The safety of students is our top priority, and the University of Iowa Department of Public Safety works closely with the Iowa City Police Department to provide as safe a community as possible for everyone.
The department does not see any trends that would indicate campus is any more dangerous than in year’s past; however, college students are often more informed about crimes happening near campus due to the Clery Act, which requires that we notify campus about certain types of crimes.
The UIDPS also initiates Hawk Alerts for any significant emergency or dangerous situation occurring on the campus involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students and employees. A full log is available on the department’s emergency website: https://emergency.uiowa.edu/archive.
We strongly encourage those on campus to update their Hawk Alert settings. The fastest way to receive a Hawk Alert via text message. To update your Hawk Alert settings, visit: https://hawkalert.uiowa.edu/
In addition, the UIDPS provides a variety of services and training opportunities to assist those on campus, including:
NITE RIDE: NITE RIDE is a free late-night transportation service for people of all genders. This service, which operates from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily, is powered by a ride request application that allows students to arrange a ride from their cell phone or desktop computer. Users also can pay $1 for an express ride directly to their final destination.
Rave Guardian app: Rave Guardian is a free mobile application that allows students to select a virtual guardian to escort them during their walk home, send anonymous crime tips to the department via text message, and call the UI Police Department with a panic button. Simply sign up using your UI email address to gain access to campus-specific features.
Violent Incident Survival Training: The goal of this training is to mentally prepare students to recognize, assess, and respond to threats of violence they might one day face. Violent Incident Survival Training is based on a flexible set of principles —“Run, Hide, Fight,”— that can be adapted to any violent situation.
Better Men. Better Hawkeyes.: Better Men. Better Hawkeyes. is a free, one-hour program dedicated to promoting healthy masculinity across campus, specifically engaging groups of students who identify as men in places where they commonly come together. The program intends to address sexual violence by fostering large and small group discussions about gender stereotypes and sexual consent among peers.
Rape Aggression Defense (RAD): RAD is a personal safety education course that embodies a practical blend of threat avoidance strategies and real-world assault resistance. The goal of this 12-hour course (completed over three sessions) is to improve self-awareness and gain confidence and knowledge in threatening situations. Curriculum includes basic self-defense techniques and simulations.
SHOUT: The SHOUT (Students Helping OUT) program 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. The program is focused on community service and aims to create an opportunity for students to play an active role in making their campus safe by serving as ambassadors to their peers. SHOUT ambassadors assist with requests such as helping arrange safe transportation, helping students who become separated from their group, and providing public education about the Rave Guardian app and other safety services.
Threat Assessment and Care Team: The Threat Assessment and Care 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. The intent of the program is to protect the safety of individuals and their co-workers or classmates by connecting them with appropriate resources when they are identified as displaying warning signs.
Lunch with a Cop: Throughout the semester, the UI Department of Public Safety will invite student organizations to join officers for a meal in the residence halls, during which they can discuss issues and learn more about each other.