Columbia College moves up move-in time due to high heat
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
It's already dangerous to be outside in the extreme heat Mid-Missouri is seeing, which is why Columbia College is letting students move in earlier in the day on Wednesday to avoid moving during the hottest part of the day.
Columbia College spokesperson Sam Fleury said students are now able to move in to on-campus housing starting at 9 a.m. Wednesday. Previously, move-in began at noon. He said there will be hydration stations and cooling centers with fans available.
Senior Director of Campus Safety, Dave Heffer said the heat is their biggest concern right now.
"The heat index is getting up into the 100s and teens, so people to stay hydrated, people not to overexert themselves and for people to know where the cool spaces are on campus, that's our primary concern right now," Heffer said.
The ABC 17 News Stormtrack Weather Team extended its Weather Alert Day through Friday, as heat indexes have a chance to be between 105-116 degrees.
Looking into more safety measures on campus, Heffer said the college has nine campus safety staff members who patrol campus at all times. He said the college also works closely with the Columbia Police Department, being in correspondence about 1-2 times a week.
"We regularly reach out to them. If something's occurring off campus they'll actually notify us, if something's happening in the area so that we might be ready or prepared for things," Heffer said. "So, we partner with them pretty strongly."
Tuesday marks the first day of classes for students at Stephens College in Columbia, and according to the school's 2021 annual security and fire safety report, the campus also works closely with the Columbia Police Department. The college has a community policing approach with safety officers assigned to a specific geographic area on campus.
In 2021, the report shows there were two forcible sex offenses, one burglary and two dating violence reports on Stephens College's campus. No other on-campus crimes were reported.
The report also shows there were three fires in residence buildings in 2021, all taking place in Tower Hall. According to the report, Tower Hall has a partial sprinkler system and all other fire safety amenities.
Columbia College's 2022 annual security and fire safety report states there were two motor vehicle thefts on campus in 2021. Heffer said the college is addressing that issue through education.
"We've been sending regular correspondence to our community about crime prevention techniques, making sure that people lock their car doors, keep valuables out of sight," Heffer said.
He said the college has 18 emergency phones located throughout and around campus that provide a direct line to the campus safety office, which is located in the middle of campus.
At Stephen's College, there are seven emergency phones located in public places that provide direct communication to the Stephens College Safety and Security and Joint Communications. There is also a campus-wide emergency notification system that students can sign up for called RAVE.
Heffer said Columbia College encourages everyone to download the Live Safe app for safety tools and emergency alerts.
"We do pride ourselves on being a safe campus, but we don't rest on those laurels," Heffer said. "We continue to strive to keep up with all of the new technologies and all of the new strategies at keeping our campuses safe."
At both colleges, residence halls are always locked, and students need an ID or key card to enter.
ABC 17 News previously looked into the University of Missouri's annual report, as well. Officials at MU declined an interview about security measures.
