WHEREAS, Studies indicate that 41% of college students know a victim of property crime on campus and 22% report being victims themselves of crimes including robbery, theft, sexual assault or battery, burglary, and fraud[1];
WHEREAS, inadequate safety measures deter students from enrolling in or attending evening courses due to concerns for personal safety, creating inequitable barriers particularly for working students and those with daytime responsibilities[2]; and
WHEREAS, Unsafe campus environments negatively affect students' academic performance [4] [5], attendance, and mental health, thereby undermining community colleges' commitment to accessible and inclusive education for all; Now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges develop and disseminate a campus safety best-practices toolkit for local student governments—outlining strategies for advocating for improved lighting, security camera placement, campus patrols, and escort programs in collaboration with college administrations and campus safety departments;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges conduct or support a statewide survey of community college students regarding campus safety concerns, perceptions, and incident experiences, and publish an annual report to inform local advocacy, resource allocation, and policy development;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges advocate for an increase in campus patrols, particularly during high-traffic and evening hours, focusing on paths and areas where students commonly walk; and be it further; and
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges advocate for increased funding allocated directly from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office to each individual community college, specifically designated for the implementation of campus safety measures based on the unique needs of each campus, including but not limited to lighting, surveillance infrastructure, patrol services, escort programs, and transportation-related safety improvements, with particular attention to evening students, students who rely on public transportation, and disproportionately impacted student populations.
Citations:
[1]https://www.proquest.com/docview/1876050992?pq-origsite=gscholar&fromop…
[2]https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8002666/
[3]https://consortiacademia.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/m13v04/M25515_fina…
[4] https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1265973.pdf
[5]https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/safe-schools-thriving-stude…