Tag Archives: Gregory Robinson

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TSU equipped with new mindset, focused on exceptional customer service

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – As Tennessee State University prepares for the new academic year, staff members are embracing a new mindset after participating in an all-day campus-wide customer relations training Wednesday. Led by industry experts and experienced professionals in customer service, the training aimed to better equip staff to serve their clients, specifically students.

President Glenda Glover reminds faculty and staff that customer service is about creating an excellent experience and inclusiveness that honors the TSU brand. (Photo by TSU Media Relations)

Isabelle Langham, Sterlin Sanders, and Greg Robinson, who hold key positions at TSU, expressed their appreciation for the timely training and its ability to help them better serve both internal and external customers.

Langham, the Executive Director of Student Success, commented, “This training is important, especially before the start of a new academic year because it helps us define and identify the needs of our customers.”

Sanders, Assistant Chief Information Officer, added, “This training has been transformative. It offered highly beneficial information and practices that will enhance the overall customer service experience at TSU. This training will support the university brand that ‘Excellence is Our Habit’.”

The training provided valuable insights into effective communication strategies and handling inquiries. (Photo by TSU Media Relations)

Robinson, the Chief of TSU Police and Assistant Vice President, shared his excitement about the insights provided during the training, stating, “I was very pleased and excited about their reiteration of some of the same things we have talked about at this university from the standpoint of public safety.”

The training, which follows the establishment recently of the Customer Relations Office under the oversight of Chief Operating Officer, retired Army Lt. Gen. Jason Evans, engaged participants in interactive discussions and hands-on activities. It provided valuable insights into effective communication strategies, timely handling of inquiries, personalized support, empowering TSU employees to consistently deliver exceptional customer service.

More than 100 employees from various departments across campus attended the training in the Health Sciences Building. (Photo by TSU Media Relations)

At an opening ceremony on the main campus, TSU President Glenda Glover expressed her satisfaction with the participation and commended COO Evans for engaging the services of the industry-leading Moran Consulting firm for the training. President Glover emphasized the significance of customer service in the higher education setting, noting that students are not just customers but also the products of the institution.

“We are happy that these experts are here to work with us and carry us through this process as we become better communicators and better customer relations individuals. Customer service and customer relations are more than just answering the phone, listening to complaints, and solving problems. It is about creating an excellent experience and inclusiveness that honors the TSU brand.”

Jessica Powell is the new Assistant Vice President for Customer Relations.

COO Evans added, “My hope is that this will be the beginning of an ongoing initiative to have the highest level of customer service for our students, faculty, and staff.”

Jessica Powell, Assistant Vice President of Customer Relations, expressed her hopes that the training offered concrete steps for employees to interact with customers at the highest level, both internally and externally. Over 100 employees from various departments across the campus attended the training, demonstrating a commitment to providing exceptional customer service to the TSU community.

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TSU Police Department participates in active shooter training

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – The TSU Police Department participated in an active shooter training on campus, enacting different response techniques in case of an actual on-campus threat. The TSU police department in collaboration with Vanderbilt University and Meharry Medical College police officials hosted the professional training seminar on campus using simunition rounds to assist in accomplishing the training.

TSUPD academy trainees participated in the action packed demonstration as well.

TSU police officers hovers over a manikin posed as a shooting victim during an active shooter training session. (Photo by Aaron Grayson)

“To keep us up to speed in lieu of everything that is transpiring at different schools and universities across the country, we want to be as prepared as possible,” says Chief of Police Gregory Robinson “We do this type of advance training to let our TSU community know we take our safety seriously.”

The training covered headline-grabbing shooting incidents, such as the recent University of Virginia fatal shooting, and provided lessons learned from them, increasing emergency preparedness and understanding critical response.

Robinson says officers are trained to respond to an active shooter and to proceed immediately to the area where the shots were last heard with a purpose of stopping the shooting as quickly and safely as possible.

TSUPD uses simunition rounds and role players to assist in accomplishing the active shooter training. (Photo by Aaron Grayson)

Lt. Tommy Phelps says as these unfortunate situations are more prevalent across the country, TSUPD “prepares for the worse, but we hope for the best.”

“We have held classroom training and group training, but we have never done a formalized training where we are going to have simunition rounds,” Phelps says. “We are trying to teach these officers how to slow themselves down and have more cognitive thinking.”

Phelps noted that the officers gained a better understanding as far as situational awareness and that the effective training will, “make us (TSUPD) even better than what we are.”

Lt. Thomas Phelps speaks with colleagues moments before gearing up for the active shooter training at the Humphries building on campus. (Photos by Aaron Grayson)

Critical situations are dynamic and evolve rapidly, demanding immediate deployment of law enforcement resources to stop a shooting and mitigate harm to innocent victims. The 7-hour training sessions on campus were not open to the public, but Robinson says he looks forward to having a public training session next spring.

Visit this link to check out the active shooter training with TSUPD. 

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New TSU Top Cop Greg Robinson Emphasizes Good Relationship Between Students, Police

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University’s new top cop says a good relationship between students and police will benefit campus security.

Greg Robinson-3 (1)
Police Chief Greg Robinson

Police Chief Greg Robinson had a “meet-and-greet” at two TSU residence halls on April 20, about a month after taking the job. Deputy Police Chief Anthony Carter and several other members of the TSUPD accompanied the alumnus during his visit to Boyd Hall, where Robinson lived as a TSU student, and Wilson Hall.

In his closed meetings with residents, Robinson emphasized personal relationships between students and campus security, increased visibility, and for students to know that “we are here for you.”

“We want to break down all barriers and build relationships where you are comfortable to interact with us and know that your safety is our biggest concern,” said Robinson, who has over 30 years of experience in law enforcement. “You see things that we don’t see. We want to hear from you.”

He said he wanted to speak directly to the residents to let them know his vision for the university, faculty, staff, and “most importantly the students.”

“I attended this institution; I lived in Boyd Hall,” said Robinson.  “I want to let them (students) understand that all we are concerned about is serving this institution and to make it the safest environment.”

Carlos Marvins, a graduating senior in Mass Communications, lives in Boyd Hall and attended the meeting. He said he was impressed with Robinson and believes the university is in the “right direction about security.”

“He seems like … he really cares about the students,” Marvins said. “He has a lot of ideas; he’s young, he’s energized and has a lot of experience. And the fact that he’s a former student makes it even better.”

Robinson plans to visit other residence halls on the campus.

Department of Media Relations

Tennessee State University
3500 John Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331

About Tennessee State University

With more than 9,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a comprehensive, urban, co-educational, land-grant university offering 38 undergraduate, 22 graduate and seven doctoral programs. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University celebrated 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.

 

Robinson plans to visit other residence halls on the campus.

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TSU continues implementation of security plan with new police chief and other safety measures

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University is continuing to implement its 10-Point Safety Enhancement Plan with the hiring of a new police chief and additional safety measures.

University officials announced March 14 that Gregory Robinson has returned to his alma mater to take the top position. Robinson, who has over 30 years of experience in law enforcement, is coming from Vanderbilt University where he was in charge of the entire police operation on the main campus that included nearly 100 police and security officers.

“I’m extremely honored to have been offered and accepted the position of Assistant Vice President and Chief of Police of this prestigious institution,” Robinson said. “l look forward to carrying out the plan set forth by President Glover that will continue to enhance campus safety, and serve the TSU community.“

TSU President Glenda Glover said the University is very pleased with the experience and qualifications that Chief Robinson brings to the University’s public safety program.

“It was important to have an individual with a vast background in law enforcement, and with specific knowledge of higher education public safety policies and procedures,” Glover said. “Our new chief has an extensive and impressive employment history that will further enhance the work we have already begun as we continue to make the TSU Police Department even better as it serves the campus family.”

President Glover commended Interim Police Chief Anthony Carter for his leadership during his time as head of TSUPD.

“I truly appreciate Carter for his hard work and commitment to the University,” she said.

In addition to hiring a new chief, the campus is now enclosed by more fencing and has new traffic control gates that were installed over the last month. The upgrades are part of the University’s safety enhancement plan instituted last October.

The current fencing initiative is nearly 75 percent complete along the west side of the campus and is scheduled for completion this semester. The first phase was completed in January 2015 and included the campus area facing 33rd Avenue, enclosing several residence halls. The fencing initiative is an effort to curb outside pedestrian traffic.

Another component of the plan being implemented addresses traffic control. New traffic gates with call boxes have been installed at several sites. Additional access control devices are being installed as well. Individuals must swipe an active ID badge for access.

These new measures help to fulfill components of TSU’s 10-Point Safety Enhancement Plan that require individuals to have a current ID to move about on campus, whether on foot, or by vehicle. Last semester, TSU opened a police satellite office in the Student Center and established a Student Safety Patrol.

Visit www.tnstate.edu/safety for a comprehensive list of the safety plan.

 

Department of Media Relations

Tennessee State University
3500 John Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331

About Tennessee State University

With more than 9,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a comprehensive, urban, co-educational, land-grant university offering 38 undergraduate, 22 graduate and seven doctoral programs. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University celebrated 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.