BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. — September is recognized as National Campus Safety Awareness Month, and that's encouraging conversations and ways to make colleges and universities safer. 

What You Need To Know

  • September is National Campus Safety Awareness Month 

  • It aims to encourage conversations and efforts to make colleges and universities safer 

  • A Boiling Springs university ranked in first place by a well-known publication for campus safety 

  • The university's chief of police says the ranking speaks to their efforts 

A university in Boiling Springs was recently spotlighted in a national publication's ranking for its safety efforts. 

The New York Times created an interactive tool to help families learn more about higher education institutions nationwide. 

The campuses are ranked on issues like cost, athletics and economic mobility. 

When compared to numerous private universities in the state, Gardner-Webb University ranked first in campus safety. 

Gardner-Webb also ranked first in safety compared to several public and private education campuses in North Carolina. 

Gardner-Webb Chief of Police Ron Newcomb says his team is proud of the ranking.

"It made us feel good, because something like that ranking doesn't happen overnight," Newcomb said. "It's something that takes years of effort to put into to get that ranking. We're glad to see someone has seen the fruit of our labors by making the university what it is. We're proud of it."

Newcomb has served as a sworn officer for Cleveland County for the last 31 years. That experience is assisting him with monitoring a campus 24-7.

"Coming to a university level [with] univeristy/college-aged students has really taken my mindset of law enforcement to a different level," Newcomb said. "I really enjoy the job. We are the only department at Gardner-Webb [here] all day every day. Whether we're on spring break, fall break, Christmas break, we're always here providing protection for the students, faculty and staff, which is a priority."

Newcomb says his department stays focused on ways to ensure staff and students feel safe on the university grounds. 

"If we can give a student a ride in a golf cart or meet them in the hallway. We try to have a conversation with them to make sure when they have an interaction with university police it's in a positive manner. That's what we're here for," Newcomb said. 

Newcomb says his department will continue its safety efforts year-round, but he says it's equally important for students to prioritize their safety wherever they go.

"I think we should be aware of our surroundings because evil is everywhere," Newcomb said. "The opportunity could happen anywhere so always try to have your guard up and aware of the situation that you could put yourself into."

Other colleges and universities that made the campus safety ranking list include Davidson College, N.C. State and UNC Asheville.