Utah Board of Higher Education Approves More Than 25 Campus Safety Recommendations
The systemwide plan addresses threat management, emergency response, facilities and post-incident communications.
- By Danielle Naidu
- October 05, 2026
The Utah Board of Higher Education approved more than 25 campus safety recommendations for the state's public colleges and universities. Presidents will report their progress by July 2027. The board also voted to prepare a funding request for the 2027 Legislative General Session.
The recommendations, which address human-caused and natural emergencies, cover behavioral threat intervention and management; safety of events, facilities and operations; emergency procedures for campus communities and response professionals; and communication, debriefing and continuous improvement following an emergency.
The board formed the Utah System of Higher Education Campus Safety Task Force after the assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. The task force drew on the Standard Response Protocol and the Avoid, Deny, Defend model for active threats. The Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education also examined the independent external review of the events surrounding the assassination and ensured the recommendations were consistent with it.
About the Author
Danielle Naidu is assistant editor for Security Today, Campus Security Today, Occupational Health & Safety and Environmental Protection Online.