Brock University’s Campus Security Services has changed its name to better reflect its ongoing commitment to safety.

Now known as Campus Safety Services (CSS), the unit continues to offer 24-hour service 365 days a year at Brock’s main campus, Hamilton campus and the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts in downtown St. Catharines.

“The main priority of Campus Safety Services is to ensure a supportive, inclusive and safe environment for everyone who learns, lives and works at Brock University, as well as our many visitors,” says CSS Director Donna Moody. “We work closely with all our internal departments at Brock along with our community and emergency responders that access our University to ensure the safety of the campus community. The new name speaks to that ongoing, and unwavering, commitment.”

CSS is comprised of full-time Brock staff members with Special Constable status, contract security guards, and communications dispatchers who monitor the University’s campuses, including its 800-plus CCTV cameras, and answer all calls for service.

The unit responds to more than 7,000 calls for service each year.

The uniform patches of Brock Campus Safety Services Special Constables have been redesigned with the University’s colour and crest.

Among the vital services offered by CSS is communication to the Brock community in the event of emergency situations, crime alerts and inclement weather forecasts. This past year, CSS upgraded its Mass Notification software and increased usage of the Brock Safety App, which now has more than 30,000 subscribers.

CSS also offers personalized safety plans for students, staff and faculty. Plans include many factors related to situational awareness, for both on and off campus and social media safety. Each plan is designed specifically for the student or employee and their individual circumstances.

In recent years, Campus Safety Services staff have increased training in crisis response; mental health support; human rights, equity, diversity and inclusion; advanced gender and sexual violence; and reconciliation. The unit works closely with the Campus Assessment, Response and Education team, Department of Residences and Student Affairs, and also conducts risk assessments, as required, to evaluate the safety of the Brock community.

The transition to Campus Safety Services began in early May, with the rebranding of service vehicles used by CSS staff.

Uniform patches of the Special Constables were also redesigned to reflect Brock’s colours and crest to ensure they are easily recognizable and identifiable while staff are on duty. The redesign also took place in alignment with upcoming changes to the provincial legislation, Comprehensive Ontario Police Services Act, 2019.

The CSS unit has recently hired a number of new Special Constables, installed new signage in front of the Kenmore Centre — where CSS is based — and updated the CSS website with the aim of making safety services more accessible.

For more information on Campus Safety Services, visit the CSS website.