University Housing is committed to the safety and security of our residents. Some safety and security measures include:
Exterior Door Card Access: Exterior doors on all residence halls are locked 24 hour hours a day, 7 days a week. Residents should use their i-cards for entry. Local arrangements for dining hall and classroom access are handled on a hall-by-hall basis. Access to individual residence hall floors are also card-access-only 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please note that all guests must be escorted at all times.
When entering a building or a residential floor, residents are urged to adopt the motto “safety trumps politeness.” If someone you do not recognize as a member of your hall or floor tries to follow you in without swiping their card, use the following statements to question them:
- “Do you live here? Can you use your own card to swipe in?”
- “Who are you going to visit?”
- “Who is your RA?”
- “I’m sorry, but I cannot let you in on my i-card. Please let your host know you are downstairs waiting for them.”
If the person does not comply, alert a hall staff person or contact the UIPD if you believe they are not UI students and do not belong in the community.
Locks on Bathroom Doors: As an added security feature, all common bathroom doors in undergraduate residence halls have been fitted with locks.
Shower Doors: University Housing has installed lockable doors for shower stalls.
Cameras in Common Areas and Exterior Doors: The installation of cameras on all exterior doors is complete. These cameras are a part of the campus surveillance network and will be used for recording. University of Illinois Police has access to the recordings.
Security Patrols: Security officers from the Division of Public Safety patrol all undergraduate halls in the evening and early morning hours, seven days a week.
Resident Suggestions: University Housing is interested in other ideas, requests, and solutions to this community issue. Residents can give feedback at housing@illinois.edu, by attending Leadership Coalition, or through your Hall Council or other Housing student group.
Resident Behaviors: Some effective measures residents can take include:
• Lock your door every time you leave, no matter how long you plan to be gone.
• Lock your door when you're in your room sleeping.
• Don’t leave exterior doors propped open when locked.
• Don’t let suspicious people into the halls.
• Report any suspicious activity to the front desk, hall staff, or University Police at 911 (9-911 from a campus phone).
• Don’t allow people to follow you into the hall after you unlock the door.
• Keep your I-Card with you at all times for identification.
• Never admit an uninvited nonresident into the building. Do not let strangers enter the building by tailgating you.
• Keep a list of important emergency numbers with you.
When an incident occurs, the Police and the Women’s Resource Center staff instructed students that one of the most effective things one can do is to use “verbal defense,” to yell “Police! Stop! No! Get away!” to alert others around you that help is needed, and witnesses in the area should also yell to possibly scare the perpetrator away. Using safety whistles (which are available at the hall/area office as well as at the Dean of Students office) to alert others can also help. Witnesses who can obtain detailed descriptions and quickly report them to the Police are the most helpful. Residents are urged to not put themselves in danger, however, or to chase a possible perpetrator. Call for help immediately.
Safety Tips
Campus Resources