Northern Arizona University is committed to providing a safe and healthy learning and working environment.  To accomplish that, it is important to remember, crime prevention is everyone’s responsibility.  Collectively our best tools continue to be accurate and timely threat assessments and meaningful intervention, sound institutional policies and procedures, education and prevention programs, and up-to-date emergency response plans and procedures.  Let’s review each of these areas briefly.

• Accurate and timely threat assessment and meaningful intervention begins with each one of us taking responsibility to alert others when necessary and to follow through in action, even when it’s uncomfortable or worrisome to do so at times.  It requires all of us to report threats, efforts to intimidate or any other type of alarming behavior to appropriate university officials as soon as possible once an incident has occurred. 

    Whether in the classroom, or other work area, if you feel that potential harm to yourself or others is   
    imminent or could happen at sometime in the very near future, please contact the University Police
    immediately at their emergency number (928) 523-3000.

    If you have observed or been the recipient of behavior which is disruptive or unusually awkward, rude,
    or inappropriate, yet doesn’t require the University Police’s immediate involvement, please feel free to
    consult with staff in the office of Student Life at (928) 523-5181.

    Employee Assistance and Wellness, Human Resources , Faculty Ombuds, Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity
    the Counseling and Testing Center and the University Police are other excellent resources to
    discuss how to deal with a difficult student, colleague, or campus guests.

    And always remember to involve your supervisor, or in their absence, department head, dean or vice-
    president to insure that all appropriate university personnel are aware and can help optimize our
    response to a wide continuum of challenging and sometimes fear provoking situations. 

    University supervisors and other aforementioned officials are committed to follow up on sensitive matters
    brought to their attention.  Collectively we do make a positive difference.  To review personal Safety
    Tips visit the University Police website and learn how to enhance your own safety. 

• The Classroom Management Statement , the Student Code of Conduct , the Weapons and Violence in the Workplace Policy, Safety Policy and the Safe Working and Learning Environment Policy each articulate important standards of appropriate conduct for our community.
  
• The Employee Assistance and Wellness Office and the University Police Department offer the “Prevention of Workplace Violence ” workshop.  In addition University Police personnel facilitate Personal Safety Workshops and Site Security Surveys which utilize the principles of crime prevention through environmental assessment.   University Police also conduct a campus lighting and emergency phone location review each semester.  The Associated Students for Women’s Issues (ASWI) sponsors the Student Education Team, a student group dedicated to educating students on the prevention of relationship violence and sexual assault/violence.  Certainly the Ombuds Office, Employee Assistance and Wellness, Human Resources, and the University Counseling Center have all coordinated training programs on Anger Management and Conflict Resolution.  The Office of Faculty Development sponsors workshops on managing disruptive students in the classroom.

• For some time now, the university has utilized an Incident Management Plan to assist us in responding to and recovering from emergency situations.  The university has a standing Incident Management Team to review and update our response capabilities to emergency situations. 

Each of us can contribute to the safety of our community through increased awareness and consultation.  Being alert to changes in behavior and other key signs and symptoms of difficulty in our students and our colleagues allows for early and effective intervention.  You may find a list of signs and symptoms under Workplace Violence.  These signs do not necessarily indicate an individual will become violent.  It is important to realize that these signs can result from many types of problems and it is critical to access professional consultation if an individual exhibits behaviors that create concern.

We have several offices with staff trained to provide assistance in assessment and intervention.  These offices are outlined below.  Faculty and staff who are concerned about a student or a colleague are encouraged to discuss their concerns with one of the offices listed below.  Appropriate consultation is the first step to a successful intervention.