Campus security

Our team has spent decades designing security programs for some of the nation’s most respected higher education institutions. We understand the realities of protecting students, faculty, and staff across large, decentralized campuses, while preserving an open, welcoming environment. We begin by understanding each campus’ unique security needs through a thorough risk assessment. Then, we work collaboratively with leadership – including campus police, facilities, and student affairs – to implement a program that addresses the security needs, builds a safer campus, and supports the student experience.

Workforce stability is critical in higher education environments, where campus security officers become familiar faces to students, faculty, and staff. We recruit individuals who can work with professionalism and care, communicate clearly, and confidently resolve issues. We support our officers with competitive compensation and benefits, ongoing higher education-specific training, and career opportunities, including our global Melker Schörling Scholarship that gives frontline professionals the opportunity to expand their knowledge and gain experience in an international setting. Our on-site leaders stay actively engaged, providing daily supervision and support, so performance expectations are clear and consistent. 

Campus security officers serve as a visible, reassuring presence for students, many of whom are living away from home for the first time and navigating new social dynamics, academic expectations, and stressors. Officers monitor the safety of people and property, respond to emergencies, and are trained to recognize warning signs, document concerns, and escalate matters appropriately – whatever the circumstance. They may staff academic buildings and residence hall desks, manage access control and ID verification, oversee visitor management and screening, and/or patrol campus by foot, bike, or vehicle. Their role is ultimately to support and connect students and staff to the right campus resources, while respecting the boundaries of their authority.

Officers complete specialized training for higher education, which focuses on de-escalation, emergency preparedness and response, conflict management, protest response, customer service and communication, and effective student interaction. Training also centers on Clery Act, Title IX, and scenario-based exercises tailored to academic environments.

Officers are trained in Clery reporting obligations and understand their role as campus security authorities, helping to ensure accurate and timely documentation of reportable incidents. In Title IX situations, they focus on documenting information accurately and promptly escalating it to the designated campus office, while providing safety and support.

Each campus security program is supported by dedicated on-site leadership and executive oversight to provide consistency and accountability. We establish defined KPIs – such as fill rates, response times, incident reporting accuracy, training completion rates, turnover levels, supervisor engagement frequency, and client satisfaction measures – along with a structured process for corrective action and ongoing improvement. Incident reporting platforms, guard tour tracking, and integration with university systems provide campus leadership visibility into staffing levels, response activity, and overall program effectiveness.

Risk intelligence shifts the focus from response to prevention. By identifying patterns, monitoring emerging threats, and analyzing trends, higher education institutions can intervene earlier and make informed decisions before issues escalate.

Many campuses benefit from a blended approach, leveraging on-site campus security officers, mobile patrol, and remote guarding. This layered model increases visibility while improving efficiency across large geographic areas.

Absolutely. We act as an extension of your team, providing collaborative support for policy enforcement, emergency coordination, and student engagement initiatives.

We deploy advanced remote video surveillance, alarm monitoring, access control, and incident management systems. Supported by our 24/7 Securitas Operations Center (SOC), we help ensure visibility and rapid response across the entire campus, even during overnight or holiday periods.