Date: 02/18/2008

The recent shootings at Northern Illinois University are a reminder to all of us of the security concerns we face on college campuses, which are by their very nature and mission open gathering places. Please be assured San José State's top priority is the safety of the university community. For many years, extensive measures have been in place to secure the campus -- measures that include building our sense of community and responsibility for the welfare of all students and employees, as well as comprehensive plans and procedures for responding to all disasters, both natural and manmade.

What can you do to help? Experts say the most important thing we can do is care about the people around us. That means taking the time to really know and bond with one another, and to offer support in good times and bad. While we all can do this, there are times when professional assistance may be needed. Please remember the university offers free and confidential counseling to all students and employees.

• SJSU Counseling Services, primarily for students, can be reached at 408-924-5910 or Admin 201 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
• The university's employee assistance program, CONCERN: EAP, can be reached at 1-800-344-4222.

In addition, remember that although student and employee privacy must be respected, the law allows you to contact authorities with concerns about individuals in danger of hurting themselves or others.

• The University Police Department, Division of Student Affairs, Office of the Provost, and Human Resources are all ready to help.
• San José State also offers an Internet-based confidential reporting system, MySafeCampus, for campus issues including dangerous conditions. Learn more.

Also, think now about preparing for emergencies. The University Police Department's Annual Safety Report includes detailed information and instructions for employees and students facing a wide range of dangers. Reviewing this guidance now may give you the information you need to save lives later.

• Read the University Police Department's Annual Safety Report, including guidance for employees and students in the event of a shooting.
• Keep in mind that security experts say flexibility is critical. In a crisis, all of us will need to assess our surroundings and respond accordingly.

Meanwhile, the university will continue updating its emergency plans and procedures. SJSU is augmenting its alert-and-warning capabilities by procuring public-address and exterior-door lockdown systems. These systems will be phased in over the next year. The university also has the capacity to e-mail and telephone all employees, and to e-mail all students through their MySJSU computer accounts. Please consider updating the e-mail account the university uses to contact you.

• If you are an employee, learn how to forward messages from your SJSU account to a personal account. If you need help, ask your office's desktop support technician, who will contact University Computing and Telecommunications if needed.
• If you are a student, update your preferred e-mail address by logging into MySJSU and clicking the "Edit E-mail" link in the "Personal Information" section of the Student Center.

All of these improvements will enhance the university's existing safety measures. SJSU has long had its own police force, which employs 29 sworn officers trained to respond to all emergencies including active shooters. For the most timely and extensive information available during a campus emergency, check SJSU's homepage. Other sources of information include SJSU's emergency hotline (408-924-SJSU), radio station (KSJS 90.5 FM) and the major media, including Bay Area radio and television stations.