The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) has been ranked in the Top 10 among the 2019 Safest Colleges in America, according to a list released by the National Council for Home Safety and Security (NCHSS).
The organization compiled the list using data from law enforcement and FBI crime reports. It looked at 490 colleges, excluding those with fewer than 1,000 students and those that did not submit crime reports to the FBI. Two variables were considered, the crime rates and the police adequacy for the size of the campus.
UTHSC, which ranked at ninth on the list, is currently in the midst of a$30 million-plus security improvement program. These include video security technology, wireless and keyless access for all buildings, and a new Emergency Operations Center that will monitor security on campus and in the Memphis Medical District.
More than 3,500 cameras, 500 access-controlled doors, and 3,000 wireless door locks will be installed in three phases installed. Keyless entry to buildings will allow exterior doors to have automatic lockdown capabilities in the event of an active threat.