The University of New Mexico (UNM) has taken steps to improve campus housing safety. These actions follow a Campus Safety Culture Survey conducted in October 2023. The survey was sent to faculty, staff, and students. Its goal was to understand the campus community’s views on safety and leadership’s commitment to a secure environment. The feedback has led to new security investments and policy changes over the past year and a half. Many projects were completed by October 2025.
A main reason for these changes is to help first-year students and their families feel secure during move-in week each August. For many students, this is their first time living away from home. Megan Chibanga, executive director of Residential Life and Student Housing, said both the university and students play a role in campus safety. She stated that while the university provides security measures, students are also expected to be aware of their own safety.
UNM requires all first-year students to live on campus. This policy increases the need for strong safety protocols. Chibanga and her team have worked to match UNM’s housing security with national standards. She explained that safety refers to the feeling of being secure, while security refers to the systems and procedures in place. This approach has shaped recent changes in campus housing…