Active Shooter Training, Safety Measures

WACO, Texas (Nov. 16, 2022) – With the recent tragedy at the University of Virginia, Baylor University reminds students, faculty and staff of available proactive safety training resources, such as active shooter training, and other measures in place for campus safety and security.

In fall 2019, Baylor University Department of Public Safety (BUDPS) released the “Avoid. Deny. Defend.” active attack training video, which was designed not to alarm but to make sure the Baylor community is prepared in the event of an active shooter or active attack situation on campus or any other public place.

The video is sensitive in nature, so it’s important to watch the introduction video first with Baylor President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D., and Mark Childers, associate vice president for public safety, followed by viewing the six-minute training video.

After viewing the video, should you need support or someone to talk to, please contact the Baylor University Counseling Center at 254-710-2467 or Counseling_Center@baylor.edu or a member of the pastoral care team in the Office of Spiritual Life at 254- 710-3517.

Campuswide safety and security

BUDPS has created a robust, strategic security platform that integrates personnel, tools and technologies from its five branches – Baylor University Police Department (BUPD), Emergency Management and Fire Safety, Technical Security, Global Safety and Security, and Parking and Transportation.

The multi-layered approach that includes:

• A fully licensed and IACLEA* accredited police department.
• Active patrols on campus 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Multiple ways for students, faculty and staff to contact BUPD immediately:
  • Directly at 254-710-2222 or 9-1-1.
  • Through more than 80 emergency call boxes and 123 emergency telephones across campus that can initiate emergency response from BUPD to that location.
  • Using the BU Campus Guardian smartphone app, which provides safety features that connect individuals quickly to BUPD.
• The multi-tiered Baylor Alert emergency notification system, which uses outdoor and indoor loudspeakers and sirens, text and email messages.
• More than 1,600 cameras that monitor building entrances, parking garages and public areas.
• LED lights in all campus parking garages that also enhance the security camera clarity at night.
• Card-access system at all residence halls.
• New technology to remotely “lock down” buildings in the event of a campus emergency.

"Familiarity with Baylor’s Department of Public Safety is critical for students, parents, faculty and staff because they need to know what our capabilities are and that we are committed to providing the ‘gold standard’ of higher education law enforcement, safety and security to the community," Childers said.