Iowa has earned its reputation for being a safe place to live and study. Students are partners with the university in protecting their own safety, and the university provides a number of resources to help them stay safe:

The Department of Public Safety’s Police Division, with headquarters in downtown Iowa City, has sworn, certified police officers to patrol the campus. The department’s investigations division has specialized training in helping victims of sexual assault. Learn more and download annual security reports at police.uiowa.edu.

The Hawk Alert System notifies the campus community of threats to physical safety via telephone, text, and email messages and/or an outdoor warning system. For details, see hawkalert.uiowa.edu. 

The Office of the Sexual Misconduct Response Coordinator works with victims or complainants of stalking, sexual assault, or relationship violence to stop problem behavior and remedy its effects; more info is at osmrc.uiowa.edu. The Rape Victim Advocacy Program, at rvap.uiowa.edu, provides free, confidential advocacy as well as prevention education.

The Rave Guardian mobile app allows users traveling alone to invite friends, family, or UI public safety dispatchers to act as a virtual safety escort as they travel across campus. For more information or to download the app, visit bit.ly/uiraveguardian.

Code Blue telephones are strategically placed around campus to give students immediate access to UI police officers. Students should also add area police departments to their contacts list (UI, 319-335-5022; Iowa City, 319-356-5275) and dial 911 during emergencies.

Nite Ride provides UI students of all genders with safe transportation between
10 p.m. and 5 a.m., while SafeRide offers free, late-night transportation in an emergency situation. Also, the UI’s free bus service, Cambus, runs frequently.

SHOUT (Students Helping OUT) provides trained student ambassadors to patrol during student-sponsored events, student gatherings, and in downtown Iowa City during high-traffic weekend hours with a focus on bystander intervention and overall safety.

Education programs offered through the public safety department include Violent Incident Survival Training, Rape Aggression Defense, Personal Safety and Self Protection, and Alcohol Awareness, among others. Learn more at police.uiowa.edu.

The Threat Assessment Team is dedicated to the early identification, assessment, and management of incidents and behaviors that threaten the safety and well-being of the university community. Learn more at hr.uiowa.edu/tat.

Above all, encourage your student to lock their door at all times and to explore alternate exits, especially if living on campus, to speed up evacuations for fire drills.

For additional information on campus safety resources, visit police.uiowa.edu.