UH named one of nation’s 100 safest colleges

The University of Hawaii at Manoa ranks among the 100 safest colleges in the nation, according to the latest Safest Colleges in America report by the National Council for Home Safety and Security.

The UH flagship campus ranked No. 74 overall out of 2,167 four-year colleges and universities included in the study. The University of New Hampshire at Durham ranked No. 1.

Only universities with at least 15,000 students were considered. The schools were ranked based on recent data from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting and the National Center for Education Statistics. The criteria included criminal violations, crimes under the Violence Against Women Act, arrests for drug and firearm violations, and local crimes.

“We recognize that campus safety can be an important factor to consider in the college decision process and we pride ourselves on our efforts and collaboration within our community, and our partnerships with the people we serve that make UH Manoa a safe place to work, learn and live,” said Deborah Huebler, director of campus services and interim chief of the UH Department of Public Safety, in a statement Thursday.

The most recent UHM Annual Security and Fire Safety Report noted zero incidences of murder, manslaughter, non-forcible sex offenses, aggravated assault, liquor law arrest and weapons possession violation in 2015.

Over the same span, there were decreases in the number of sex offenses involving forcible fondling, domestic violence, motor vehicle theft and liquor law violations and slight increases in cases of dating violence, stalking and burglary. Drug-related violations referred for disciplinary action increased from 417 to 508 cases.