AVP Heath’s Autumn Safety Message

OCTOBER 15, 2020

With the Autumn Quarter underway, I would like to share some important tips and information to help you stay safe this quarter and throughout the year. There are many steps you can take to enhance your safety and security both on and off campus. Some of these recommendations are below; be sure to check the Department of Safety & Security website for regular updates and additional resources.

  • An important asset and resource is the UChicago Safe mobile safety app. The app has numerous features including public safety contact information and the ability to send your location in real-time to a friend so they can keep track as you walk to your destination. We encourage you to download it to your Android or iPhone today, and explore its various functions. For more information, visit the mobile safety app website.

  • Having good transportation options is an important part of staying safe. You can get current information about bus and shuttle availability through the TransLoc transit tracking app, available here or through the UChicago Safe app. If you are concerned about your safety as you walk within UCPD’s service area, you can request a safety escort by calling 773-702-8181. For the latest transportation information, including recent changes to the CTA 171 route, visit the Transportation website.

  • As part of our commitment to campus safety, UCPD implements security technology solutions to deter and apprehend offenders. There are more than 100 emergency “blue light” phones around campus that have been outfitted with security technology including security cameras and call stations that connect directly to the UCPD dispatch center. Blue light stations serve as a visual deterrence to crime, and their cameras have been used to identify and apprehend suspects in a number of crimes.

  • In the event of an emergency, the University uses a system called cAlert to notify members of the campus community via text messages, emails, and automated calls to cell phones and landlines. These emergency notifications, required by federal legislation known as the Clery Act, provide essential information about the emergency and give you instructions on what to do to help keep yourself safe. To ensure that these important messages reach you, log onto calert.uchicago.edu and enter your contact information.

  • Most crimes do not constitute a campus emergency necessitating the use of the cAlert system but may require a separate timely notification to the campus community. As required by the Clery Act, the University sends out an all-campus security alert email should a crime occur on or immediately adjacent to campus that represents a continuing threat. You can learn more about our additional, opt-in notification services regarding off-campus crime by clicking here. More information about security alert guidelines is available on the Department of Safety & Security website.

If you have any questions or concerns about campus safety, I encourage you to contact our team. I wish you a safe and productive year.

Sincerely,

Eric M. Heath
Associate Vice President for Safety & Security

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