The Newman Building on the Texas Southmost College Ft. Brown campus serves as the headquarters for the college’s Office of Safety & Risk Management. Through careful guidelines and diligent observance, the office and its team go to great lengths to ensure the safety and protection of all who visit, study, and work on campus. Safety Week is the office’s key annual event to spread awareness of their efforts and further educate the public on how to recognize and respond to emergency situations.

Texas Southmost College kicked off its annual Safety Week on Monday, October 20, putting a spotlight on the comprehensive safety and security measures that keep the campus community protected year-round.

Organized by the Office of Safety and Risk Management, Safety Week is a dedicated time to promote awareness, preparedness, and practical safety skills for students, faculty, and staff. Throughout the week, the office will coordinate a series of events and training sessions designed to help participants build confidence and learn life-saving techniques in emergency situations.

Some examples of the sessions are CRASE (Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events) training, CPR/Stop the Bleed instruction, and fire safety demonstrations, each offering vital learning experiences led by trained professionals. In addition to in-person sessions, the office will share important safety information through email, social media, and campus alerts to further promote awareness and readiness across the college.

“Safety is something we take very seriously,” noted Benjamin Gabbert, TSC Coordinator of Emergency Management. “Our mission is to protect the well-being of everyone who works, learns, or visits Texas Southmost College through prevention, education, and collaboration.”

To achieve these goals, the department oversees a broad range of responsibilities, including coordinating campus security through partnerships with law enforcement and first responder agencies, managing the RAVE Alert Emergency Notification System, fire safety, and maintaining environmental health and emergency response programs. Additionally, the department maintains Annual Security and Fire Safety Report and daily crime logs in accordance with Clery Act requirements.

Additionally, cylindrical phone towers are strategically placed in various locations around campus, providing a direct line of communication with responders in case of an emergency. Students, faculty, and staff can also submit concerns through an online incident report form.

TSC’s safety infrastructure also includes several unique features, such as off-duty Brownsville Police Officers who work alongside campus security personnel, and building-specific safety walkthroughs focused on preparedness for active attack or evacuation situations. The college’s focused dedication to safety measures has even been recognized, with TSC Emergency Management Coordinator Nathan Flores receiving the Collaborative Community Partnership award from the Texas State – Texas School Safety Center in 2024.

Together, these functions ensure that the college can prevent, detect, report, and respond effectively to incidents while maintaining compliance and community awareness. Through initiatives like Safety Week, Texas Southmost College continues to strengthen its commitment to providing a safe, informed, and prepared campus environment for our community.