UTSA offers year-round safety services and crime prevention classes

By Tim Brownlee
Assistant Director of Public Affairs

(Jan. 10, 2011)--Safety and security in the UTSA community is a top concern of university officials. Students, faculty and staff should keep in mind these safety and security programs and services provided year-round at UTSA:

• Call the UTSA Police Department at 210-458-4242 at any time to request an on-campus escort to your car or a bus stop.
• In an emergency, call the UTSA Police Department at 210-458-4911. It is recommended to program this number into your cell phone. (From an on-campus phone, simply call 4911.)
• There are more than 60 emergency phones around the UTSA campuses. By pushing the red button, UTSAPD is contacted directly. Additionally, every UTSA elevator has an emergency phone connected directly to UTSAPD.
• UTSA Counseling Services, part of the Division of Student Affairs, offers a variety of services to UTSA students. All services are confidential and available at any time during the workday. Additionally, in an after-hours emergency, an on-call clinician can be contacted. For more information, call 210-458-4140 or visit the UTSA Counseling Services website.
• Safety whistles are available at the UTSA Police Department in the Physical Plant Building (Main Campus), Buena Vista Street Building Room 1.303 (Downtown Campus) and the Crime Prevention offices at University Oaks and Chaparral Village residence facilities.
• The UTSA Police Department offers personal safety presentations. Information is provided on personal safety tips for on-campus residences or off-campus apartments. See the schedule of classes by selecting "Crime Prevention Classes" in the left sidebar of the UTSA Police Department website. For more information, contact Geoffrey Merritt, UTSAPD sergeant, University Oaks III clubhouse, at 210-877-4006 or Melody Piepho, UTSAPD officer, Chaparral Village Neighborhood Center #14, at 210-458-6974.

REVERSE 911 emergency notification system

• The UTSA REVERSE 911 system is an enhanced emergency telephone, e-mail and cell phone text message notification system for students, faculty and staff. REVERSE 911 enables UTSA to rapidly send emergency notifications to students, faculty and staff in an affected area who are registered in the system. Within minutes, thousands can be contacted with vital information.
• Once registered, individuals are active participants in REVERSE 911 and will receive a call, e-mail or text message in the event of a campus emergency. Messages will give pertinent emergency information and protective actions to participants. All three UTSA campuses are covered by the REVERSE 911 system.
• For more information or to register for REVERSE 911 emergency notifications, visit the UTSA Campus Alerts website.

UTSA Campus Alerts website

• Last summer, UTSA launched the Campus Alerts website to keep students, faculty, staff and the general public informed on the status of the university during emergency situations.
• Managed by the UTSA Office of Business Continuity and Emergency Management and the Office of Communications, the site is a single source for information on UTSA closures prompted by inclement weather, health and other emergencies, and construction and maintenance work.
• The goal of the one-stop site is to help reduce confusion by eliminating duplicate messages on various UTSA websites.
• Read more on UTSA Today.

Safety and security tips

• Although assaults are rare on a college campus, it is important to be alert to any suspicious activity. Keep safety in mind by being aware of your surroundings and walking with a friend.
• Be sure to lock doors and windows before you leave your home.
• If you go out for the evening, turn on lights and a radio or television, so the house, apartment or room appears to be occupied.
• For more resources on personal safety, alcohol information and holiday safety, select the "Safety Brochures" link in the ride sidebar on the UTSA Police Department website.