STEPHENVILLE, Texas — To enhance safety and security for the university community, Tarleton State will be implementing CriticalArc’s SafeZone solutions this spring.
Founded in 2011, CriticalArc is a leader in transforming incident response through innovative solutions. These solutions empower safety and security teams with the intelligence to strengthen and streamline their response to threats and incidents.
Tarleton State faculty, staff and students will be able to utilize the free SafeZone mobile app where users can call for help, share their location, get connected with mental health professionals and receive alerts through push notifications. The University Police Department will benefit from features including real-time alerts, detailed incident reporting and seamless communication channels through OmniGuard.
SafeZone is available for download on mobile devices in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Once in the app, users will enter their Tarleton State email and password through Single Sign On. Additional prompts will follow.
When activated, the red emergency button in the SafeZone app will initiate a police response.
“The University Police Department is excited to introduce SafeZone, a comprehensive safety app designed to enhance the security and well-being of our campus community,” said University Police Chief Matt Welch. “With features supporting study abroad, mental health, travel safety, medical emergencies and virtual escorts, SafeZone reinforces our commitment to maintaining one of the safest university environments in the nation. We encourage all students, faculty and staff to utilize this powerful tool to stay safe and connected.”
Tarleton State was ranked No. 18 in the most recent “50 Safest Large Colleges and Universities” list by CollegeChoice.
Functionality for the app will extend beyond Tarleton State’s Stephenville campus to ensure that users are always protected. Some additional locations include the university’s Fort Worth campus and study abroad trips.
The SafeZone app is a part of the new Texan Alert multichannel crisis communication system at Tarleton State designed to enhance the emergency communication strategy and ensure comprehensive outreach.
The Texan Alert platform will also retain Code Purple for the highest levels of alert. This function serves as a high-priority escalation layer within the Texan Alert ecosystem, reserved for time-sensitive, campus-wide emergency messaging. All students will be automatically enrolled to receive communications via email and text message. Faculty and staff will also automatically receive notifications via email and can register for text updates by providing their cell phone number in the app.
Emergency notifications will continue to be made available to the general public on Tarleton State social media channels in addition to www.tarleton.edu/texanalert.
“The Texan Alert platform and SafeZone app will truly enhance campus safety and save lives thanks to the teamwork and dedication of leaders across Tarleton State University who have committed 10 months of preparation for this rollout,” said Clint Jones, Project Coordinator for Tarleton State’s Transformation Realization Office. “This project brings tremendous value to our Tarleton community by improving real-time communication and increasing response efficiency when seconds count.
“Having been in an active shooter situation at a local theme park a few years ago, I know firsthand how crucial it is to get help quickly and direct responders while moving victims out of harm’s path. It’s been a pleasure to lead this project team of professionals, and I am proud that our efforts are making the on-campus Tarleton community safer, including our first responders and community emergency staff.”
As a result of the strong collaboration, Tarleton State is set to have one of the most extensive and robust implementations of SafeZone in the United States.
Another solution offered, SafeTrans, will focus on the safety of Tarleton State’s transportation services. The system will provide real-time tracking of shuttle bus locations to minimize time that a rider has to wait at bus stops for the City and Rural Rides buses. This functionality will be available within the SafeZone app.
“Tarleton State University is strengthening its commitment to campus safety and well-being with the implementation of SafeZone,” said CriticalArc SafeZone Director of Global Consulting Jason Goodrich. “By adopting a unified safety platform, Tarleton State is empowering its community with real-time coordination, mass communication and immediate access to support — ensuring a safer, more connected environment for everyone on campus.”
For more information and FAQs, visit www.tarleton.edu/safezone/.
A founding member of The Texas A&M System, Tarleton State University is breaking records — in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement — while transforming the lives of approximately 18,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. For 125 years, Tarleton State has been committed to accessible higher education opportunities for all while helping students grow academically, socially and professionally through programs that emphasize real world learning and address regional, state and national needs.