Biola University has been ranked the fourth-safest university in the United States by Niche, an organization that provides rankings and statistics for schools nationwide.


“A high ranking indicates that there is little or no crime on campus and low drug and alcohol usage and students report that the college provides a safe and healthy environment for students,” states Niche’s website.


Niche ranked 1,127 colleges based on 334,046 survey responses from more than 82,000 students and alumni, as well as data sourced from various government and public data sets, according to their website. Biola University scored high on all evaluations, ranking fourth among traditional four-year colleges and universities behind Wheaton College, Ill., and the Utah and Idaho campuses of Brigham Young University.


Biola's safety can be attributed in part to its enforcement officers working at Biola’s Campus Safety department.


“The staff credited for keeping the campus safe are the student employees, the cadets, the dispatchers, the community service cadets, the gate attendance, and the office assistance, which makes up half of my staff,” said John Ojeisekhoba, Biola's chief of Campus Safety.  


Campus Safety employees work in rotation 24 hours per day, seven days per week.


According to the chief, three qualities describe Biola’s Campus Safety — faith, hardworking dedication, excellent personnel and teamwork.


The campus, conveniently located across the street from a sheriff’s station, has strong relationships with local law enforcement, which enhances safety measures at Biola.


“Biola University has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department that details campus safety responsibilities for criminal investigations and required officer training,” said Ojeisekhoba. “We receive tremendous support from sheriff’s deputies assigned to the La Mirada community station and we work cooperatively on all investigations.”


Along with Biola’s connection with outside law enforcement, students attending the university agree to abide by community standards detailed in the student handbook, one of which requires all students to “abstain from ... the use of alcoholic beverages,” a policy not required at many universities.


Forty percent of violent crimes are committed while under the influence of alcohol, according to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.


The student handbook, Biola’s Campus Safety and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department continue to act as a safety resource for the Biola community.