UNC Asheville Receives SafeZone System-Wide Impact Award for Excellence in Campus Safety

UNC Asheville was honored with the prestigious SafeZone System-Wide Impact Award at the 2025 Inaugural SafeZone Conference in Denver, Colorado. The award recognizes the University’s exceptional and comprehensive use of the SafeZone platform to enhance safety, communication, and well-being across campus.

Chief of Police Daran Dodd accepted the award on behalf of the University and delivered a keynote address titled “Resilience in Action: UNCA’s Hurricane Response and Lessons for Safer Campuses,” highlighting the University’s innovative response during Hurricane Helene.

“This award reflects the dedication of our entire campus community to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for our students, faculty, and staff,” said Chief Dodd. “During Hurricane Helene, SafeZone proved invaluable in keeping our community informed and connected. Our forward-thinking approach to system integration demonstrates our commitment to leveraging technology to create a resilient campus.”

UNC Asheville Chancellor Kimberly van Noort expressed pride in the University’s achievement: “This recognition validates our ongoing investment in comprehensive safety solutions. The safety and well-being of our campus community is our highest priority, and this award demonstrates that UNC Asheville is a national leader in campus safety innovation. I commend Chief Dodd and our entire police department for their exceptional work.”

The award citation specifically recognized UNC Asheville for embracing the full capabilities of SafeZone—from SafeTransportation and Wellbeing features to tip notifications and broad community engagement. During Hurricane Helene, the University demonstrated remarkable agility and innovation, using real-time messaging to keep the community informed and safe throughout the event.

The SafeZone End User Conference brings together safety, security, and operations professionals from around the world to share real-world insights, explore innovations, and collaborate on best practices. Attendees gain actionable strategies, direct access to product experts, and peer benchmarking to enhance their SafeZone implementations.

This recognition underscores UNC Asheville’s commitment to creating a connected, resilient, and empowered campus community through innovative safety solutions.