As another academic year begins, here are some reminders about the many free safety services, resources, and educational programs offered by Campus Safety to help you have a great semester.  

Use the Nite Ride service for free, late-night transportation

Nite Ride is a free, late-night transportation service for all UI students, faculty, and staff. The service, which operates daily from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., is powered by an online request application that allows users to request rides from their mobile device or desktop computer using their HawkID. Express rides (directly to your destination) are available for $1. Campus Safety recommends requesting a ride about 20 minutes before you’d like to depart.

Download the safety app, Rave Guardian

The Rave Guardian mobile app allows users to set a safety timer for their walk home, text anonymous tips to Campus Safety, or call the UI Police Department with the touch of a button. Users also have the option to enter emergency contacts and important health information. Sign up with your UI email address for access to the campus network.

Stay informed

Be aware of your surroundings, lock your door, and trust your instincts. Take responsibility for your personal safety by staying informed about what’s happening on campus and in our community, and review these safety tips and FAQs.

Register your bike and invest in a high-quality lock

If you ride your bike on campus, make sure you’re doing everything you can to protect your property. Invest in a high-quality lock, and make sure your bike is registered using Bike Index. While Bike Index registration is free and voluntary, it’s an important step that creates a record of ownership, and registering your bike can help UI Police return it to you if it’s lost or stolen. Learn more about bike theft prevention on the UIPD website.

Understand the difference between emergency notifications and crime notifications

• Emergency notifications: Hawk Alert is one part of the campus emergency notification system. Hawk Alerts notify campus when there is an immediate threat (happening now) to the health and safety of the campus community. These alerts can be delivered via text message, phone call, and email (based on the settings you select). Text message is the fastest way to receive an alert. Make sure your settings are up to date by visiting MyUI or Employee Self-Service.

• Crime notifications: Crime Alert emails are sent to provide timely information about an incident that has already occurred but may pose a serious or ongoing threat to the campus community. These notifications are sent via email when certain crimes are committed within a defined geography and reported to a campus security authority or local law enforcement. It is common for these incidents to be reported to police hours or days after they occur, and Campus Safety sends these notifications as soon as key details regarding the incident are available. These notifications are intended to provide you with the information you need to stay safe and take any appropriate precautions.

Familiarize yourself with Campus Safety, and its free resources

The university has a new website dedicated to Campus Safety. Check out safety.uiowa.edu to learn more about safety resources, training opportunities, reporting options, and how each unit supports campus safety. 

Campus Safety Realignment

The UI Department of Public Safety is now officially the Campus Safety organization. Campus Safety is led by the Assistant Vice President for Campus Safety and includes eight departments that are committed to all facets of campus safety.

These departments include the UI Police Department, Security Services, Emergency Management, the Threat Assessment Team, Security Engineering Services, the Office of Clery Compliance, Emergency Communications, and Fire Safety.

To learn more about each unit and the services they provide, visit: safety.uiowa.edu