Date of Award
5-11-2026
Document Type
Thesis
First Advisor
Erin J. Farley
Second Advisor
Gabriel I. Lomas
Abstract
There is limited research examining safety-related programs and perceptions of Deaf and hard of hearing (HoH) students, especially in respect to how receptive these students are to resources aimed to keep them safe while they are on campus and how these resources are perceived and to what extent they are utilized. Gallaudet University is the only university in the United States established for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, with a bilingual campus where students and staff use both English and American Sign Language (ASL) – making it a unique focus of study compared to other universities that use primarily spoken English for communication. This exploratory study examines whether Gallaudet University students’ perceptions of safety differ based on their exposure to various safety-related programs and services offered by the university, as well as their perceived helpfulness and effectiveness of these resources. A total of thirty-two undergraduate and graduate Students completed an online survey assessing their familiarity with safety-related programs and services, perceived safety around various locations on campus, their perceived seriousness of crime on and off campus, and what improvements were needed to make the campus safer. Survey data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlations, and Mann-Whitney tests. Results indicate that while students have mostly high feelings of safety around campus and report satisfaction with safety resources offered to them, there is an emphasis on community/friend support contributing to their perceived safety on campus rather than institutional support. Additionally, results call for specific changes such as improvements with the university’s police, maintenance of campus and further security of the front gate kiosk.
Recommended Citation
DelaTorre, Edgar J., "Exploring Safety Perceptions on Campus: A Look at Student Responses to Campus Crime and Institutional Effectiveness" (2026). Undergraduate University Honors Capstones. 139.
https://ida.gallaudet.edu/honors_capstones/139
