The New York University Department of Campus Safety is a fully-accredited campus safety department, and has been since March 2020, through the Commission on the Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA)*, which administers a rigorous accreditation process whereby law enforcement agencies must adhere to over 440 standards, codes and state-of-the-art practices. DCS is the largest, non-sworn campus safety organization in higher education to receive this prestigious recognition.

The NYU Department of Campus Safety earned its Campus Security Accreditation award and was recognized with this designation at a virtual CALEA hearing on Friday, March 20, 2020. This is the first accreditation award for DCS.

“By being awarded accreditation for the first time, this designation signifies the high quality of service that we provide to the NYU community, and the standards to which we hold ourselves every day,” said Vice President, Global Resiliency and Security Jack Briggs, and Vice President, Global Campus Safety Fountain Walker. “As the largest campus security agency to earn this status, we are proud to be a model for security industry accreditation. We honor all the members of our Department for their drive, determination and teamwork to achieve this goal of initial accreditation, and will continue to work alongside them to provide excellent, professional service to our University community.”

The video below provides details about the accreditation process and how it promotes positive service outcomes for the Department of Campus Safety and NYU.

Please note the Accreditation video was created prior to the department's transition to the Department of Campus Safety. All references to the Department of Public Safety are equivalent to the Department of Campus Safety.

YOUTUBE MEDIA
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CALEA assessors visited DCS in December 2019 to conduct an on-site assessment that included the examination of all aspects of the department’s policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services. During the review, the assessment team conducted 37 interviews regarding the topical areas previously defined. The interviews were with agency members and members of the community. The approach not only further confirmed standards adherence, but also considered effectiveness measures, process management and intended outcomes. The assessors also reviewed written materials and conducted a facility inspection for evidence of compliance with CALEA standards. The assessors were also on hand to conduct public and telephone comment sessions with members of the community.

During the hearing, the commissioners praised the Department's accreditation program and were impressed at the on-site assessors' findings of no standards issues; stating it was "an impressive, clean report."

The Accreditation award period is four years, during which time DCS will submit annual reports and documentation demonstrating continued compliance with standards.

For more information about CALEA, please visit calea.org.

*CALEA: The credentialing authority created through the joint efforts of the following four law enforcement major executive associations: International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP); National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE); National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA); and the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). The purpose of CALEA’s Accreditation Programs is to improve the delivery of public safety services, primarily by: maintaining a body of standards, developed by public safety practitioners, covering a wide range of up-to-date public safety initiatives; establishing and administering an accreditation process; and recognizing professional excellence.