MnSCU launches personal safety curriculum for students, faculty and staff

A new personal safety curriculum was launched today to enhance the security of students, faculty and staff at the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.

“This is another major step to raise the level of safety and security on our campuses and to help students, faculty and staff know what to do in an emergency,” said Don Beckering, the system’s director of fire, emergency medical services and safety training. An emergency notification system, known as Star Alert, has been available on all 54 system campuses since 2008.

The curriculum includes “Stay Safe at College,” a comprehensive video training program created by 360° Stay Safe, a St. Paul-based company. The program helps individuals take responsibility for their safety and security by offering techniques for avoiding and handling dangerous situations. Topics include active shooter situations, theft, identity theft, stalking, assaults, emotional abuse, emerging online threats, travel risks and common hazards typically overlooked.

“Campus safety and security are everyone’s responsibility and often a little knowledge and some easily learned skills can help prevent or thwart a crime,” said Tracy Worsley, the system’s emergency preparedness manager. Designed to be engaging and compelling for college students, the curriculum takes about 90 minutes to complete.

Besides the Stay Safe videos, the curriculum includes two 20-minute videos, “Shots Fired on Campus” and “Flashpoint on Campus - Recognizing and Preventing Violence on Campus,” developed by the Center for Personal Protection and Safety, a national educational institution.

Officials on each campus will determine how the curriculum will be disseminated. Some campuses may make it available through Web portals while others may use it during student or employee orientation sessions or class presentations.