Campus Safety

At JBU, campus safety officers (CSOs) monitor campus, secure buildings, enforce traffic
and parking regulations, provide Regal Safe Rides, provide self-defense classes, advise
students with safety concerns and conduct prevention. CSOs also assist the Siloam
Springs Police Department, which has full authority on campus to make traffic stops,
conduct arrests, criminal investigations and intervention. (JBU refers all crimes of
violence, alcohol or drug use to the Siloam Springs Police.)

JBU has a multi-pronged notification system. Student (and employee) emails are
automatically registered in the Crisis Alert System (CAS), and before class registration
each semester, students must verify their information. We encourage students to add
their mobile number, and they can add parent information if they desire. Approximately
12 JBU employees across various departments have authorization to send emergency
alerts and practice sending alerts twice a month. In addition to the CAS, emergency
notifications can interrupt all campus computers, including classroom displays. Live
audio speakers also cover a portion of campus and provide audio alerts.

JBU has a Threat Assessment Team trained by the U.S. Secret Service. They may also
employ private investigators’ services to assess/investigate threats and determine
prudent courses of action, including referral to local law enforcement.

At JBU, public building access depends somewhat on the function of the space and who
uses it. Non-academic, non-residence areas are locked each evening and checked by
CSO patrols. Some academic buildings may be accessible via magnetic lock and
authorized ID cards after hours. (For example, visual arts students can access the
computer labs and creative spaces in the art buildings 24/7 via their ID.)

Residence halls have public spaces that are open to all students (via mag lock) during
"Lobby Hours (10 a.m. to midnight). After-hours access to the residence hall buildings is
strictly restricted to residents and a video feed is monitored continuously by night-watch
staff. Individual residence rooms use keyed locks, and students are encouraged to keep
their rooms secure. 

JBU provides “Regal Safe Rides” to students anytime, including rides from campus to
university-owned off-campus housing (West Twin Springs and JBU rental houses).
Students may call or text our campus safety staff anytime for a ride.

JBU has worked diligently in recent years to increase lighting across campus in areas of
pedestrian traffic, parking lots, etc. We also conduct a yearly “lighting audit” with a team
that includes at least one female employee to identify spots on campus that would
benefit from additional lighting. Recommendations are prioritized, and cost estimates are gathered to find cost-efficient solutions. Throughout the year, JBU’s campus safety and facilities teams note when lights malfunction and conduct maintenance.

JBU has 147 security cameras located strategically around campus, recording activity.
The video feeds are centralized in our Campus Safety office and monitored when
personnel are out patrolling campus. During the evening hours, a night watch monitors
the security videos at the entrances to our residence halls to add a layer of extra
security. If an incident occurs on campus, our officers can refer to recorded video to
gather more information and identify suspects. A yearly assessment determines if
additional security cameras are needed to cover specific areas. 

You can find JBU’s policies regarding drug and alcohol use in the Student Handbook
and Community Covenant. Students involved with alcohol or drug use or abuse are
subject to review by the student discipline system (see next paragraph). Campus Safety 
may refer cases of drug use or alcohol possession and use by persons under 21 years of age to the Siloam Springs Police Department on a case-by-case basis.

JBU takes a redemptive, developmentally appropriate approach to discipline based on
our Christ-centered mission. Our goal is always the restoration of relationship — the
student and God, the student and anyone wronged, and the student and the JBU
community as a whole. We desire to provide grace-filled support when appropriate, but
also challenge students to better understand themselves and the impact of their actions.

JBU is committed to providing a workplace and educational environment and other
benefits, programs, and activities free from sexual harassment and retaliation. To ensure
compliance with federal and state civil rights laws and regulations and to affirm its
commitment to promoting the goals of fairness and equity in all aspects of the
educational program or activity, JBU has developed internal policies that provide a
prompt, fair, and impartial process for those involved in an allegation of sexual
harassment or retaliation. JBU values and upholds the equal dignity of all members of its
community and strives to balance the parties’ rights in the grievance process during
what is often a difficult time for all those involved.

JBU “designated reporters” include any member of the president’s cabinet, the athletic
director, a campus safety officer or any staff member serving as the Title IX coordinator
or assistant coordinator.

Campus Safety and the Title IX coordinator can also talk to the student about their
options related to reporting to law enforcement.

JBU’s full Title IX policy can be found at jbu.edu/title-ix

JBU’s annual reports are published on our website. Visit jbu.edu and search “annual
security report.” The university emails all students, faculty and staff when the annual
report is updated.

In the 2024 Student Satisfaction Survey (a national survey used by thousands of
institutions to survey their students), JBU students overwhelmingly agreed with the
statement, “The campus is safe and secure for all students.” JBU’s score was above the
average for CCCU institutions.