Executive Summary
- UTC has launched "UTC Safe," a new mobile application to replace an outdated security system.
- The app features a panic button that connects to campus dispatch or local 911 based on geolocation.
- New protocols were developed in response to communication gaps identified during a false active shooter alert last August.
- Features include real-time video streaming, safety timers for solo activities, and security escort requests.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) launched a new mobile safety application on Tuesday, establishing updated security protocols following a comprehensive review of emergency communications prompted by a false active shooter report last year.
University officials described the previous digital platform as "outdated," necessitating the development of the "UTC Safe" app to better align with the evolving safety needs of students and faculty. According to Brett Fuchs, Director of Public Safety at UTC, the application is designed to bridge communication gaps identified during prior security assessments.
The app features an emergency activation button that functions as a panic alarm. Fuchs explained that when activated within campus boundaries, the alert connects directly to the university's 911 dispatch center. If the user is outside the jurisdiction, the application automatically prompts a call to local emergency services. The system also allows users to transmit live video footage to dispatchers once the panic button is engaged, providing authorities with real-time situational awareness.
Additional features include a "Safety Timer" for activities such as jogging or walking to vehicles, which shares the user's location with designated contacts for a set duration. Users may also request a "Safe Ride," a service where security personnel provide escorts between campus buildings or to vehicles. The app is currently available to students and staff with active university email accounts.
The initiative follows a significant law enforcement mobilization in August triggered by a hoax active shooter call. While investigators determined the call did not originate from the campus and were unable to trace it to a specific suspect, university leadership noted that the incident exposed critical deficiencies in how the institution communicates with the campus community during emergencies.
Campus Security Modernization
The deployment of the UTC Safe application represents a strategic shift toward user-integrated surveillance and rapid response systems within higher education infrastructure. By decentralizing the alert process and utilizing geolocation-based dispatching, the university aims to reduce response lag times during critical incidents. This technological upgrade reflects a broader operational trend among institutions to mitigate the confusion often associated with "swatting" incidents or complex emergencies through direct, two-way digital communication tools that bypass traditional, slower reporting hierarchies.
