LOS ANGELES (CBS) — USC announced plans to increase security west of the school’s Exposition Park campus by deploying USC security ambassadors, campus police and security cameras.

The school will assign 12 public safety officers and 12 civilian security ambassadors to patrol apartment buildings west of Vermont Avenue in the city’s Jefferson Park area. An additional 12 people will watch 40 new security cameras that were being installed primarily west of USC.

“This is an extremely-significant change to our security strategy, said USC President C.L. Max Nikias, in a statement distributed by the school. “Hundreds of our students are choosing to live west of Vermont, and I felt it was very important to offer them the same level of security enjoyed by students living north of campus.”

The area has experienced a 50 percent decrease in the types of crimes that are required to be reported to the federal government, according to the school.

The majority of fraternities and sororities and student-oriented apartments and group houses are clustered to the north of the campus.

Recently more students have moved into Jefferson Park, where USC Department of Public Safety chief Carey Drayton said crime rates are already low when compared to nearby areas.

“This is a proactive approach to maintain the safety we currently enjoy,” the chief was quoted as saying in a USC news release.

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