AUSTIN (KXAN) — The University of Texas at Austin said a program that launched last year aimed at providing specialized safety, cleaning and hospitality services in the West Campus Neighborhood had a successful first year and is expanding for its second year.
UT said the West Campus Ambassadors program will expand this year to cover a larger area.
The program is “dedicated to revitalization of Austin’s West Campus neighborhood, which is home to more than 20,000 UT students each academic year and frequented by thousands of University employees and visitors,” according to the university.
According to UT, the West Campus Ambassadors in their first year have:
- Escorted over 500 people safely throughout West Campus
- Hauled away over 30,000 pounds of trash
- Greeted and engaged with over 15,000 visitors
- Removed over 2,000 pieces of graffiti
UT President Jay Hartzell said Wednesday the second year expansion will include expanding the consistency and quality of safety and cleaning services across all the West Campus neighborhood.
The expansion also means the the Safety Ambassadors aspect of the program will be available for extended hours. The Safety Ambassadors will be available 24 hours a day Thursday through Sunday, and 7 a.m. – 3:30 a.m. Monday through Wednesday.
There will also be room for more West Campus Ambassadors, expanding the team from 18 members to 30.
“The safety of our students, faculty and staff continues to be our top priority, and we appreciate the West Campus Ambassadors for all they are doing,” said UT System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin Eltife. “We look forward to seeing the continued revitalization of West Campus and thank President Hartzell for his commitment to improving the area that surrounds our great University.”
According to the university, the West Campus Ambassadors program is “part of the University’s comprehensive safety and security campaign and is the latest safety investment in the West Campus neighborhood since the University of Texas System Board of Regents allocated $8 million for improvements in 2020.”
Since then, UT said it has installed high-activity location observation (HALO) cameras, opened a UT Police Department satellite office, and significantly increased the presence of UTPD foot and bicycle patrols, resulting in a more visible law enforcement presence.
Those interested can learn more about the program online.