Assessing College Students' Safety Needs: A Mixed-Methods Approach Using Qualitative and Quantitative Data

• In Event: Impacts of Victimization and Systemic Challenges

Abstract

The historic invisibility of crime on university campuses sparked national discussions on the safety of college students. As a result of these discussions, universities are expected to reveal their crime statistics to the university and community populations (e.g., Clery Act regulations). What remains unknown, however, is students’ perception of their safety and their belief on how to better equip the university for their specific campus needs. The study used a mixed methods approach to assess student perceptions of safety on a southern college campus. Results derived from a multi-year collection effort of campus climate surveys were utilized to gauge both quantitative and qualitative responses. These responses were analyzed by various racial, ethnic, sexual, and gender expressions/orientations. Quantitative results are intended to suggest how students perceive their need for safety measures on a southern college campus. The results for the qualitative portion emphasize the findings from the quantitative findings by amplifying students’ voices in what they perceived to be salient for safety needs. Overall, the results of this study reveal programmatic suggestions for university campuses both generally and specifically for the southern college campus.

Authors

• Alexis R. Rockwell, University of South Alabama

• Katherine A. Meeker, University of South Alabama