When prospective students and families come to campus on an official visit to Grace Christian University, one of the first questions I receive when the parents and students are taking the tour might be, “How safe is your campus?” Over the course of many years, Grace Christian University has continued to make increases in our overall attention to our safety program. Many of our students are traveling many miles and hours to attend Grace, and it’s important that they and their parents have the peace of mind knowing that their student’s basic need of safety and protection is being met.
Recognition for Campus Safety
On those tours, I am excited to share that for the last 6 years, Grace Christian University has been ranked first or second within the State of Michigan with the “Safest Campus” award. It is through the diligence of our student safety team, our crisis management team, and our motto of “continual, gradual improvement daily” that pushes us forward in fostering a safe learning community where students, staff, and faculty can focus on building transformational relationships with one another.
Balancing Hospitality and Safety
Throughout the years, we continue to find the balance between desiring to be hospitable to our greater Wyoming community and fortifying our campus and buildings to ensure safety for all. Because of our intimate size and community relationships, it is easy to see when something may need to be taken care of from a safety standpoint. When asked about campus safety at Grace, Student Body President Jace Systema stated:
“I appreciate that we have such a tight-knit community. Staff and students can see and report when something is out of place.”
Jace’s comments speak to our “see something, say something” policy.
Enhanced Security Measures
While Grace’s residence halls have been following the 24/7 exterior door locks for many years, the rest of our buildings have recently made the move to lock all exterior doors 24 hours per day, 7 days per week as well. Our entire Grace Family carries our scan cards/IDs when we traverse around campus. This change has been appreciated by all members of our community as we look to create stronger barriers between our educational community and the surrounding neighborhood.
Another change to help ensure safety on campus is that our faculty are now locking the classroom doors when classes are in session. This move was almost unanimously voted for approval by the faculty as we began the FA24 semester. Our students and staff have quickly grown accustomed to the safety changes to the classroom model of safety and have been appreciated by all.
Chapel Safety Improvements
Furthermore, safety changes were made to our chapel experiences as well. Each week, Grace hosts chapel experiences on our campus for our Grace Family in Baker Chapel as well as other chapel experiences around campus. Chapel exterior doors are locked during chapel time, with safety team members opening and closing doors for those who must come and go. This change has helped our constituents to focus solely on this “set aside time” to grow closer together as a community of believers who are chasing after Christ.
Safety as a Foundation for Mission
Campus safety helps to serve our Grace community by eliminating barriers and obstacles that may get in the way of Grace continuing to graduate courageous ambassadors for Christ who make an eternal impact wherever they go.
Personalized Support from Campus Safety
Every department leans in to the personalized focus Grace gives to each student and the needs they have. One way that the campus safety team helps to provide that personal experience is by being a phone call away from driving a student from one side of campus to the other on our safety golf cart when someone is in need or is concerned to walk alone in the evening.
Educating Students on Safety Practices
Every year, our campus safety team will be in communication with our student body about the best ways to stay safe within and around our campus. Because our campus is tucked into a quiet neighborhood, we do have some foot traffic by outside visitors who live in close proximity to us. We desire to teach our students how to be good neighbors while staying safe.
Tips for Staying Safe on Campus
There are many articles that can be found regarding safety on any campus that apply to us, like this one written in 2023 by the U.S. News & World Report. Direct instructions to remove opportunities from people desiring to do harm to us or our property include but are not limited to:
- Keeping valuables on one’s person or in a residential hall
- Lock vehicle doors and park in well-lit areas such as our campus parking lots
- Do not prop campus doors
- Walk with a friend after the sun sets
- Be aware of campus services
- Report any suspicious activity
Collaboration with Local Law Enforcement
While students may call the campus safety service number at any time, we are also thankful for the Wyoming Police Department, their close proximity to campus (90 seconds), and their desire to help us to keep our campus safe. Many of our criminal justice degree seekers find that being a cadet with the Wyoming Police Department during their undergrad often blossoms into a full-time career offer upon graduation.
Commitment to Safety for All Students
Whether our students are commuters or residential undergraduate students, we desire to take care of our students’ basic need of safety and are proud of the steps of safety taken and the hours of diligent work completed daily to ensure safety across our beautiful campus.
