At the University of Chicago, your safety is important to us.
In this video, we'll share some of the many resources available to help you stay safe
when living and working in a large urban environment.
Getting to know the vibrant areas near the main University of Chicago campus can help
you stay safe.
Hyde Park is an exciting neighborhood with great restaurants, shops, and other destinations
close to campus.
Whether you're on or off the main university campus, the UChicago SAFE mobile app is a
great place to access all the safety resources we'll be talking about in this video.
Please take a moment to download the app on your smartphone.
Around campus, you'll notice nearly 400 emergency blue call light boxes, many of which are equipped
with cameras.
In an emergency, you can push the emergency call button to be connected to the University
of Chicago Police Department, UCPD for short.
You can also use the mobile blue light feature on the UChicago SAFE app if you're within
the UCPD's patrol area.
The mobile blue light works like the physical blue lights, sending your location to UCPD
and triggering a call to dispatch.
In addition to blue lights, a network of cameras and license plate readers have been installed
on campus and in the extended patrol area.
These serve as visual crime deterrents and assist in solving crimes.
Safety ambassadors are trained security officers who patrol on foot and in vehicles, act as
safety points of contact, and can immediately contact UCPD for additional support, resources,
or dispatch of police in the case of an emergency.
You'll find safety ambassadors in various locations on and around campus, including
the 53rd Street business corridor.
Safety ambassadors where high-visibility uniforms to easily identify them as members of the
campus safety team.
You may also see security cars with distinctive green lights around campus.
These green light cars are driven by safety ambassadors within the extended patrol area
seven days a week, in the afternoons and evenings.
Traveling to and from campus is an important part of staying safe.
The university provides many resources to enhance your safety while you're out and about,
including a variety of parking options, free university shuttles, discounts on bike sharing,
and more.
Visit transportation.uchicago.edu to learn about these resources.
For frequently asked employee questions about parking on and around campus, visit the parking
page on the internet.
If you ever feel unsafe walking to your vehicle or cross campus for any reason, you can request
a free safety escort.
The UCPD will send someone 24 hours a day, seven days a week to escort you to your destination.
You can request this service directly in the UChicago SAFE app.
In the unfortunate case of an emergency or threatening situation on campus, you will
be notified by text and email through the university's cAlert system.
All members of the university community are automatically enrolled in the system.
Please take a moment to ensure your contact details are correct by visiting calert.uchicago.edu.
In case of emergency, call 911 or contact UCPD via the UChicago SAFE app for non-emergencies,
you can dial 123 on a campus phone, or 773-702-8181 on your cell phone.
The UCPD is a professionally trained, accredited Police Department that operates on campus
and in an extended patrol area around campus 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Officers receive training on ethics, diversity, fair and impartial policing, and crisis intervention
to help de-escalate situations that may involve a mental health need.
When it comes to staying safe, we're all in this together.
So remember, if you see something suspicious, please report it by calling UCPD or using
the UChicago SAFE app.
There are many actions you can take to enhance your personal safety.
For useful safety tips on living and working in a large city, visit uchicago.edu/safety.
The Department of Safety and Security also offers residential safety assessments to those
who live nearby campus.
Visit the department's website for more information.
Thank you for watching, from all of us at the University of Chicago.