Department of Public Safety changes name to Rowan University Police Department

With more than 23,000 students and 4,000 employees, Rowan University is larger than many municipalities throughout New Jersey. Every day we enjoy suburban college campus settings thanks to the dedication of a highly trained group of public safety professionals who enable each of us to better serve our students and for our students to pursue their education. 

To better define its role as the safety, security and emergency management division of our institution, the Department of Public Safety will change its name to the Rowan University Police Department effective July 1.

All services provided by the department on all of Rowan’s campuses will remain unchanged.

The new name brings the department in line with other college and university police agencies across the nation as Rowan, the nation’s fourth fastest-growing public research institution, continues to grow.

A history of leadership
For decades, the department, which now employs 38 police officers and 49 security officers, has been a leader in law enforcement and public safety excellence.

In 2011, the department was the first at a college or university in New Jersey to earn advanced law enforcement accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA). CALEA accreditation requires departments to adhere to the same standards as the finest law enforcement agencies in the nation. The department has earned CALEA re-accreditation four times, which is unprecedented among New Jersey institutions.

Rowan also is accredited by the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA), which sets forth the highest professional standards for campus law enforcement and protective services. In 2015, the department also was the first at a state college or university to require officers to wear body cameras.

As always, we are grateful to our colleagues in the Rowan University Police Department for their work and professionalism as they work to keep our campuses safe every day. 

Yours truly,

Ali A. Houshmand, PhD
President