College is an exciting time; whether you’re a new student or a seasoned pro, knowing how to stay safe and secure on campus is essential. At Maricopa Community Colleges, the safety and well-being of students, faculty, and staff is a top priority across our 10 colleges and 31 satellite locations. On each college campus, there is a dedicated College Police Department that diligently patrols the premises, offering services such as on-campus escort between buildings and parking lots, safety programs, and response in the event of an emergency situation.
We’ve compiled a few campus safety tips to help Maricopa Community Colleges students stay safe on their campus.
Keep Your Contact Information Updated
All Maricopa Community Colleges students and employees are automatically enrolled in a RAVE Alert emergency notification system. It’s crucial for you to keep your contact information, including cell phone number and email address, updated in SIS (students) and HCM (employees). Students, faculty, and staff looking for an extra layer of security are encouraged to download the RAVE Guardian ™ app to their mobile devices.
Know Your Way Around Campus
It’s important to take time to explore your campus and familiarize yourself with its layout. You should know where the main buildings, emergency services, and safety resources are located. Not only will this make you more confident about navigating your campus, but it will also be beneficial in an emergency.
Wear Your ID Cards
Each campus issues students and college employees free identification cards for safety and security purposes. Students and staff members should visibly wear their ID badges. These badges help campus security and staff members easily distinguish between students, staff, and visitors who should be on campus and those who should not.
Use a Campus Security Escort After Dark
If you need to be on campus after dark, make sure you are not alone. Stick to well-lit areas, walk with friends or classmates, or take advantage of campus escort services. Our colleges offer escort services, which means a security officer will safely accompany you to your vehicle or destination on campus.
Safety Tools
Carrying a safety tool, such as a whistle or personal alarm, can be an effective self-defense tool in an emergency. Using a whistle or personal alarm can attract attention and alert others to your situation.
Know the Location of Security Systems on Campus
Beware of the location of security cameras, emergency phones, and alarm systems on campus. If you ever feel threatened or need immediate assistance, you can use these security systems to contact campus police.
Always Have Emergency Contacts in Your Phone
Ensure you have emergency contacts saved in your phone, including campus police and security, local police non-emergency numbers, roommates, friends, and family members. Remembering phone numbers can be challenging in an emergency.
Important Maricopa Community Colleges numbers to add to your contacts include:
- For general information and non-emergency campus assistance, call 480-784-0900.
- For emergency assistance on all Maricopa Community Colleges properties, call 480-784-0911.
Report Suspicious Activity
If you see something that looks out of place or suspicious, report it to campus police immediately. Trust your instincts, and don’t be afraid to speak up. By taking action, you may be able to prevent a potential crime from occurring.
Be Prepared for Emergencies
In the event of a major emergency occurring on your campus, students, faculty, and staff are notified via text message with key directives that should be followed. Furthermore, messages will be emailed and posted to the college and the Maricopa County Community College District websites. Other notifications students and staff may receive include:
- Audio alerts, such as loudspeakers, bullhorns, and sirens;
- Visual alerts, such as ALERT Beacons and message boards; and
- Person-to-person directives from College police officers to other authorized personnel, such as door-to-door, direct phone class, phone trees, and local media, as appropriate.
Know Key Terms
Students, faculty, and staff should know key terminology that may be used in messaging, such as:
- Advisory – for informational purposes of an incident on or near a campus, which may impact normal operations.
- Alert – notification of an emergency situation that may impact life safety.
- Evacuate – to leave a room, building, or campus in a timely and orderly manner.
- Lockdown – to secure an area by locking doors and windows and barricading/blocking entry to a room, building, or campus.
- Persons with Disabilities – persons with disabilities need to work with their instructors and/or supervisors to ensure that someone in the same or adjacent area is assigned to assist.
- Shelter-In-Place (also secure-in-place) – to take immediate shelter where you are, such as at home, work, or school, usually for a short time.
Counseling Services
It’s crucial to take care of your mental health. Don’t hesitate to seek help if you are struggling with your mental health. If you need extra support managing changes, stress, overcoming challenges, or managing a crisis, visit Counseling Services on your college campus for confidential services. Learn more strategies to manage stress and anxiety.
At Maricopa Community Colleges, we prioritize our students' safety and strive to make their college experience both secure and positive. Students can actively contribute to their safety and well-being on campus by being prepared, staying aware of their surroundings, and trusting their instincts.