NCSAM 2023 Virtual Summit: Rebuilding Safety on Campus
Clery Center’s 2023 National Campus Safety Awareness Month Virtual Summit explored how to rebuild and enhance the feeling of safety on campus in a post-pandemic culture dealing with budget cuts, mental health crises, and divergences between safety practices and public perception. We brought together higher education and campus safety leaders and stakeholders from around the country to discuss how to foster innovation, prioritize the well-being and security of campus communities holistically, address growing mental health concerns, and more via interviews, panels, and discussion groups — view the full agenda below.
This year's summit also featured a Clery Center Member-exclusive pre-summit event — details below!
As with all of our National Campus Safety Awareness Month events and resources, the summit was completely free. Registration was required.
Member Innovation Pre-Summit: Securing Funding for New Initiatives
September 13 • 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM ET
Megan S. Koeth M.P.A., M.S., Executive Director of Public Safety, Case Western Reserve University
Dr. Lynsey Listau, Executive Director, Institutional Equity & Student Conduct, Pensacola State College
This Member-exclusive workshop helped participants navigate the real challenge of fiscal austerity and shrinking budgets for universities. The National Campus Safety Awareness Month (NCSAM) Summit highlights innovative ideas, initiatives and programs, and many institutions may be struck with inspiration without the financial support needed to undertake similar endeavors. This session explored how to engage with budget managers, financial officers, and upper level administrators to help make the case for securing funding for initiatives to help rebuild a feeling of safety on campus.
This event was free and exclusive to Clery Center Members.
Interested in becoming a NCSAM or Clery Center sponsor? Contact [email protected] with the subject line: Sponsorship.
NCSAM 2023 Agenda
Thursday, September 14 | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET
11:00 – 11:15 AM ET
Welcome
11:15 AM – 12:30 PM ET
Embedding Mental Health Intervention Into Daily Campus Safety Work
Dr. Jennifer Howes, Chief Mental Health Director for Student Health and Well-Being, Johns Hopkins University
Jarron Jackson, Assistant Vice President JHU Public Safety, Johns Hopkins University
Todd M. Justesen, Associate Director of Clery Programming & Compliance, University of Utah
Kurt Michael, Ph.D., Senior Clinical Director, The Jed Foundation
Mental health issues continue to be a major concern for colleges and universities. With rising levels of stress and anxiety for students and staff, and marginalized identities and experiences receiving a disproportionate amount of support, providing mental health intervention regularly is even more necessary, not just when an emergency requires it. Attendees will hear from experts about rising trends in mental health challenges for higher education students today, how mental health affects perceptions of safety on campus, and best practices for integrating mental health concerns and trauma-informed response into the campus safety net, so that campus community members can get the support they need before a crisis moment occurs.
12:30 – 1:45 PM ET
Gaps Between Safety and Perception
Dr. Haley Baum, Assistant Vice President for Student Advocacy, Belonging & Campus Standards and Dean of Students, Stockton University
Justin Soumas, Lieutenant, Kutztown University
Ayana Wallace Vieux, Training & Technical Assistance Manager, Ujima Inc., The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community
Yusra Hassan, Student & Clery Center Intern
This session will feature a panel of experts discussing the issues that cause a gap between the services campus safety professionals offer and the perceptions of those services by students, employees, and families, as well as effective strategies to close this gap. Join the conversation to hear real feedback from campus employees and parents regarding their experiences and concerns with safety measures and related communications. We’ll identify systemic barriers to reporting, explore the perceptions surrounding prevalent security issues, and identify promising practices for bridging the gap between safety and the perception of safety on campus.
1:45 – 2:00 PM ET
Break
2:00 – 2:30 PM ET
Campus Safety Impact Award Program Highlight
Ana Bowens, Assistant Director, UC San Diego, Student Affairs Case Management Services
Diana Joy Go, Intake and Operations Coordinator, UC San Diego, Student Affairs Case Management Services
Andrew Hua, Director, UC San Diego, Student Affairs Case Management Services
Award Presenter: Maureen S. Rush, M.S. CCP, Principal, The Rush Group, LLC, Safety and Security
Join us in recognizing and highlighting innovation in the profession of campus safety. Clery Center’s Campus Safety Impact Award highlights a program or initiative at an institution of higher education that demonstrates innovation, collaboration, and equity in enhancing safety on campus. Learn about 2023’s winning program, how it is creating meaningful impact and change in its campus community, and how the program was developed and implemented.
2:30 – 3:30 PM ET
Moderated Discussion with Jim Moore
Jim Moore, Senior Advisor for Clery Act Compliance and Campus Safety, U.S. Department of Education
Session Sponsor: International Ombuds Association
Jim Moore, Senior Advisor for Clery Act Compliance and Campus Safety at the U.S. Department of Education will be discussing interactions and how institutions can effectively respond and work with the Department during program reviews and other curated topics.
3:30 – 4:00 PM ET
Clery Center: The Heart of Campus Safety
Jessica A. Mertz, Executive Director, Clery Center
Since our founding over 35 years ago, Clery Center has been dedicated to increasing transparency and advancing conversations about campus safety. Through our partnerships with campuses and leaders across the country we have had the unique opportunity to build coalitions and identify the shared needs of campus communities. In this session, we will reflect on the work we have been doing to create safer campuses through education, training and policy advocacy, and invite you to help inform our work moving forward.
4:00 – 4:55 PM ET
Closing Keynote: Honoring the Legacy of Loved Ones
Anne Seymour, Associate Academic Program Director, National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center
In the aftermath of many violent crimes, survivors and communities seek ways to honor victims who have been murdered and physically or emotionally injured, and promote healing for individuals and communities as a whole. This interactive session will explore successful strategies based upon the experiences of the facilitator and survivors that emphasize and honor the legacy of loved ones and promote survivor-centered remembrance.
4:55 – 5:00 PM ET
Closing Remarks