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Campus Security Course: Lessons 2026

Five short lessons for guards at colleges, universities and other campuses. Read them in order, then take the final test.

  • Course lessons
  • 5 min read
  • Checked October 11, 2026

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Lesson 1: The campus as a community

A campus is like a small town. People study, teach, do research, work and often live there. Many students are young adults living away from home for the first time. Campus security mixes customer service, safety and care.

You are not a police officer. Your arrest powers are about the same as any private citizen's and come mainly from section 494 of the Criminal Code. You may also act for the school under provincial trespass law, for example to tell a banned person to leave.

Schools also have their own rules, such as a student code of conduct and residence rules. Your job is to observe and report. Decisions about whether a student broke those rules are made by the school's own process, not by the guard.

Lesson 2: Patrols, access and residences

  • Card-access doors: stop tailgating, which is when someone follows a cardholder through a secure door. Politely ask the person to use their own card or check in.
  • Propped doors: close them, check the area and report them. Never chain or block an exit.
  • Emergency phones: check that they work and are not damaged or blocked, and report faults.
  • Safe walk: many campuses offer escorts at night. Walk people to their car, bus stop or residence as your post orders allow.
  • Residences: know the guest and quiet-hour rules, and check common areas, stairwells and laundry rooms.

Fire alarms

False alarms are common in residences, but every alarm is treated as real. Help clear the building, keep people out, and never silence or reset the panel yourself. Only the fire department or an authorized person decides when people can go back in.

Labs

Research labs can hold chemical, biological or radiation hazards. Do not enter a restricted lab unless you are authorized. If you see a spill, smoke or an alarm, stay out and call the lab's emergency contact or your supervisor. Learn the WHMIS pictograms on lab doors and containers:

  • Flammable
  • Corrosive to skin, eyes or metal
  • Acute toxicity: can cause death or poisoning
  • Gas under pressure

Lesson 3: Alcohol, drugs and medical emergencies

Parties, sports events and the first weeks of term can bring heavy drinking. A person who has passed out can choke on vomit or stop breathing. Never leave them alone to "sleep it off". Coffee, cold showers and walking do not help.

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If a person is breathing but not responding, roll them onto their side so their airway stays open.

  1. Place the arm nearest you out at a right angle, elbow bent.
  2. Bring the far arm across the chest, with the back of the hand against the near cheek.
  3. Bend the far knee up, with the foot flat on the ground.
  4. Roll the person toward you onto their side, with the top leg bent and head tilted back.

Call 911 if the person cannot be woken, is breathing slowly or not normally, or you are worried.

Overdose

Health Canada lists these signs of an opioid overdose: slow, weak or no breathing; blue, purple or grey lips or nails; pinpoint pupils; choking, gurgling or snoring sounds; and not waking up. Call 911 and give naloxone if you have it. If there is no response within 2 to 3 minutes, another dose can be given safely. Stay with the person, because naloxone can wear off before the opioid does.

Students may be afraid to call for help. The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act protects the person who calls, the person who overdosed and others at the scene from charges for simple drug possession.

Lesson 4: Mental health and sexual violence

A student in crisis

Speak calmly, listen and give the person space. Do not argue or promise to keep secrets you cannot keep. The 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline takes calls and texts 24 hours a day. If a person's safety is at immediate risk, call 911 and stay with them if it is safe. Also tell them about campus counselling.

Responding to a disclosure of sexual violence

Schools must have sexual violence policies. In Ontario, rules for these policies are set by Ontario Regulation 131/16. In British Columbia, public post-secondary institutions must have a sexual violence and misconduct policy and review it at least every three years, with students consulted. Learn your school's policy and its support office.

  1. Listen without judgement and thank the person for telling you.
  2. Ask if they are safe now and if they need medical help. Call 911 if there is danger or injury.
  3. Explain the support options in the school's policy, such as the support office, counselling and reporting to police.
  4. Let the person decide what happens next, unless someone is in immediate danger.
  5. Write only what the policy requires and keep it confidential.

Lesson 5: Emergencies, events and privacy

Every campus has an emergency plan and a way to send mass alerts. In a lockdown, follow the plan: help people get into secure rooms and stay there until authorities say it is safe. Do not go looking for a threat yourself.

At events and protests, stay neutral. Your job is safety for everyone: keep routes and exits clear, watch for medical needs and report concerns. Never remove people or signs because of the views they express.

If a person who has been banned from campus is found on school property, identify yourself and tell them to leave. If they refuse, follow your procedures and call police.

Privacy

You will see a lot of private information: who lives where, who comes and goes, and who needed help. Most students are adults. Do not share their information with friends, coworkers or even parents. Refer questions to the right campus office and follow the school's privacy rules.

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