Campus Safety

The University of Illinois is home to over 40,000 students, plus many faculty and staff. We are a city within a city, nestled between the communities of Champaign and Urbana.  Overall this is a safe place, as long as you take a few precautions. 
The most reported crime on campus is theft. This is a crime of opportunity. Here are some ways you can take away that opportunity.

Safety Tips

• Never leave your items unattended (at libraries, Illini Union, Campus Rec facilities).
• Lock your residence hall room door.
• Keep your valuables locked in your residence hall room closet.
• Report any unusual or suspicious activity you witness to the police. If you witness a crime, be prepared to provide a full description.
• Trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable in a place or situation, leave immediately. Go to a well-lit area where people are around and do not hesitate to call 911 if you feel threatened.
• If you perceive you are in danger, yell or blow a loud whistle and look for an escape route.
• Plan the safest route: use well-lighted, well-travelled routes. The shortest route isn't always the safest.
• Don’t be afraid to call 911.  We’d rather you be safe than sorry.
• Program an In Case of Emergency or “ICE” number in your cell phone.
• Avoid walking or running alone at night.
• Utilize SafeWalks and SafeRides.
• Walk at a steady pace with a confident stride.
• Be aware of your surroundings and the people around you - especially if you are alone or it is dark.
• Avoid using distracting technology such as smart phones, MP3 players, or anything else that will decrease the awareness of your surroundings.
• Avoid levels of intoxication that will leave you vulnerable and unaware.
• Do not display valuables openly and be cautious when using ATM machines.
• Have your keys ready in your hand so you can open the door to your home or car immediately.
• Property can be replaced - your life cannot. Consider whether or not to resist if a weapon is involved.

Important Phone Numbers
Add these to your cell phone!

Campus Safety Resources
The U of I has its own police department. The University of Illinois Police are real, sworn police officers. In addition to many patrol units, we have a K-9 unit, bomb squad, detectives and crime scene technicians. You will also see police officers from the Champaign and Urbana departments as well.  For more information on UIPD visit: http://dps.illinois.edu/universitypolice/index.html

We also have the Student Patrol who offer SafeWalks:
http://dps.illinois.edu/universitypolice/safewalks.html

And our fabulous Mass Transit District offers Safe Rides:
http://www.cumtd.com/riding/saferides

The University of Illinois has an extensive network of Emergency Phones located in all campus buildings, parking garages and in numerous bus shelters. They are also located on streets and walkways across campus in the familiar lighted emergency kiosks.

The phones are connected directly to the University Police Department and are monitored 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, including all holidays.  The phones can be used to request help, report a crime in progress, report suspicious activities, request an escort or for any other type of emergency you may encounter.

If you need help, press the button on the emergency phone. The call will be answered by one of our on-duty telecommunicators. They will ask you to explain your situation and will send the appropriate help to your location. As part of your safety preparedness you should be aware of the locations of the nearest emergency phones as you move around campus. The locations of the exterior emergency phones are shown on this map.

The University Police sponsors the Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) course for women on campus in order to “develop and enhance the options of self-defense, so they may become viable considerations to the woman who is attacked." These courses are held at different times throughout the year and provide women a chance to develop awareness and risk reduction strategies along with physical defense techniques.

Illini Alerts
Sign up now for the emergency messaging system on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus. The system will provide alerts about emergency situations on campus by way of mass text and e-mail messages. https://emergency.illinois.edu/Default.aspx

Crime Alerts
When a violent crime occurs in or adjacent to the campus district, the Chief of Police sends an email alert to all students, faculty and staff. The email includes the nature and location of the crime, description of suspects, and encourages anyone with information regarding the incident to contact police. You do not need to sign up for this service. For more information visit http://www.dps.uiuc.edu/

Operation Identification makes engraving tools available to students and staff members so they can mark their personal property with identifying information.

The Crimestoppers Program (217-373-TIPS(8477)) is a Champaign County program that identifies a major crime each week and solicits anonymous information to help solve the crime. Information may also be sent through the Web at champaigncountycrimestoppers.com or via text message by sending TIP397 plus the message to CRIMES (274637). The Campus Police department participates in this program, and crimes committed on campus are sometimes highlighted by the program.

Crime awareness meetings are held in the residence halls at the beginning of each semester. Safety stickers are placed on the back side of every residence hall room door listing emergency phone numbers.

Safety whistles are distributed to all new students through their residence hall.  Whistles are available at the Dean of Students Office for any off campus or upper class students who would like one. If you feel you are in danger or witness a crime, blow your whistle to attract attention to your location.