Safety and Security Enhancements

Below are safety and security enhancements the University has completed since April 30, 2019. This page will continue to be updated as the University moves forward in our recovery efforts and our external review. If you have questions about anything below, please contact ba-comms@charlotte.edu.

Nov.-Dec. 2019

  • New Center City Security Measures: All faculty, staff and students must wear their 49er ID cards at all times when inside the Center City building. This includes those working and attending classes at UNC Charlotte Center City as well as all employee and student visitors to the building. Lanyards are provided at the lobby desk.
    • All visitors must check in at the lobby desk upon arrival and present a government-issued ID. They will be issued a visitor badge that must be worn throughout their stay in the building.
    • Those attending events at UNC Charlotte Center City will continue to be required to wear a University-issued nametag or other identification. UNC Charlotte Center City’s event coordinators will work with event organizers on necessary attendee communication for specific events.
    • Individuals who forget their IDs can check in at the lobby desk to be issued a visitor badge. A government-issued ID is required to obtain a visitor badge.
  • Lockdown kits: Phase one of the installation of classroom lockdown kits in classroom and laboratory spaces across campus was completed.
    • ​More than 650 kits were installed.
    • There are a few classrooms and teaching laboratories that do not lock internally for which neither the door wedge nor cut fire hose will work. The Department of Safety and Security is assessing other solutions for these doors, such as lock replacement, and will have those solutions in place soon.
    • Phase two will be ongoing through the spring semester.

Sept.-Oct. 2019

  • Classroom Safety/Preparedness Posters: Safety and Security partnered with Business Affairs Communications and other campus partners to develop and install safety posters with information about action directives for inclusion in classrooms and common areas across campus.
  • Safety Videos: The Department of Safety and Security, Business Affairs Communications and University Communications partnered to develop three action directive instructional videos. The videos identify what each of the three main action directives issued in NinerAlerts mean, the steps that should be taken and where to find more information.
  • Sponsored Guests and NinerAlerts: ITS and Emergency Management incorporated sponsored guests into the Rave system for NinerAlerts.

July-Aug. 2019

  • Off-campus apartment safety outreach: Safety and Security partnered with Business Affairs Communications and University Communications to design safety materials for off-campus residents living in the University area for distribution at move-in.
  • Increased Police Presence: Police and Public Safety (PPS) increased visible walking and bike patrols throughout the interior of campus Aug. 16-30.
    • PPS utilized partner patrols with mutual aid agencies (eg. CMPD, Pineville PD, Matthews PD, etc.) to augment numbers as needed.
  • Bike Patrol Capabilities: PPS purchased two new power-assisted bicycles for mounted bike patrol officers. These help increase interior campus presence while maintaining current response times (average 2.5 minutes for priority calls).
  • Light Rail Platform Rangers: PPS added two positions for ranger security officers on the light rail platform. These positions are in addition to police patrols already occurring in the area.
  • Community ALICE Training Sessions: Eight large training sessions were held on July 31, Aug. 8, 13, Sept. 4, 5, 11, and Oct. 3, 10.
    • Each session had a capacity to train 100 people.
    • Additional large-group ALICE sessions will be added based on demand.
    • ALICE training (already available in the University’s learning management system) remains on the normal schedule of one class per month (35 capacity). Faculty and staff can register on the Learning and Organizational Development website. Students should contact Deptuty Chief Josh Huffman at johuffma@charlotte.edu to schedule training for a student organization.
    • The ALICE training curriculum has also been adapted to include more specific information about NinerAlerts and corresponding action directives.
  • Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Dean of Students Office (DSO), and Safety and Security Faculty/Staff Workshop: CAPS, DSO, and Safety and Security partnered to develop a training workshop to prepare faculty and staff for the first days and weeks of the semester.
    • The workshop was designed to prepare faculty and staff to identify students of concern, speak with returning students and familiarize them with available resources.
    • Three sessions were held on Aug. 7, 12 and 20, with a capacity of 50 each.
  • Student Employee Training: OEM, in coordination with key departments, developed emergency preparedness training that covered topics such as NinerAlerts and their action directives and included scenario-based activities. A safety and security training curriculum was provided to student employees from the following departments:
    • Popp Martin Student Union
    • Cone Center
    • Barnhardt Student Activity Center
    • Belk Gym
    • Housing and Residence Life (full-time staff)
  • Large Venue and Event Security Enhancements: Safety and Security, Athletics and Venue Management, among others, developed a number of enhancements related to security for large venues and events such as commencement, football games, etc. Enhancements include:
    • Development of a risk assessment tool to identify the security package necessary for different venues and events.
    • Addition and implementation of metal detectors, no large bags or umbrella enforcement, wanding and increased law enforcement presence at all major events.
    • Wider development of event action plans (EAPs) for certain venues and events.
    • Increased adoption and advertisement of gameday opt-in texting via Rave Mobile Safety for event-specific safety messages as well as NinerAlerts.

May-June 2019

  • NinerAlerts Text Opt-in: The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) developed the capability for campus partners, families and visitors to opt-in to NinerAlerts text messaging.
    • ​​Users can text “unccharlottealerts” to 67283 to opt in.
    • Please note: Faculty, staff, students and University-sponsored guests should ensure their cell phone information is updated in Banner to receive text messaging. For additional help, please see this ITS FAQ.
  • Situational Awareness/Incident Management Software Implementation: OEM finalized the purchase and implemented a situational awareness/incident management software tool (VEOCI) for use by the Incident Management Team (IMT) and Policy Group during emergency events/incidents.