University of Florida to Spend $30 Million on Safety Plan

University of Florida to Spend $30 Million on Safety Plan

The University of Florida is implementing a new safety and security plan, which will cost the university about $30 million over the next five years.

  • By Jessica Davis
  • June 27, 2019

The University of Florida is implementing a new safety and security plan, which will cost the university about $30 million over the next five years, according to Vice President for Business Affairs Curtis Reynolds.

The plan includes campus safety improvements like safer access to buildings, more than 1,700 new surveillance cameras and license plate readers placed at about 20 campus entry locations, Reynolds said. The funds will be divided by capital projects, staffing and a facility renovation.

“UF’s desire is to ensure a safe campus environment,” Reynolds said.

University Police Lt. Kristy Sasser said the safety improvements are spurred by a growing population of students and faculty, as opposed to a rise in crime on campus.

“I think it's more of a general look at what we can expect moving forward with the changes in numbers for population and taking a look at how we can best serve our community,” Sasser said. “And what financially that will take as far as police officers and our resources.”

Reynolds said the cameras will be maintained by campus security, which will add to its staff as needed.

There are currently more than 1,500 street lights on campus, 900 surveillance cameras in use and 2,400 access control card readers on 116 buildings on campus, he said. The school’s Nighttime Auxiliary Patrol services, which offer free transportation to students at night to ensure safety, now has eight vans.

UF is putting this plan in place to ensure that students, faculty, staff and visitors remain safe on campus after dark.

In addition to these security measures, the university will build a new $20 million University PD facility, which will be separate from the spending of the safety plan, Reynolds said. The new building will not be part of the campus safety spending but will improve safety, he said.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

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