Overview

• On Oct. 2, the Utah Board of Higher Education voted unanimously to direct the commissioner’s office to establish a task force to evaluate safety across public colleges and universities.
• Officials said recent incidents, including the August shooting at Utah Valley University and the assassination of Charlie Kirk, accelerated the decision to intensify campus security reviews.
• The group will assess current measures for both large events and day-to-day operations and is expected to recommend policies to protect students, faculty, and staff.
• Commissioner Geoffrey Landward said the task force will study the University of Utah’s protocols to identify practices that could be adapted at other institutions.
• Students interviewed by FOX13 expressed relief and support for added precautions such as metal detectors and bag checks, while formal recommendations and a timeline have not yet been issued.