The University of Kentucky implemented additional security measures in residence halls for the 2025-26 school year, following a series of crime bulletins issued last year. 

On Aug. 15, UK Police Department (UKPD) Chief of Police Joe Monroe sent an email detailing new safety enhancements for the upcoming school year, including the installation of additional security in residence halls with access controls.  

According to Monroe, UKPD felt it was necessary to improve security across residence halls in response to “some things that happened last year.”

UKPD began testing this new system in Woodland Glen IV, according to Dani Jaffe, UKPD spokesperson.

The system includes scanning all guests into the residence hall, which will alert the front desk if the guest is not a UK resident, requiring them to sign in before entering, Monroe said.   

Along with this, UKPD is evaluating where more security cameras are needed to fill gaps between the current 42,000 cameras already on UK’s campus.

In the 2025-26 school year, eight crime bulletins were released, according to the UKPD’s crime log, six of which occurred in residence halls.  

Monroe said UKPD needed to release a crime bulletin after certain crimes to comply with the Jeanne Clery Act, regardless of whether the accusations are false. 

“We have to be careful on how we draft those (crime bulletins) so we’re not putting victim-blame on any of those that are victims,” Monroe said. “So the problem with that is it leads to a lot of confusion to the public, and that’s one of the reasons we’re really trying to communicate better, outside of those UK crime bulletins.”

After several “incidents” in residence halls last fall and spring, Monroe said UKPD is encouraging students to be active bystanders and aware of their “vulnerabilities” when they are out. 

“90% of these sexual assaults, or more, involve alcohol, something you don’t see very often on this campus and it very rarely happens, is a stranger, sexual misconduct or an assault,” Monroe said.” “It’s all usually a known offender, and it’s usually a classmate, a friend, somebody they met at the bar.” 

Due to this, some residence halls will now have professional security guards in addition to resident advisers manning the front desk, including Woodlen Glen IV, according to Monroe.

“​​So we’re not relying on 18-19-year-old kids to confront somebody,” Monroe said. “You’re actually having a professional, full-time person.”

The security guards will also be “roaming campus” and doing frequent check-ins at residence halls and the cornerstone garage during overnight hours, according to Jaffe.

“Two additional security officers have been assigned to north campus, one assigned to south campus and one assigned to central campus,” Jaffe said.

Alongside UKPD, the university will continue to monitor safety trends, assess security systems and adapt the campus to protect students and staff through increased security presence at residence halls and other safety measures, according to Vice President for University Relations Jay Blanton.

“These steps are designed to further protect the well-being of our students,” Blanton said. “We know that a student’s success depends on their ability to thrive in a safe and supportive environment.”

According to Blanton, the university will continue to “invest in proactive safety strategies and resources” to create a campus where everyone feels safe and supported. 

“At UK, safety is not simply a goal,” Blanton said. “It is essential to fulfilling our mission.” 

Mariko Davis, a freshman violin performance and psychology major, said that while she currently feels safe in her dorm at Baldwin Hall, she believes there should be additional security measures throughout dorms in the form of security cameras.

“​​If we put security cameras in like areas, that could look like sketchy things could happen. Maybe that could help prevent future assaults,” Davis said. “If we put security cameras in the hallways or the lounge areas, maybe that would help make people feel safe.”

Kylan Rosko, a freshman occupational therapy major, said the new security system in Woodland Glen IV has helped him feel safer entering and exiting his dorm, saying UK should install the program across all the dorms.

“Personally, in Woodland Glen IV, we have a security guard on top of the front desk, people always watching at all times,” Rosko said. “If Kentucky could, or University of Kentucky could put security guards in everybody’s dorm to watch the front desk area. I feel like that would be a lot better.”