Safety remains a top priority at the University of Utah, where the Department of Public Safety is continually evaluating and improving how they protect students, faculty and visitors. Recent efforts, including a security assessment of the University of Utah Asia Campus in Incheon, South Korea, are helping shape a broader, more connected approach to safety across all U locations.

The assessment has been long in the making, said Chief Safety Officer Keith Squires. “This has been on my radar since I started. I get asked regularly how what happens on the Asia campus impacts what we do as far as safety and security.”

The purpose of the visit this spring by Squires and Keith Livingston, director of threat assessment, was to evaluate current systems and strengthen collaboration between the main campus and U Asia Campus.

“This was an opportunity for us to observe the security measures that are in place and then provide a security assessment based on information from those directly involved,” said Squires. This type of review is not unusual for the U, he continued. “We do this for all of our facilities and departments,” emphasizing that continuous evaluation and improvement are core parts of the U’s campus safety strategy.

One of the most striking takeaways from the U Asia Campus visit was how safe the environment felt—both structurally and culturally. “The biggest thing I got from going there was an appreciation for how very safe that campus is,” said Squires. He attributed much of that to broader societal differences, explaining that, “a lot of it has to do with the culture and the society. Guns are not the concern there.”

Additionally, South Korea and its cities rely heavily on advanced technology. “Everything is on camera. Everything is recorded,” said Squires. “The security technology there is much more advanced than we have here.” This includes proactive systems that monitor behavior in real time, such as automated traffic enforcement and extensive CCTV coverage.

Squires noted that the U Asia Campus has a low threat of violent crime as well as a professional and caring team of faculty and staff who see safety as a priority.

The Incheon campus operates with its own security service, “set up like any of our other campuses as far as structure and operations,” he explains, while coordinating closely with Yeonsu-gu Police, the local law enforcement that serves as the primary responding agency, as needed.

A primary goal of the trip was a formal visit to the Yeonsu-gu Police Department to exchange safety information and build a working relationship with the chief and command staff. Squires worked with the FBI to arrange the meeting that included Livingston and Greg Hill, chief administrative officer and dean of faculty at the U Asia Campus.

The team spent two days meeting with various U Asia staff and faculty, along with other campus partners. Communication emerged as one area for improvement between the campuses. During the visit, officials observed how campus-wide alerts from Utah could create confusion abroad. “They started receiving questions and calls from parents and students with concerns,” Squires said, referencing a health alert on the Utah campus.

That insight is already shaping future changes that will include providing location-specific details on campus alerts. “Providing some more distinction in our notifications” will help avoid confusion and undue alarm, said Squires. The recommended improvements are expected to be implemented quickly.

Looking ahead, the U is taking concrete steps to strengthen coordination between both campuses. A major development is the appointment of a dedicated liaison from the U’s Department of Public Safety. “We are assigning a member of our threat assessment and management team to be the liaison with the U Asia Campus team. James Whissler, threat response manager, will have regular meetings and share information with Dean Hill,” said Squires. This move signals a shift to a sustained, ongoing partnership.

Ultimately, the visit reinforced confidence in the systems already in place—both abroad and at home. “We found a very safe and well-run campus,” said Squires, adding that any changes will serve as “additional opportunities for communication, coordination and sharing.”

Both in Utah and in Incheon, U campus communities remain a secure place to learn and thrive as safety is continuously evaluated, informed by global perspectives and strengthened through regular communication.