On March 6, UCCS held a lockdown drill to evaluate campus readiness in case of an emergency. This was the first lockdown drill held on campus since 2022.  

According to the Director of Emergency and Safety Management Kris Parsons, UCCS used to conduct safety drills, switching between fire and lockdown drills each semester. The last well-documented drill with usable data was held in 2020. 

The goal of the lockdown drill is to familiarize everyone with the appropriate procedures, including what may be asked of them in the event of an emergency.  

During a lockdown, students should block entrances, turn off lights, lock doors, stay out of sight and completely silence their phones.   

The Colorado Springs Fire Department and Police Department were on campus to assist outside during the drill, accounting for commuter students and the distance between buildings. Several Station 9 Fire Department crew members were in attendance to provide guidance and answer questions, according to Parsons. 

Each floor of every building on campus has a safety specialist to assist in emergencies. The lockdown will evaluate the specialist program’s effectiveness and determine what resources are necessary for improvement.  

Each floor’s ability to be securely “locked down” will be assessed by either the respective floor safety specialists or a member of the Safety Management staff. This staff includes university police and members of the Department of Public Safety. Secureness is mainly measured by, but is not limited to, participation, room security and any challenges, such as broken locks. 

The lockdown drill had approximately 40-50 evaluators, including five UCCS officers, one Campus Service officer, two Colorado Springs Police Department officers, and two Police Department community service officers. 

Students can evaluate the drill using this survey. 

A UCCS police vehicle in Gateway Garage. Photo by Anysia Hovel.