Campus Safety

The NSU Public Safety Department (PSD) is led by an experienced executive team with expertise in law enforcement, crime prevention, investigations, employee management, physical security, and large-scale incident command. NSU's Public Safety officers are unarmed employees who work with support from local police department officers and contract security. These officers are responsible for patrolling the NSU Fort Lauderdale/Davie Campus and other NSU campuses. Contracted security services fall under the command of the Field Operations Division of Public Safety and are subject to all Public Safety standards, established policies, and procedures.

The PSD operates 24/7/365 and includes five divisions:

1. Support Services: 11 division employees to coordinate administrative/training functions needed.

2. Physical Security (Locksmith): 6 division employees maintain and control physical security locks and other types of building access.

3. Field Operations: 83 Public Safety Officers and first-line supervisors (“Coordinators”).

4. Communications: 17 division employees responsible for operating the Security Operations Center (SOC). See full details about SOC scope and operation below.

5. Emergency Management: 1 employee coordinates emergency plans and response of the department.

To strengthen crime prevention on campus, the PSD staff provides several informational instructions each month to students, new employees, resident advisers, and staff regarding safety and security.

This 24/7/365 operation receives all telephone communications from the public for assistance and reports of criminal activity on all NSU campuses. The SOC is responsible for Public Safety radio communications and officer dispatches to service calls. The SOC monitors approximately 1,600 video cameras and views for safety and crime prevention/identification purposes; issues clearance access to NSU Shark Cards; and monitors access control points such as card readers, fire alarms, elevator access, and campus elevator emergency phones.

The Public Safety Emergency telephones (“Blue Light Phones”) are advertised throughout the university and are located at strategic locations on-campus. They provide both emergency and non-emergency communication and video camera views for the SOC, especially in an emergency.

NSU has developed a suite of Emergency Operations Plans (EOP) that provide a template for colleges and units from throughout the University to develop an emergency plan that provides the direction that their unit will require prior to, during, and in the recovery phase of any emergency. With the support of the EOP, NSU MD has an emergency plan that provides guidelines for communication and procedures in the event of a crisis.