Understanding the impact of risk communication by campus police on college students

Abstract

Universities nationwide began implementing risk communication strategies after the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007. The degree of exposure to these mass notification messages may increase message recipients’ fear of crime and perceived threat of violence. Students were surveyed to determine imminence of crime, fear of crime, and how they engage with or use their university’s mass notification system. Results revealed that the cultivation of risk-based communication via SMS is not related to students’ fear of crime or imminence of crime. However, students residing more than ten miles from campus exhibited a more unrealistic fear of crime compared to those living on campus. Practical recommendations for continued success are provided based off of student feedback. Future research should explore how students interact with official university social media platforms that disseminate risk-based communication.