Dedicated students, distinguished colleagues and dear friends,

Happy Friday!

September is National Campus Safety Awareness Month and we pledge that when it comes to safety and security incidents, our goal is zero! To realize this very achievable goal we subscribe to the principle that all safety and security incidents are indeed preventable. We also must be cognizant that when we commit to our principle of safety and security first, we advance our mission and our goals. We all are personally responsible for our own safety and security and collectively responsible for each other’s safety and security. So when it comes to the safety and security of ourselves, each other and our community, I ask that if you “see something, say something.” Be aware of your surroundings and of potential risks to yourself and to others. 

To be clear, Missouri S&T is nationally recognized for the many measures we take to make our university a safe and welcoming place to learn, to live and to work. We were named a top 25 safe campus by the National Campus Safety Summit in 2020 and also received the Trailblazer Award for our innovative work to improve safety through mobile technology, specifically, the Rave Guardian smartphone app for campus security.

Our Chief of Police Doug Roberts is also quickly earning a national reputation for his work. He was a finalist for Campus Safety Director of the Year, which I firmly believe he should have won, and was recognized in Campus Security Report for his adoption of technology. Soon after joining our campus in 2016, Doug implemented a security camera system that has helped our campus and local law enforcement countless times.

Chief Roberts and his team of state-commissioned police officers work closely with the Rolla police department, local first responders and health groups, emergency call centers, and national safety and security organizations such as the FBI. They operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If at any time, night or day, you feel apprehensive walking to or from your vehicle or residence, contact the department and request a security escort. The Rave Guardian app, mentioned above, makes it easy to contact University Police. You can also learn about CPR and first aid, active shooter response, and identity theft and fraud prevention by participating in the relevant courses offered by S&T police.

With all that we have in place to ensure safety and security, none of us can eliminate or reduce safety and security risks alone. We are most successful when all of us — staff, administration, students, parents, and community groups — stay alert and collaborate. Our bystander intervention training for our students, faculty and staff is designed to better equip all of us to look out for each other and to learn what to do when we don’t know what to do! For those of you on campus, I encourage you to attend our University Police’s open house later this month that will be held 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 23, at 205 W. 12th St. This open house also occurs during Parent and Family Weekend, and I encourage all parents and family members of our students to also drop by to meet our outstanding police force.

We have a lot in place to protect us. Nonetheless, in the spirit of Campus Safety Awareness Month, I ask that we all evaluate our individual physical space, anticipate and then navigate. After all, safety means anticipating sequences and being fully aware of our surroundings and situations.

Warmly,

-Mo.

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Mohammad Dehghani, PhD
Chancellor
mo@mst.edu | 573-341-4116

206 Parker Hall, 300 West 13th Street, Rolla, MO 65409-0910
chancellor.mst.edu