The safety of university faculty, staff and students is of the utmost importance to University Police. Whether you are a freshman away from home for the first time, or a graduate student working on your Phd, there are steps you can take to ensure your college experience is fun and fulfilling while also remaining safe. Likewise the same guidelines apply to either on or off campus experiences.
Personal safety and the safety of the campus community starts with personal responsibility. We all must assume an active role in our own safety and the safety of the campus community. Learn to be observant and aware of your surroundings. If you notice suspicious activity, observe a crime, or just see or hear something that's a potential safety threat, report it to your supervisor or call UPD. If you see or hear something, say something!
Guidelines
- Keep your doors locked, whether you are home or out. Many students in the dorms will leave their doors open or unlocked while visiting with friends or taking a shower. This leaves opportunity for theft or intruders.
- Keep your property with you. If you鈥檙e in the library studying or at a cafe off campus to use the free Wifi, take your belongings with you if you have to leave for any reason. Leaving things like cell phones, laptops or other valuables unattended can result in theft.
- Know your neighborhood and where you are at all times. Don鈥檛 wander into strange areas or places where you don't know anyone, particularly during late night hours. Use well lit roads when walking and take advantage of public transportation whenever possible.
- Use the buddy system. If going out, always have at least one other person with you. Make sure your friends or family know where you are going and when they should expect you back. This is not only helpful in timely notification of a problem or issue but also helps prevent unnecessary calls to police.
- Ride share/Uber/Lyft, make sure the vehicle license plate, make and model all match the information on the app. Verify the driver identity before entering the vehicle and never make agreements with a driver to arrange travel outside of the app.