The following is a message to the 91ÑÇÉ« community from Samina Sami, executive director, Community Safety Department:
I would like to take this opportunity to update you on the implementation of Safer Together, the CommunityÌýSafety Department’s Strategic Plan.
The plan was developed following pan-University consultations where students, faculty and staff shared their key priorities and needs through a multi-channel consultation process that included town halls, interviews, surveys and in-person meetings. More than 7,000 people were engaged during the consultation process.
91ÑÇɫ’s CommunityÌýSafetyÌýCouncil also played an important role in these consultations.
The plan was guided and informed by the presidential pillars of accessibility, connectedness, excellence and impact. 91ÑÇɫ’s core values of inclusion and sustainability are the cornerstones for theÌý.
Safer TogetherÌýis your plan, it reflects your input.ÌýI encourage you to take the time to become acquainted with it. We are now in the process of implementing many of theÌýsafetyÌýinitiatives recommended byÌýcommunityÌýmembers.
The following are some of the actions we have already taken and some of what we will implement over the next twelve months:
- Continued collaboration withÌýcommunityÌýpartners on educational initiativesÌýlike theÌýbystander campaigns, developed throughÌýcommunityÌýcollaboration, for supporting a culture in which everyone is involved inÌýsafetyÌýand looking out for one another. While enhancingÌýsafetyÌýon our campuses, these initiatives help to promote inclusion and denounce discrimination and hate.
- Enhancements to perimeter door access systems in buildings throughout 91ÑÇɫ’s campuses continue to be implemented. Progress is ongoing with a significant number of buildings already completed.
- An updatedÌýstreamlined emergency notification systemÌýhas been developed and tested and will roll out this fall.
- SignageÌýhas been installed across our campuses to identifyÌýevacuation assembly areas.ÌýWe are currently developingÌýtraining videosÌýon evacuation procedures and other variousÌýsafetyÌýsituations.
- With the assistance of our Emergency Preparedness Advisory Committee, 91ÑÇɫ’sÌýEmergency Plan and Policy are being updated.ÌýThese important documents will be finalized over the next few months and will be shared with ourÌýcommunity.
- Investments inÌýsafetyÌýinfrastructure enhancementsÌýat Glendon College have been made and this fall we will be launching the GlendonÌýCommunityÌýSafetyÌýWorking GroupÌýto ensure that there is a continued focus on the unique priorities for Glendon College.
- Video surveillance guidelinesÌýhave been developed to ensure that we are following best practices in our use of CCTV cameras on our campuses. These guidelines can be found on theÌý.
In the upcoming year, we will continue to work closely with theÌýÌýon implementing the strategic plan, which will include the development of aÌýsafetyÌýsurvey.
TheÌýCommunityÌýSafetyÌýDepartment provides several supports and servicesÌýto help keep ourÌýcommunityÌýsafe, among them:
- Ìýprovides 24/7 service throughout the year, responding to over 1,900 calls for service on an annual basis, including support for health emergencies.
- Ìýis a free service that helpsÌýcommunityÌýmembers get to and from any location on campus in the evenings, supportingÌýover 7,000 users every year.
- Ìýare conducted for hundreds of on-campus events, including Orientation Week.
To learn more about all our supports and services, visit ourÌý.
In closing, I would like to sincerely thank all those who took time out of their busy schedules to be a part of this very important collaborative process.
Please do not hesitate to contact me or other members of theÌýCommunityÌýSafety Department if you have any suggestions or ideas. Your input is always appreciated.