At UIUC, we take your safety seriously. You deserve to study, socialize, work, and play in an environment where you feel secure. As part of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s emphasis on student safety, we offer several different resources to give you peace of mind as well as concrete, usable tools to keep you safe.
Illini Alert
In case of emergency, it’s important to stay informed. As a student here, you’ll automatically receive Illini Alert messages to your @illinois.edu email address with real-time updates if there’s an incident happening on or near campus that you should know about. You can also sign up to be contacted by text or at an alternative email address. (Parents, you can sign up for texts, too!) UIUC is intent on transparency and keeping you informed of any public safety issues, which is why we were recently recognized as the top Clery compliance program in the country.
University Police
UIUC has its own police department, which is available 24/7 and focused on preventing crime and providing a safe environment where students can thrive. University Police collaborate with the university community as well as the cities of Urbana and Champaign in order to best serve the public. In fact, with four police departments located within about a mile’s radius of campus, we have one of the most densely patrolled areas in the region. We’re also an accredited Tier II ILEAP agency, which means our policing policies are highly efficient and adhere to the best current practices in law enforcement.
Emergency Phones
UIUC campus has dozens of emergency phones available for students to use on and around campus at any point if they feel unsafe. These phones connect directly to the University Police Department and are monitored 24/7, including holidays. A complete map of emergency phones is available so you’ll know exactly where to go if you need to make an emergency call.
SafeWalks/SafeRides
One of the best ways to stay safe is traveling with others, especially at night. SafeWalks is a free service provided by trained Student Patrol members so you don’t have to walk alone. SafeRides is a free service provided by the local public bus district to provide safe transportation to people who would otherwise have to travel alone. Hours and contact information are available online, or you can use a campus emergency phone to contact SafeWalks.
COAST
COAST—short for the Community Outreach and Support Team—is a campus organization that offers educational safety programming for students, faculty, and staff, as well as social work services for mental health crises and therapy K9 resources. Whether you’re interested in receiving a safety presentation, crisis help, or a stress-reducing visit from a trained therapy dog, reach out to C.O.A.S.T. and see how they can help you stay safe.
Avoiding Scams
Scams might not be the first thing you think of when “campus safety” comes to mind, but keeping your information safe is just as important as staying physically safe. UIUC has a list of advice on how to avoid scams, as well as a record of reported scams that have recently affected students or other campus members so you’ll know what to look for.
Other Ways to Stay Safe
We want every student to have access to the best possible UIUC safety information so every member of campus can feel as confident and safe as possible on and off campus. Check out our list of safety tips to make sure you have all the information you need to feel secure and to know what resources are available to you. Your safety is extremely important to the UIUC community, and we’re committed to keeping you safe and informed.
