LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — The Nevada System of Higher Education has launched Eyes Open, a safety campaign that gives people across its campus communities a way to report concerns and connects them with trained teams prepared to help.
The message, “Eyes Open. Know the signs. Make the call,” is now visible across NSHE campuses and online, directing people to EyesOpen.nevada.edu to share a concern. The campaign is part of NSHE’s Threat Prevention, Safety, and Awareness Initiative, a systemwide effort focused on behavioral threat assessment, early intervention and support.
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Campaign background
Eyes Open grew out of NSHE’s systemwide work to strengthen campus safety following the Dec. 6, 2023, shooting at UNLV. The campaign has launched across all NSHE campuses, including the College of Southern Nevada, Desert Research Institute, Great Basin College, Nevada State University, Truckee Meadows Community College, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, University of Nevada, Reno, and Western Nevada College.
“It is impossible for students to succeed if they are worried about their safety,” said Board of Regents Chair Stephanie Goodman. “Eyes Open is an effective response to our students’ request for safer campuses. The commitment to safety demonstrated by the University Police Department, Northern and Southern commands, as well as all NSHE employees involved in making this program a reality, is greatly appreciated.”
How the campaign works
At the heart of the campaign is the message that safety is not solo work. People do not need to know exactly what a situation means or decide if there is a threat before sharing a concern. They are asked to report what they notice and let trained professionals take it from there.
“Our institutions serve different communities, but the responsibility to foster safe and supportive campuses is shared across NSHE,” said Chancellor Matt McNair. “Eyes Open gives us a clear and consistent way to reinforce that responsibility while making it easier for people to speak up when they are concerned.”
Across the system, trained Behavioral Intervention Teams bring together professionals with different areas of expertise, including people who work in counseling services, human resources, student support, campus police or security. The teams consider the full situation to determine whether someone may need support, whether steps are needed to address a safety concern, or whether no action is needed. A report is a starting point, not a conclusion, and does not automatically mean someone or something is considered a threat.
Law enforcement response
“Sometimes people hesitate because they are not sure whether what they noticed is serious enough to report,” said Arnold Vasquez, chief of police for the University Police Department – Southern Command. “They do not have to make that determination on their own. Sharing a concern gives a trained team the opportunity to understand what is happening and decide whether help or further action is needed.”
“Threat assessment is not about making assumptions based on one piece of information,” said Eric James, chief of police for the University Police Department – Northern Command. “Every situation is different. By looking at the broader circumstances and asking the right questions, we can identify the response that makes the most sense.”
University Police Department Northern and Southern Commands led the systemwide effort in partnership with NSHE’s eight institutions. Education and training will continue as the campaign becomes part of campus life across the system.
More information and a form to share a concern are available at EyesOpen.nevada.edu.
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