Thank you for stopping by to learn more about the Commission for Campus Safety & Emergency Preparedness. Take some time to look through our content and don’t hesitate to share how you’d like to get involved. Use the menu below to jump to a section of interest.
Please contact us at CCSEP@acpa.nche.edu or connect with the members of our Directorate Body with questions or ideas.
who we are
goals & objectives
Our group’s main goals and objectives are and continue to be:
Contribute to knowledge and best practices
- Increase knowledge, accessibility, visibility and research on topics of campus safety and emergency preparedness.
- Identify and promote best practices relating to campus safety and emergency preparedness.
- Assist in developing a body of research in the areas of campus safety and emergency preparedness in higher education.
- Become the clearing house for resources, research and best practices for topics of campus safety and emergency preparedness in higher education.
Provide practical skills
- Provide training opportunities on Campus Safety topical areas including but not limited to: fire safety, sexual assault, security awareness and education, alcohol, illegal drugs, hate crime reporting, environmental health and safety issues, town/gown relationships, disruptive and threatening student behavior.
- Provide training opportunities on emergency preparedness topical areas including but not limited to: emergency response response teams, timely emergency notifications, behavioral assessment teams, threat assessment teams, missing student notification, emergency response to natural disasters, technological disaster response, environmental health and safety issues, continuity of business, operations and data planning, pandemic planning, media response, incident command, case management, NIMS certification, Homeland Security guidelines, and working with city based first responders.
- Provide practical skills building for various levels of staff who are first responders and supports in a campus emergency.
Provide professional development opportunities
- Offer a forum through which college and university professionals can connect with a network of institutions and peers to discuss issues of campus safety and emergency preparedness electronically or in person.
- Contribute to the annual conference through offering programs and events thus contributing to the overall mission of ACPA.
- Help college and university professionals to understand the collaborative partners in place relating to campus safety and emergency preparedness.
- Provide networking for professionals by response role on campus
- Provide a forum for professionals conducting research to share their information and resources.
Our efforts to meet these goals are multi-faceted and include research, convention opportunities, and of course, assisting in response to many of the timely issues that arise on our campuses and communities around these topics.
Commission history
The Commission for Campus Safety and Emergency Preparedness began in July 2011 as a way to bring together ACPA members who are working in this emerging area that requires specialized knowledge, skills, abilities and training. It is our goal to provide resources, knowledge, skills development and networking for professionals both new and seasoned working with Campus Safety and Emergency Preparedness. The Commission was officially founded in Fall 2011 (as a Task Force) and held it’s first Directorate Meeting and Open Business Meeting at the 2012 Convention in Louisville. In the fall of 2014, our proposal for full Commission status was approved by ACPA.
ACTIVITIES
Create a clearing house of Campus Safety and Emergency Preparedness research and resources for colleges and universities.
Utilize webinars to offer trainings on relevant topics
Develop position papers and summaries on current trends and issues such as handgun and concealed carry legislation in various states.
Identify topical training areas to go in depth for pre-conference sessions and/or institutes.
Develop collaborative partnerships with other organizations.
News & Updates
Campus Safety & Emergency Preparedness Resources
National Center for Higher Education and Risk Management (NCHERM) www.ncherm.org NCHERM is a law and consulting firm that is dedicated to best practices for campus health and safety. NCHERM is a repository for systems-level approaches and models that will enhance and...
upcoming events
There are no upcoming events at this time.
Meet the Directorate
Mitch Nassar
Vice Chair for Research, Scholarship, & Practice
Megan Heckel
Vice Chair for Research, Scholarship, & Practice
Get Involved
Campus safety and emergency preparedness efforts affect many of our roles in student affairs and thus, we welcome all members to get involved and connected with our work. Professionals working in the following areas may find particular benefits in joining: Housing and Residential Life, Campus Safety, Dean of Students, Risk Management, Faculty Members, Human Resources, Facilities and Operations, Student Unions, and Counseling Services.
Ready to join?
Joining an Entity through the ACPA Member Portal automatically identifies you as a member of that Entity! You will begin to receive Entity communications through their respective email listserv and have access to any resources they share!
- Login to your ACPA Member Account
- Click on Community Groups (Chatter)
- Click Groups
- Click Active Groups
- Find the entity you want to join and within that group, click +Join
Contact ccsep@acpa.nche.edu, to learn more about ACPA’s Commission for Campus Safety & Emergency Preparedness!
- Join our listserv (sign up under “my profile” in the ACPA membership area)
- Attend our open business meeting at the annual ACPA convention
- Review conference programs for the annual convention
- Submit a sponsored program proposal for the annual convention
- Host a webinar
- Submit a proposal for a paper to be published on our website
- Tell us how CCSEP can help you in your professional journey
Ccsep Awards
Every year, the Commission for Assessment & Evaluation recognizes dedicated assessment professionals at convention. The open nominations process allows professionals across the field to nominate themselves and others for recognition of their service.
Outstanding Contribution to Campus Safety and Emergency Preparedness
The Outstanding Contribution to Campus Safety and Emergency Preparedness Award honors an individual who has demonstrated significant involvement in the development of an exceptional program, service, or piece of scholarship in the area of campus safety or emergency preparedness. Contributions must have resulted in a positive impact at the departmental, institutional, or association level. Any ACPA member may submit a nomination, but only ACPA CCSEP members are eligible to receive the award.
Distinguished Service to the Commission for Campus Safety and Emergency Preparedness
The Distinguished Service to the Task Force for Campus Safety and Emergency Preparedness (CCSEP) Award honors an individual who has displayed exemplary service to the Commission; going above and beyond ordinary expectations in terms of dedicated time, energy, and contributions. The recipient should demonstrate an ongoing dedication to the mission and goals of the Commission, uphold professional standards, and positively represent the Commission and ACPA. Any ACPA member may submit a nomination, but only ACPA CCSEP members are eligible to receive the award.