The University of Colorado at Boulder and the city of Boulder have collaborated for several years on programs and practices designed to help prevent personal injuries and crimes against students, faculty, staff and visitors to the campus and surrounding city. As new students move onto campus, local safety experts are encouraging the university community to get familiar with safety guidelines, recommendations and services that can help keep the campus safe, including a text-messaging alert system.
CU-Boulder campus safety measures already in place and safety tips include:
o The CU-Boulder Police Department employs 40 full-time officers who patrol the campus and respond to reports of emergencies and crimes 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Students should call 9-1-1 for police, medical and fire emergencies both on and off campus, and 303-492-6666 for non-emergencies on campus and 303-441-3333 for non-emergencies off campus.
o During orientation, new students learn about crime reporting and personal safety resources and how to obtain more safe-living tips in "A Guide to Residence Hall Living," "Ralphie's Guide" and the CU phone directory among other materials. Residence hall advisers, the campus catalog, the Off-Campus Student Services office and the Committee on Personal Safety also can help students with safety issues.
o CU-Boulder uses an emergency text alert system to notify the campus in case of emergencies. Campus administrators encourage all students, faculty and staff to sign up for the service to receive breaking news about campus emergencies. To access the system, the CU-Boulder community should go to cuconnect.colorado.edu/ or /.
o There are more than 50 emergency phone kiosks scattered across the main campus, east campus, Williams Village and Bear Creek Apartments and in the Regent Drive and Euclid Avenue parking lots. Students and others can use them to connect to campus police to report crimes in progress, suspicious persons, medical emergencies or concerns about personal safety.
o All residence hall residents should be conscientious about any strangers trying to enter buildings without an escort or "tailgating." Doors leading to living areas in residence halls remain locked 24 hours a day and visitors should sign in and out at front desks.
o Campus officials encourage students to learn about the prevention of sexual assault and acquaintance rape and the resources that are available for victims. At the CU Office of Victim Assistance, trained professionals can discuss incidents in private and assist with the reporting of assaults to authorities. For information, call 303-492-8855.
o The CU Rape and Gender Education Program, or COURAGE, uses interactive education, peer-facilitated programs and campuswide campaigns to raise sexual violence awareness. For information, call 303-492-4339.
o CU NightRide, created by the CU Student Union, offers free, nighttime escorts to students, staff and faculty around campus and anywhere within the Boulder city limits. To request a ride, call 303-492-7233.
For students visiting or living at off-campus sites, CU and city officials offer the following tips:
o Remember to use the buddy system. Don't walk home alone and don't leave friends alone while out at night.
o Remember to close and lock doors and windows to help prevent burglaries and assaults.
o Report all suspicious activity and persons in on-campus locations to campus police by calling 9-1-1 in emergencies or 303-492-6666 in non-emergencies.
o Report all suspicious activity and persons in off-campus locations to Boulder police by calling 9-1-1 in emergencies or 303-441-3333 in non-emergencies.
o Remember that alcohol impairs judgment and the ability to recognize dangerous situations in time to avoid problems.
o Never leave lit candles, incense or fireplaces unattended.
For more safety information, go to and .