Kent State University has been ranked one of the safest campuses in the country by the Council for Home Safety and Security, a national trade association. Kent State was named to the council’s 2017 top 100 list of Safest Colleges in America.
Nationwide, Kent State ranks 11th on the list. Among Ohio institutions, Kent State ranks the safest.
The ranking was determined by the most recent data from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting and the National Center for Education Statistics. More than 2,000 four-year colleges and universities were assessed.
Dean Tondiglia, Kent State’s police chief and director of public safety, says safety at the university is a joint effort.
“Having a safe and inviting campus community is one of the university’s priorities, and this ranking reflects the efforts of students, faculty and staff, as well as the Department of Public Safety’s community partners, in meeting that goal,” Tondiglia says.
He adds that some of the initiatives, such as student involvement in crime prevention programs, awareness campaigns, safety walks and physical plant reviews, are designed to help identify safety issues before they become bigger problems. Kent State also conducts bystander intervention training and emergency exercises to enhance safety on campus.
The Kent State Police Department has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies since 1991 and is one of only 79 university police agencies in the country to be accredited.
Find out more about the Top 100 Safest Colleges in America 2017