That's one of 34 recommendations being released Tuesday. Gov. Matt Blunt created the panel following the deadly schootings at Virginia Tech University in April.

The task force also says colleges should ensure they have adequate police protection and should rehearse emergency plans with local officials. It recommends that teams of academic, law enforcement and mental health officials review information about students who could pose a safety concern.

According to a news release from the governor's office, the Task Force made these recommendations:

• Every campus should have a designated individual to coordinate emergency and homeland security operations, serving as the point of contact with the Missouri Office of Homeland Security
• Each institution’s chief executive officer should ensure that an all-hazard emergency response plan is in place – this plan should be developed in conjunction with local emergency responders
• All colleges and universities should use the Emergency Response Information Program (ERIP) web-based tool to construct their all-hazard plan
• All students, faculty and staff should have regular campus emergency procedure training
• Institutions should ensure that adequate police protection is available
• All members of the campus community should have full time access to on-campus, license mental health services; every emergency plan should include specific mental health responses and practices
• A statewide official representing postsecondary education should be appointed to the Missouri Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC)
• A higher education subcommittee of Missouri ’s Homeland Security Advisory Council should be formed

  In a related development, Ozarks Technical Community College said Tuesday that it has a system to reach students, faculty and staff by text messages.  OTC implemented the system this week.  It lets administrators inform students and employees of campus closings or emergencies via their cell phones.

   “Keeping our campus safe is a constant process,” OTC President Hal Higdon said in a news release.  “It is crucial that we have the ability to reach our students and employees as quickly and effectively as possible in emergency situations.”

   The voluntary system is a part of OTC’s Crisis Management plan, and will be used for emergency information only, such as weather-related closings or campus security emergencies.

  Missouri State University has its own campus security task force.  Administrators here say what the governor wants and what they want are one and the same.  They say changes toward a safer school are in the works.

  "We found many similarities in the governor's report; we did not find any inconsistencies,” said Ken McClure, associate vice president for administrative services.  “We want to look at issues like locks in classrooms, where that's appropriate. We want to look at training for faculty, staff, administrators being aware of what needs to happen and when it needs to happen.  Again, good communication is just the key."

  Most parents applaud the measures but agree that all the precautions can't always prevent the worst.

  “You have certain risks you're going to assume, so I don't think the university can totally take away the risk of something tragic like what happened at Virginia Techm from happening here,” said Gary Kloepper, a parent of an MSU student.