students and warn them of any dangers or situations promptly. Safety on campus requires both communication from officers and active participation from students. By staying informed, speaking up, and engaging with available safety resources, students play a vital role in fostering a campus environment where awareness and protection work hand in hand.