Emergency Communication in Education 2022 Survey Report

COVID-19 remains a major concern for educational campuses, including K-12 and higher education institutions, as they navigate the school year. In addition to the quick pivots required in response to outbreaks and new variants, schools are still largely concerned about student mental health, as well as the well-being of their faculty and staff. 

As campuses reopen and begin to host more in-person classes, campus administrators must implement the appropriate safety measures to ensure the health and wellness of all those on campus, including their students, faculty, staff, and even visitors.

The pandemic has taken a toll on everyone on campus. To better understand the challenges that educational institutions face, such as issues around school safety and communication, Rave Mobile Safety conducted a survey that included 400 participants from K-12 schools and higher education institutions across the U.S, including staff in administration, emergency management, facilities and operations, IT services, marketing and communications, safety and security and student services.  

The survey found that leaders must continue to focus on school safety beyond social distancing, mask-wearing, daily health checks, and other health measures. Schools face a wide range of safety and wellness challenges, and they need the technology to keep up with important safety measures. 

Mental Health Concerns Across the Board

For the last two years, campus leaders have been concerned with how the lingering effects of a worldwide pandemic will impact their communities in the future. Schools need the proper resources and safety measures to effectively tackle these concerns. The 2022 Education Survey found that mental health is the number one safety concern for the current and upcoming school year. 

Approximately 61% of survey respondents at K-12 schools agreed that student mental health is the largest concern, while 59% of respondents at higher education institutions reported student mental health as their primary concern. 

Faculty and staff mental health is the third biggest concern for both types of campuses, with 52% of K-12 schools agreeing and 44% at higher education institutions agreeing that faculty mental health is waning. 

To alleviate this concern, higher education institutions are putting more energy into general health and wellness services by increasing daily health checks for students. More higher education institution respondents stated their institutions were prepared to support the mental health of their students as compared to previous years. However, they feel that mental health resources for faculty and staff are still behind. 

Nearly 40% of K-12 schools that participated in this survey are investing more in health and wellness services, even though daily health checks have dropped by nearly 50%. Only half of all respondents surveyed from K-12 schools believe their schools have adequate resources to support the mental health of their students. However, nearly a quarter believed that their schools would be up to speed in the next 6-12 months. 

Safety Concerns at K-12 Schools

Isolation and stress have been a common part of everyday life over the last several years, making safety challenges at K-12 schools even more difficult. Along with a high concern for student and staff mental health, concern surrounding campus violence rose too. 

55% of respondents state that they are more concerned about active assailants and violence on campus than they were before the pandemic. Educators feel as though social media might be complicating matters by allowing students to partake in cyberbullying and send electronic threats. 

Many K-12 respondents also stated that communication was difficult between all key parties. The largest challenge in this issue includes notifying students and their parents/guardians (26%) and staff (23%).Safety Concerns at Higher Education Institutions

Safety Concerns at Higher Education Institutions

The largest safety issues impacting higher education institutions include COVID-19 related safety measures (71%), student mental health (59%), and faculty/staff mental health (44%). On top of these concerns, the amount of crime on campus has increased by 20% year-over-year, with an overall increase of concern for active assailants. Much like educators at K-12 schools, this concern is higher than before the pandemic. 

Higher education institutions are investing more resources to bring safety during the COVID-19 pandemic and mental health resources for overall improved campus wellness. 

Crisis Communication Challenges

Both K-12 and higher education institutions continue  to navigate the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. During an unstable time, clear communication between administrators, faculty, staff, students and their parents will continue to be a priority as schools look ahead to the 2022-2023 school year. 

However, communication has continued to be a challenge. For the 2022-2023 school year, the following ranked among the top communication concerns for K-12 schools and higher education institutions.

COMMUNICATION CONCERNS	K-12 SCHOOLS	HIGHER EDUCATION
Reaching and notifying staff	23%	16%
Reaching students and their parents/guardians	26%	15%
Adding timing and accurate information	12%	14%
Alert fatigue	11%	14%
Communication with visitors	13%	14%
Messages not being received	21%	14%
Targeting specific groups and locations versus entire campuses	15%	13%

To overcome these communication challenges, schools plan to incorporate better communication modes in their communication systems. This includes the frequency of drills and more engagement with students.

In addition to receiving emergency alerts,  faculty, staff, students and campus visitors should have a method of communication that enables them to share helpful information for presenting emergencies and their consequences — something outdated alert systems with only sirens and digital signage are not capable of.

Sending alerts, sharing updates and providing critical updates can be a challenge, but it’s a challenge that mass communication technology can help solve. 

Take the First Step in Protecting Your Campus

The pandemic will have a lasting impact on the safety, health, and well-being of students, faculty, and staff for years to come. It has changed the way campus officials delegate safety measures. By having a clear communication plan, open channels of communication for students and staff, and a solid action plan to respond to emergencies, K-12 schools and higher education institutions can provide their campuses with the necessary safety and security. 

To learn more about the 2022 Crisis Communication and Safety in Education Survey, download the full copy.