Back to school season is just around the corner, and with it comes the ongoing, nuanced conversation about school safety. When discussing common threats or best practices in education security, it is important that security leaders have a comprehensive understanding of the campus they are protecting.

While some may think the differences between K-12 campuses and university campuses are minimal, in reality, there are key differences that security leaders must consider when securing their campus or campuses. To better understand these differences, I spoke with two leaders on the subject.

Doyle Syling, Chief of Safety and Security at Alamogordo Public Schools, began his career in law enforcement, where he became a school resource officer at Alamogordo High School. He later retired and went to work for Alamogordo Public Schools, starting as a security coordinator before rising to the Chief of Staff and eventually landing his current position as Chief of Safety and Security. Syling was instrumental in establishing the district’s own security division, which has now expanded to a department of 30 people. He is responsible for securing 13 campuses in the district, amounting to more than 1.2 million square feet.

Jill Renihan, Segment Development Manager for Education at Axis Communications, has more than three decades of experience working in public education in Florida. After the tragic Parkland shooting, she transitioned into school safety leadership. She spent six years advancing safety initiatives as the Director of Safe Schools for Hernando County School District.

Renihan states, “There are several key differences between K-12 and higher education security, including campus layout, demographics, and program complexity.”

What other core differences exist between higher education and K-12 security? I sat down with both Syling and Renihan to learn more about these contrasts in campus security.

Security: What are the greatest threats to school security, and how do you mitigate them?

Syling: Consistently throughout my career, and being involved in security in a public school district, I will tell you — I think the greatest threat that we face is apathy. Everybody wants security until it’s an inconvenience. It’s easy to develop and build a security culture, but maintaining that culture where everybody is alert, everybody has their eyes open, everybody has their ears open, everybody is executing policies with fidelity — that’s the challenge. I think the biggest challenge that we face is just the apathy that people show when they get comfortable. That’s when we start making mistakes.

Renihan: Higher education institutions face unique security challenges due to their open nature. Unlike K-12 campuses, which are often confined to a single building, colleges and universities typically span multiple facilities and public spaces. Additionally, university students often carry bags and other items that could potentially conceal threats.

To address these challenges, institutions should implement robust access control measures, such as intelligent video surveillance, intrusion detection systems and visitor management solutions. Additionally, conducting regular emergency drills and training exercises will better prepare staff and students for emergencies.

Another area of focus for campus security teams is student protest activity. Ensuring the safety of students while protecting their right to freedom of expression requires a delicate balance, especially when the potential involvement of outside groups heightens tensions. Effective communication, situational awareness, and collaboration with law enforcement agencies are crucial in mitigating potential risks without compromising the openness that defines campus life.

Security: Security on campus is important, but so is a sense of warmth and comfort. How do you ensure campuses are secure while not making students feel intimidated by security measures/protocols?

Syling: What I try to instill in my officers is that, No. 1, we treat people with respect. We attempt to build relationships. One of the things I’ve encouraged them to do is say “hello” and “good morning” to the students when they are walking into school through our weapons detection systems. And I noticed that most of the kids will answer.

While traditionally we were just kind of standing in locations and monitoring, now we’re having direct interactions with the students walking in. The students have even recognized certain officers and call them by name. So, while it’s a little more invasive environment having to walk through metal detectors, there’s also more interactions and more positive interactions that are occurring as well.

Renihan: Striking the right balance between security and a welcoming campus environment requires thoughtful design and implementation of security protocols. To achieve this, consider the following approaches:

• Design security features to blend seamlessly into the campus architecture, minimizing visual obtrusiveness.
• Ensure security personnel are approachable, visible and well-trained in student engagement, to foster trust rather than fear.
• Communicate security measures clearly and transparently, explaining their purpose and benefits to students
• Involve students in the development and review of security protocols to ensure their voices are heard and concerns addressed.
• Focus on proactive, preventative measures rather than solely reactive responses, creating a sense of safety without being overly restrictive.
• By taking a holistic approach to campus security, you can create an environment that feels both safe and welcoming.

There are several key differences between K-12 and higher education security, including campus layout, demographics, and program complexity.

Security: How can security leaders encourage students to be involved with campus security, especially in terms of a “see something, say something” mentality?

Syling: I think once again, that comes back to that respect and relationships. As students are getting comfortable with security officers, there’s some that they like. There’s some that they’ll speak to. That’s why treating people with respect in our interactions is so critical.

Renihan: To foster a culture of student involvement in campus security, leaders should engage directly with students. It’s important that conversations include more than just campus leaders by actively tapping into the unique perspectives all students bring to campus life. When students are given a voice, they are more likely to feel empowered and take ownership of their community’s wellbeing.

In order to encourage student participation, effective communication is key. Implementing alert systems and regular updates on emergency procedures keeps students informed and invested in maintaining campus safety. Transparency is also essential; establishing clear processes for reporting and investigating incidents builds trust and ensures that students feel their concerns will be taken seriously and addressed appropriately.

Different, Yet the Same

While securing a K-12 campus may require a different approach than securing a campus for higher education, at the end of the day, the essentials remain more or less the same.

Renihan remarks, “Despite these differences, there are key similarities between higher education and K-12 campuses. In both environments, threat assessment, risk management and incident prevention remain essential components of security strategies.”

Furthermore, both campus types experience greater security when partnering with local law enforcement.

“Close coordination with local law enforcement and emergency responders plays a critical role in maintaining a secure campus,” Renihan says. Therefore, knowing how to effectively communicate with law enforcement is an essential skill for all security leaders in the education sector.

Syling explains, “Proper communication is important, because schools have to comply with things such as Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). There are certain things that we can’t release. So, I think the most important thing is working with law enforcement upfront, explaining the complexities of the educational environment and the laws that we’re under.”

Effective communication with law enforcement can ensure that everyone understands their roles and limitations when it comes to protecting campuses.

The Bottom Line

Ultimately, what K-12 and higher education security leaders want is the exact same thing: to keep students safe. By understanding the differences and overlaps in K-12 and higher education campus security, security leaders can exchange insights and recognize how certain pieces of advice may — or may not — fit into their campus security plan.