Understanding Students\u27 Perceptions of Campus Safety at a Florida University

AbstractThere is a national problem with campus safety (CS) at universities and colleges in the United States. Research on this topic has primary focused on the perceptions of faculty, staff, and administrators about CS, while the research including the perceptions of students is largely absent. It is important to investigate students\u27 perceptions of CS because an emotionally and physically safe campus is a basic need. The purpose of this qualitative intrinsic case study was to explore university students\u27 perceptions of CS and how safety procedures were documented in a southeastern U.S. state. Maslow\u27s hierarchy of needs theory related to safety guided this study. A purposeful sample of 10 students, who were at least 18 years old and currently enrolled at the research site, volunteered and participated in semistructured interviews and provided documents related to CS. Data were analyzed through coding and theme development. Key results revealed that students felt safe on campus, but only when walking in groups. Students believed that CS could be increased if more lighting, safety poles, physical security, and rides to cars were provided. Documented safety procedures were restricted to press releases about student opinions, an increase in police presence on campus, and the research site having the highest crime rates in the county and state, and all colleges in the state. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the institution\u27s stakeholders assess, implement, and manage the measures of CS for this institution. This endeavor may lead to positive social change if campus stakeholders discuss safety issues that continue on campus with students, faculty, and administrators and institute CS procedures that make students feel safer on campus, as well as the administration, staff, and faculty