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Written by Lori Mann (Parents Council Member) and Officer Shelly Stevick (University Police and Public Safety (UPPS))

As the parent of a current student, I do not recall giving campus safety much thought when my daughter was considering her college choices. I remember doing research on the quality of certain academic programs, campus facilities, and residence halls, while thinking about costs associated with various options. I’m not sure how this important topic slipped under my radar. I do recall being somewhat terrified when she accepted her offer to attend PSU University Park. The size and complexity of the university seemed overwhelming to me. The fact that my teenager would be moving hundreds of miles away from home to a completely new town not knowing anyone except for her future roommate struck a fear for her safety to my core. Part of me wanted to avoid thinking about the subject of campus safety and just hope for the best. Knowing that Penn State certainly must have the highest quality systems in place to watch out for her safety could have been my path forward – but no. I signed up for the PSUAlert system and realized I needed to know more about those systems and begin having those tough conversations with our daughter about things we needed to consider regarding her safety while at school.

At a recent accepted student orientation, I stopped at the University Police information table and had a short conversation with Officer Shelly Stevick. Officer Stevick and I spoke briefly about campus safety and the resources available to students and parents. We spoke about strategies for staying safe that should be discussed with your students. Officer Stevick has been kind enough to collaborate with me on this article. The University Park Campus Police are working everyday (and night) to keep our students safe, but parents, families, and students also play a huge role in accomplishing this.

Finally, this article is not meant to be a comprehensive review of PSU Campus Safety Policies and Procedures. We are hoping to spark conversations and point parents, families, and students to additional resources. If you have questions, please leave those in the comments below, and we will do our best to address them. There are many online resources both related to Penn State and general college campus safety. We want to highlight some of the basic information here.

The Penn State Police division is a full-service police agency with sworn police officers who have full law enforcement authority. University Police is one, cohesive department serving 22 campuses across Pennsylvania, including University Park. Parents and families should be familiar with the information available on their website. University Policies, Rules, and Regulations are clearly defined and publicly available.

In the process of becoming a member of the Penn State community, each of our students has read and agreed to abide by the Student Code of Conduct. It is a good idea to occasionally review this document as sometimes changes are implemented. Having open conversations about these guidelines with your students is a great idea. Understanding their safety concerns and how those may be different or similar to ours, is important. There are multiple opportunities for parents, families, and students to visit campus; take advantage of those opportunities to familiarize yourself and your students with landmarks both on campus and in town.

Penn State University publishes Annual Security Reports titled “Policies, Safety, & U,” which include crime statistics for the previous three years, campus security policies, and crime prevention and safety awareness programs. These very detailed multi-year reports are the result of the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act and comply with Federal reporting requirements, specifically 20 U.S. Code Section 1092(f). These reports are worth reviewing to better understand potential safety risks on campus and how those are being addressed. The Clery Center is a good resource for campus safety information. The Clery Center's free resource, Staying Safe on Campus: A Guide for Families, is packed with valuable insights, practical tips, and expert advice on a range of crucial campus safety topics.

Penn State has the following safety services in place for all students and faculty. Knowing these systems exist and how to engage them when needed is critical.

Residence Halls: Most thefts that occur on campus stem from a residence hall room being left unlocked and unattended. Whether you live on or off campus, always be sure to lock your door to help safeguard against theft. Most residence halls come equipped with a drawer or closet which can be locked with a padlock. It’s a great idea to use it or leave valuable items at home if possible. Don’t leave phones, laptops, tablets, or other valuables unattended when on campus.

Residence halls are equipped with safety systems to restrict access to residents of that building only. Officer Stevick encourages students not to bypass those systems and make sure that they pull doors shut so that they latch completely. “Residence halls and apartment buildings are private residences, and you should not let strangers or unescorted guests into those buildings,” she said. “And, of course, if you see someone gain access who shouldn’t, don’t hesitate to report it to police.”

On Campus: The PSUAlert system is the emergency notification system used to alert members of Penn State’s campus communities of emergencies, campus closings, and other urgent information. All Penn State students and employees automatically receive PSU Alerts at their Penn State email address. PSU Alert is used to provide the campus community with critical information. Parents and family members can also sign up to receive these alerts. The Penn State Night Map is an excellent resource for students out and about after dark. The map indicates emergency phones, well-lit pathways, and important building entrances. The Safe Walk Program is designed to provide walking accompaniment for Penn State students, employees, and visitors who may feel unsafe walking alone on campus at night. The Safe Walk Program operates out of Auxiliary Police, which is a uniformed student division within the University Police, and is available from dusk to dawn, 365 days a year. Call 814-865-WALK (9255). Encouraging your student to use these services is key.

We are unfortunately living in a time when acts of violence at schools are not uncommon. UPPS urges the faculty, staff, students and visitors to familiarize themselves with Penn State Active Attacker Response Program based on the Run, Hide, Fight™ model. The model offers three steps if confronted with an active attacker - RUN if you can, HIDE if you can't, and FIGHT if needed. In the fall of 2024, UPPS introduced a new learning training course on the Learning Resource Network (LRN) and Canvas platforms, designed to provide faculty, staff and students with a comprehensive understanding of the Run, Hide, Fight model. The information provided will help guide you in the first steps of preparing yourself for the possibility of an active attack, which could be the key to your survival in such a situation.

Community Education: UPPS offers crime prevention and safety training classes and presentations for employees and students. On average, more than 1,000 Penn State employees and students participate in these programs each year (University Police and Public Safety Overview (pdf)). The following programs and others are available: Active Attacker Response Program, Alcohol Awareness, Domestic Violence Awareness, Office Safety & Security, Who We Are and What We Do?, Drug Awareness, Sexual Assault Prevention, Car Seat Safety Check, Ride-A-Long with an Officer, Identity Theft, and Personal Safety Awareness. Students and faculty can sign up for these using the Community Education Request Form.

Whether you are an incoming student just starting your journey at Penn State, someone looking forward to graduating in the Spring, or anywhere in between, campus and community safety should always be a topic on your radar. Parents and families of those students should be fully aware of the safety risks and systems in place and should be having conversations with their students about how to minimize those risks and what to do in case of emergency. Faculty and students can be the eyes and ears of the University Police who take keeping them safe as their top priority. Officer Stevick puts it this way, “What it really comes down to at the end of the day, is that we are all Penn Staters, and it’s up to each of us to watch out for each other. So, if you see something that seems out of place or that is suspicious or concerning, say something.”

Look out for your friends and for other students. We are a community not only dedicated to learning and enjoying our college experience but keeping one another safe on that journey. Parents and families should bring up your safety concerns, have a dialogue with your students and with other parents and University Staff if necessary.

For immediate assistance for life-threatening emergencies, students should call 911. Students at University Park should save the number for University Police (814-863-1111) into their phones.