Safety and Security in the Palm of One’s Hand
SMC’s new Gael Safe App Offers Rich Array of Useful Safety Features for Students and Others on Campus
Gael Safe is a new mobile safety app and now available for download. It offers quick access to a variety of security tools and features designed to empower and support the safety and well-being of students, faculty, staff, and visitors to the Saint Mary’s campus.
Launched by the College’s Department of Campus Safety and Transportation to coincide with the start of fall semester, the Gael Safe app was developed and customized in collaboration with AppArmor, a company specializing in safety technology for higher education and other sectors.
“Gael Safe empowers everyone at Saint Mary’s by giving individuals fast and direct access to critical resources they might need.”
Gael Safe offers a number of features to help keep the Saint Mary’s campus community safe—often with just a tap or two on one’s mobile phone. Students, staff, and faculty can sign up for campus messages and notifications, for example, including fire safety information, building evacuation plans, and timely information on emergencies and disasters.
“Keeping our campus community safe is a team effort, and technology is one of several important tools in our safety toolbox,” says Manjit Sappal, Executive Director of Campus Safety and Transportation. “Gael Safe empowers everyone at Saint Mary’s by giving individuals fast and direct access to critical resources they might need.”
Along with the app, Sappal notes that additional measures in place to enhance safety include full staffing within Campus Safety, more thorough patrolling of all areas of campus, and a consistent officer presence at the main entrance to campus. The Campus Safety team is also planning on attending more student events, both to help forge stronger ties with the campus community while also ensuring safety and security at those events.
“As technology continues to emerge, we want to take advantage of new tools that enhance the safety and security of our campus,” Sappal says. “We continue to assess strategies, best practices, and community needs to make informed decisions on how we address campus safety.”
LEARN MORE: Visit the Gael Safe website and download the app onto your iPhone or Android device.