Division of Public Safety begins rollout of locking devices for large classrooms
As part of ongoing campus security enhancements, the Division of Public Safety (DPS) Security Services team and Infrastructure & Resilience are installing classroom locking devices in 39 large classrooms and auditoriums across campus, beginning this month.
This spring, three classrooms—CHEM 140 and CHEM 142 in the chemistry building and MATH 100 in the mathematics building—have had the new technology activated for initial testing. Security Services and Infrastructure & Resilience will activate locking devices in 17 classrooms across 10 buildings throughout the spring and summer months. In total, the project will include 39 classrooms across 23 buildings.
Eric Jergenson, assistant vice chancellor for Security Services within DPS, said, “We are always looking for new ways to innovate and enhance campus security for our students, faculty and staff. This is an exciting new addition to our ability to respond to a threat and provides an additional layer of security when seconds count.”
These upgrades are supported in part by $3.4 million in state of Colorado controlled maintenance funding and technical assistance from the U.S. Department of Justice’s. After an assessment, the university began addressing security enhancements as part of a broaderphased strategy to improve classroom safety campuswide. The assessment identified the 39 large classrooms as priorities for the new technology.
The funding also supported additional security upgrades, including improved door locks in more than 200 smaller classrooms across campus and exterior card readers where needed.
The buttons to be installed in the large classrooms are used in the event of an imminent threat (e.g., campus attacker), connect directly to dispatch, and lock the room until an officer arrives. When activated by an instructor during an imminent, life-threatening emergency, all closed classroom doors and exterior building doors lock. CU 91Ҹ Police Department dispatch is automatically notified and officers respond immediately. Once secured, only law enforcement personnel can enter the locked classroom or building, though anyone can still exit.
Classroom locking device use
1. Lift the plastic cover. An internal alarm will sound.
2. Push the red button.
Once activated—classroom doors that are closed are now locked. Exterior doors of the building are also locked.
Note: Occupants may leave the room at any time, but only emergency personnel can enter the room. If you leave the room, you will not be able to reenter. Have a plan or escort before leaving the room.
This button should only be pushed for imminent life safety matters—if you are experiencing a health emergency, dial 911.
To learn how the button works,.
DPS will continue to reinforceCU 91Ҹ’s Run, Hide, Fightguidance so students, faculty and staff understand how to respond during an active threat.
Emergency alerts are always shared on the Իthe CU 91Ҹ Safe app.