Consider these tips for building your institution's resiliency to these types of risks
Risks During Graduation Events Are Just One of Many Events to Pay Attention to
Graduation season is upon us once again, and all over the country, higher education administrators are preparing to welcome countless guests to campus. Commencement is a carefully orchestrated event, and it’s not uncommon for higher education leaders to give extensive thought to risk management protocols and precautions for the festivities. But in today’s increasingly complex and unpredictable risk environment, planning for the academic year’s biggest occasions alone is not sufficient; equal attention and forethought are required when it comes to all on- or off-campus events where the public may be present.
Understanding the Risk Landscape
Once considered relatively insulated spaces, university campuses are now more exposed than ever to external social, political, and cultural tensions. These dynamics can manifest in highly visible and volatile ways, particularly during public-facing events such as athletic competitions, protests, academic travel, and other large gatherings.
Among the most concerning emerging threats is the rise of active assailant incidents. Targeted violence in public or institutional settings can arise from a wide spectrum of motivations—including ideological beliefs, personal grievances, retaliation, or less clearly defined pathways to violence—making these incidents inherently difficult to categorize. This breadth and unpredictability, with threats potentially emerging from both internal and external sources, make effective preparation and protection particularly challenging without robust and proactive planning. Active assailant events are often fast-moving, highly public, and capable of causing significant harm not only to people, but also to institutional reputation and long-term stakeholder trust.
Active assailant incidents differ from traditional campus safety risks in several important ways: They are often driven by external motivations, may involve actors with no formal connection to the institution, and frequently unfold in environments that are partially or fully open to the public.
Identifying Key Exposure Points and Risk Factors
Much like the commencement activities underway this season, any high-profile ceremony is a key exposure point for a college or university, given the potential to attract media attention and external attendees. Other exposure points include athletic events, where large crowds and heightened emotions can create flashpoints; protests and demonstrations (particularly those tied to polarizing issues), where control over the environment is limited; and public lectures or controversial speakers, which may draw organized opposition.
These scenarios share a common challenge: Universities must balance openness and accessibility with safety and risk mitigation. Unlike controlled corporate environments, campuses are designed to foster free expression and community engagement, making restrictive security measures both operationally and culturally complex.
Effective risk management begins with understanding where vulnerabilities lie. In the context of active assailant incidents, several key factors increase exposure. These include open access environments with limited entry controls, high-profile or controversial topics that may attract activist attention, and inconsistent coordination between campus departments and external agencies. Limited visibility into third-party risks, such as vendors, attendees, or external organizers can also create vulnerability, as can jurisdictional complexity, particularly for off-campus or multi-location events.
Institutions must also consider the growing role of social media in amplifying risk. Events can quickly gain traction online, attracting attention and potential threats from well beyond the immediate campus community.
Proactive Planning for Unpredictable Risks
Preparation is the most effective tool institutions have to mitigate the impact of active assailant incidents. This requires a structured and collaborative approach that integrates risk management, campus security, legal, communications, and external partners. Key elements of effective pre-event planning include:
Risk Assessment and Threat Monitoring: Institutions should conduct thorough risk assessments for events, considering factors such as audience size, topic sensitivity, location, and historical precedent. Monitoring open-source intelligence and social media can provide early warning signs of potential disruptions or threats.
Stakeholder Coordination: Successful planning depends on alignment across internal and external stakeholders. This includes campus security, local law enforcement, emergency services, event organizers, and, where appropriate, third-party vendors. Establishing clear roles and communication protocols in advance is critical.
Scenario Planning and Tabletop Exercises: Institutions should regularly test their preparedness through scenario-based exercises. These simulations help identify gaps in response capabilities and ensure that teams are familiar with escalation procedures and decision-making frameworks.
Clear Policies and Protocols: Policies regarding weapons on campus, protest management, and event security should be well-defined, consistently applied, and clearly communicated. Ambiguity in policy can create both operational challenges and legal exposure.
Thinking Beyond Campus Boundaries
Even the most proactive of higher education institutions may focus exclusively on campus-wide protection planning. But the reality is that exposure also exists when students are off campus, whether they are at away games, on academic travel and field trips, or participating in any other activity where they are considered to be in the care and custody of the school. Should an active assailant event occur, the hosting institution would not be solely liable; universities whose students are in attendance could find themselves named in a suit, and their victimized students could still need support and victim management services.
At offsite locations, the same level of preparation employed for on-campus activities is necessary, but visibility into safety and security operations is greatly reduced. Communications with hosting institutions is essential here to ensure that security teams and emergency operations are in place and up to standards. Even when these questions have been satisfactorily answered, universities may wish to consider the addition of offsite exposure cover to their insurance policies to ensure they are fully protected.
Strengthening Institutional Resilience
Ultimately, managing the risk of active assailant incidents is about building resilience. This means creating systems, processes, and cultures that enable institutions to anticipate challenges, respond effectively, and adapt over time.
The most resilient institutions prioritize five key strategies:
- They integrate risk management into strategic planning.
- They foster strong relationships with external partners.
- They invest in training and preparedness.
- They maintain clear and consistent communication practices.
- They balance openness with thoughtful security measures.
Evolving With the Risks
Higher education will always be a space for dialogue, debate, and diverse perspectives. While this openness is a core strength, it also requires institutions to be proactive and deliberate in managing the risks that come with it.
For university administrators, the question is no longer whether these risks exist, but how to proactively prepare for, respond to, and recover from them.
Active assailant incidents represent a growing and complex challenge for higher education institutions today. But by understanding key risk factors, implementing robust planning processes, and strengthening response and recovery capabilities, universities can better protect their communities while upholding their core values.
From high profile events to everyday operations, on campus and off, proactive risk management is a process university administrators cannot afford to ignore. Yet, through collaboration, foresight, and a commitment to continuous improvement, higher education leaders can navigate these risks and build safer, more resilient campuses for the future.