SafeUND: The right spot right away
Revised webpage with helpful filters makes finding resources fast, easy
Editor’s note: In the UND LEADS Strategic Plan, the Service core value calls on the University to “create ‘front doors’ to UND, helping streamline ways for people and partners to engage and collaborate.”
The story below describes an important, UND website-related effort to do just that.
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What could be better than having all of UND’s safety and support services at your fingertips?
That would be to have all of UND’s safety and support services at your fingertips and all in one place — so you can see everything quickly, easily and at a glance.
UND Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Alex Pokornowski says the University website’s new and improved SafeUND landing page is not only more all-encompassing, but it also includes a new “resource finder” to help streamline navigation.
“It’s an evolution, and it’s going to be a better experience for the user,” Pokornowski said. “We’re really excited about what the web development team has been able to create.
“The new interface is more closely aligned to our initial vision for SafeUND. We may not have had as many capabilities with the original webpage, but now that we do, it’s a big enhancement.”
So what’s different?
Donna Smith, assistant vice president of Equal Opportunity & Title IX at UND, says it might be better to begin with the question, “What’s the same?”
“The No. 1 goal of SafeUND has not changed. Our mission always has been to do whatever we can to provide the safest campus experience for all of our students, our employees and our visitors,” Smith said. “But campus is a very big place, and we recognize that many people aren’t always going to know immediately where to look for what they need.”
After all, UND provides a large number of safety and support services, ranging from how to report an icy sidewalk to how to report a crime … how to request a 24/7 safety escort to how to request a religious accommodation … how to find pregnancy support or how to find help with substance use or mental health issues.
“I think it’s incredibly difficult to expect people to remember everything that UND makes available, but I do think it’s realistic to hope that people can remember one thing,” Pokornowski added. “So, if they can remember SafeUND as that one thing, then they can find all of those other things, especially as they relate to safety and well-being.”
Speaking of well-being …
Smith and Pokornowski say that well-being is probably one of the most important aspects of the revised webpage. Multiple services that support both student and employee well-being always have existed at UND, but they weren’t necessarily incorporated under the original SafeUND umbrella.
The change came about after leaders learned from focus groups that parents, students and potential students are thinking about far more than low crime statistics when they’re thinking about campus safety.
“We initially had designed the SafeUND website with a much more narrow definition of safety,” Pokornowski explained. “But when parents and students were conceptualizing safety, they also were talking about personal well-being, mental health, suicide prevention, awareness — and all of those sorts of things.”
And they also were talking about inclusion and a healthy sense of belonging, Smith said.
“That’s why we thought it was important to include a window into our student-focused centers in the same SafeUND spot,” she said. “The Indigenous Student Center, International Student & Scholar Services, the Hilyard Center and the Pride Center for Gender & Sexuality are places where students can build community.”
Filters take you to the right spot
The new SafeUND website includes 48 tiles that can be filtered by your specific type of concern — 11 in all — and also by whether the resource being sought is for a student, employee or a visitor. The tiles include direct links to more specific and detailed webpages as well as phone numbers, policy manuals and important portals.
And if you still can’t find what you need, there’s a spot right up top that will link you to the “Share a Concern” form. Those concerns then are directed to a key group of people on campus, Smith said, so the concerns can be forwarded quickly for appropriate review and response. (In the case of an emergency, people should call 911.)
Another important feature of the website can be found beneath the “resource finder” tiles near the bottom of the page. That’s where users can learn how UND responds to reports regarding sexual misconduct, harassment, discrimination/bias, crime, student conduct, other concerning behavior and cases of retaliation.
Pokornowski stressed that UND wants to be as straightforward as possible.
“We want to remove as many barriers as we can that might keep people from reporting and sharing information,” he said. “And one of the biggest perceived barriers is the unknown — what happens when I share information.
“We want everything to be as easy as possible for people to share, to reach out, to make sure people are getting the help and support they need.”
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>> COMING THIS FALL: Pokornowski and Smith say a team is working on plans for a SafeUND series for the fall. The campaign not only will educate people about SafeUND but also cover a broad number of safety topics and training sessions.
>> HAVE A CONCERN BUT DON’T KNOW WHERE TO TURN? Search SafeUND or scan the QR code on one of many SafeUND stickers posted on restroom mirrors throughout campus. You also can find quick access to SafeUND through the MyUND app.
>> QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS about the UND LEADS Strategic Plan? Your thoughts are welcome! Please contact Angie Carpenter, UND’s director of Special Student Populations, and/or Ryan Zerr, associate vice president for Strategy & Implementation, the co-chairs of the UND LEADS Implementation Committee. You also may offer your thoughts by visiting the UND LEADS Strategic Plan home page and clicking on the “Provide your feedback” link that you’ll find there. Thank you for your support of the UND LEADS Strategic Plan!
