How Maryville University Transforms Student Safety with AI-Powered Intelligence

The Challenge: Elevating Security to Match Innovation

Maryville's pursuit of VOLT AI wasn't triggered by a specific incident. It emerged from a strategic vision to infuse artificial intelligence across every aspect of campus operations. With a student body deeply engaged in STEM disciplines, data science, and cybersecurity, the university recognized an opportunity to demonstrate innovation in campus safety while delivering tangible protection benefits.

The security team faced practical constraints familiar to many institutions: a lean staff of 11 officers responsible for monitoring a diverse campus with 23 buildings, walking trails, athletic facilities, and residential halls. Despite existing camera infrastructure, the reality was that most footage went unmonitored in real-time, limiting the team's ability to respond proactively to emerging situations.

VOLT AI Implementation: A Partnership Built on Flexibility

When evaluating AI security solutions, Brandon established three non-negotiable requirements: comprehensive weapon detection including long guns, pistols, and knives; real-time tracking that maintains visibility after initial detection; and human validation to eliminate alert fatigue. Equally critical was the ability to integrate with Maryville's existing Genetec camera fleet. Other vendors would have required a complete infrastructure overhaul with price tags approaching $1.4 million.

VOLT AI met every requirement while offering something competitors couldn't: genuine partnership flexibility.

• Seamless Integration: VOLT's overlay approach preserved Maryville's existing camera investment, eliminating the need for costly hardware replacements
• Human-in-the-Loop Validation: Every alert passes through VOLT's Security Operations Center before reaching campus staff, ensuring meaningful notifications without alert fatigue
• Real-Time Tracking: Continuous monitoring maintains visibility on individuals even after initial detection, providing crucial situational awareness
• Scalable Growth: The platform adapts as Maryville's security needs evolve and campus footprint expands

Deployed Capabilities

Since implementation in August, Maryville has activated multiple detection capabilities tailored to their campus environment:

• Weapon Detection: Comprehensive identification of firearms and other weapons with human-verified alerts
• Vehicle Loitering Detection: Monitoring for suspicious vehicle activity across campus roadways and parking areas
• People Loitering Detection: Alerts for unauthorized individuals in sensitive areas, including residential halls
• Person Down Detection: Identification of medical emergencies and welfare concerns
• Slip and Fall Detection: Documentation of incidents for student support and liability management
• Fire and Smoke Detection: Early warning for environmental hazards before they escalate

Safety Outcomes: From Monitoring to Meaningful Intervention

While Maryville's implementation is still in its early months, the system has already demonstrated its value through real-world interventions that would have been impossible with traditional monitoring approaches.

Residential Security Intervention

In one recent incident, VOLT's people loitering detection identified an unauthorized individual attempting to access a dormitory at 3:00 AM. The immediate alert enabled security to intercept and remove the person from campus, a situation that could have escalated significantly without real-time awareness.

Student Wellness and Retention Impact

Beyond immediate security responses, VOLT AI has opened new pathways for student support. The system's ability to detect medical emergencies and welfare concerns allows Maryville to identify struggling students and connect them with resources before situations become critical. This proactive approach directly supports the university's retention goals by enabling early intervention and wrap-around care.

Cross-Departmental Value

The implementation has sparked collaboration across campus departments, with teams identifying additional use cases that extend VOLT's value beyond traditional security:

• High-Value Equipment Monitoring: Labs with expensive equipment can benefit from after-hours surveillance
• Facilities Management: Water intrusion detection and other environmental monitoring opportunities
• Athletic Events: Occupancy and density data during tournaments and competitions
• Summer Programs: Enhanced monitoring during youth camps and community events

Looking Ahead: Expanding the Safety Perimeter

Maryville's partnership with VOLT AI continues to evolve. Future plans include extending camera coverage to wooded walking trails currently unmonitored, monitoring exterior campus perimeters near highways where vehicular incidents are common, and leveraging traffic pattern data to collaborate with local law enforcement on signage and safety improvements.

A Partnership in Protection

Maryville University's implementation of VOLT AI demonstrates how forward-thinking institutions can transform campus security from reactive monitoring to proactive protection. By integrating AI-powered intelligence within a student affairs framework, the university has created a safety infrastructure that supports both immediate security needs and long-term student success.

The system's ability to identify welfare concerns, enable rapid intervention, and support wrap-around care reflects a holistic approach to campus safety, one where technology serves the broader mission of student development and institutional wellbeing.

Today's students and families prioritize psychological and physical safety in their college choice. By embracing innovative security solutions that maintain privacy while maximizing protection, Maryville positions itself as an institution that understands what's at stake and acts accordingly.