Winter Safety Message

JANUARY 8, 2025

Dear Members of the University Community,

With the Winter Quarter underway, I want to share an update on safety initiatives and resources available at the University of Chicago.

If you haven’t done so already, I encourage you to download the UChicago Safe mobile app. I also recommend that you follow UChicago Safe on Instagram, Facebook, and X for helpful and timely safety-related information.

The information below highlights some of the work that we have undertaken to help keep the people on our campus and in our community safe. You can find a more comprehensive list of our safety initiatives on our website.

  • Crime Reduction: In 2024, the Department of Safety & Security’s (DSS) crime reduction efforts contributed to an approximate 54% year-over-year reduction in robberies on campus and an approximate 38% reduction in robberies in the University of Chicago Police Department’s (UCPD) extended patrol area, which includes campus and the surrounding areas. Any crime that involves a member of our community is concerning, and we work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to deter crime. The University has made substantial investments in safety resources and crime mitigation strategies, including offering safe transportation options to students and employees, funding off-campus cameras that contribute to the apprehension of suspects and help deter crime by their presence, and enhancing staffing levels of UCPD and DSS’ Safety Ambassador Program.
  • Strategic Operations Center: The UCPD’s Strategic Operations Center is now fully operational. This new operations center helps UCPD make real-time and proactive adjustments to police and security deployments while streamlining emergency communications and information sharing with the Chicago Police Department (CPD). The Strategic Operations Center plays a crucial role by analyzing footage from University cameras and license plate readers to assist CPD in determining robbery patterns, positioning UCPD vehicles and security personnel to help deter crimes, and providing the timely information needed to apprehend robbery suspects.
  • Security Technology: In 2022, the University donated $3 million to the City of Chicago to install additional security technology in UCPD’s extended patrol area. This donation has allowed for the installation of more than 100 new cameras and license plate readers near campus. These technologies play a crucial role in deterring crime and responding to incidents quickly.
  • Pedestrian Safety: The University is working with the City of Chicago’s Department of Transportation, which is responsible for the public right-of-way including streets and sidewalks, to complete numerous enhancements to improve pedestrian safety in key areas near campus. During Autumn Quarter, we installed new crosswalk and lane striping, updated signage, and extended concrete curbs or “bump-outs.” These improvements help increase visibility for pedestrians and motorists and reduce the distance that pedestrians must travel to cross the street. Our 2025 plans include installing additional painted “bump-outs,” flexible bollards, yellow flashing crosswalk lights, and speed feedback signs in high-trafficked areas.
  • RideSmart by Via: Through the University’s on-demand rideshare program, students are eligible to book free rides on and around UChicago’s campus from 5:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m., seven days a week. Since the start of the program, the RideSmart by Via program provided students with more than 280,000 rides in the service area, with an average wait time under 8½ minutes. We recommend planning trips in advance whenever possible, taking potential wait times into account. Additional Via vans went into service prior to Winter Quarter to continue expanding service capacity. For the service area and other program details, visit the RideSmart webpage.
  • Public Safety Advisory Council: The Public Safety Advisory Council was established in 2022 as an independent body that provides community input on issues impacting safety and security on campus and in the UCPD extended patrol area. The Council is also meant to generate awareness and transparency about the work of the Department of Safety and Security and the UCPD. You can find a schedule of upcoming PSAC meetings on their website.

Many additional safety resources are available at the University of Chicago; a complete list can be found on our website.

  • Safety Escort Program: Members of the University community who are concerned about their safety for any reason as they walk within the UCPD’s patrol area can call 773.702.8181 to request a safety escort.  
  • UGo Shuttles: UGo is the University’s free shuttle service available to all members of the University community. Shuttles run day and night on campus, around Hyde Park, and to/from downtown Chicago. For information about routes and timing, visit the Shuttle Service webpage. 
  • Emergency Preparedness: Emergencies can happen at any time, and we want you to be prepared. This 7-minute video will help you understand what to do in the event of an emergency on campus and explains some of the instructions you may receive and actions you can take to enhance your safety. For fire safety information and action plans, see this flyer. 
  • cAlert system: In the event of a campus emergency, the University’s cAlert system provides rapid emergency notifications and instructions via text message, voice calls, email, and push notifications through the UChicago Safe mobile app. I recommend visiting the cAlert website to make sure your contact information and preferred device are up to date. 
  • Communications Resources: DSS provides multiple ways to stay informed about crimes that happen on and off campus. This map provides information about the boundaries for the alerts and notifications that the University sends.

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

Sincerely,

Eric M. Heath, Associate Vice President for Safety & Security

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