UIC SAFE App – Your free personal security tool
Walking alone, studying late on campus, seeing something that makes you feel unsafe, needing to chat with police? The UIC Safe app has all those features and more to ensure students' experience on campus is secure and safe. All students and faculty can benefit from the safe app and learn more on how to utilize the most of its resources.
Nicole Sammartino, the Associate Director for Preparedness and Prevention in UIC’s Office of Preparedness and Response and Officer Cesar Canizales, the UIC Police department’s the UIC Police department’s PACE unit (community outreach unit) are two of many people who make the UIC campus a safer community. They continuously learn about the safety needs of students & staff to build a better app and keep UIC safe. Explore the features of the app and get tips from them directly.
Friend Virtual Walk
Felt unsafe walking alone? With Friend Virtual Walk students have the option to send one of their friend's live location and destination information. Access the virtual walk button on the UIC safe app to share location data with friends via a text message link. Friends are not required to have the app. There are two options: finish the trip or make an emergency call...all while the friend is watching on the app. This is Cesar’s number one recommended feature to students when traveling on campus and staying safe. Use this feature next time you’re walking alone on campus.
Gizelle Bautista, a UIC marketing student who commutes, utilizes the UIC virtual friend walk. She likes the feature because it lets her parents, friends, or sister monitor her commute late at night. They’re able to see a red trail of Gizelle’s path and get alerts in an emergency. This feature gives her a peace of mind, knowing someone she trusts can ensure her safety during late hours.
Report a Tip
Seen something that might need to be reported to the police? Students can chat with UIC police and inform them on anything that may have looked suspicious. Simply click on the “report a tip” button on the UIC safe app and be placed into a chat with the UIC police to share tips and photos. Nicole mentions the UIC chat feature is overlooked by a lot of students as a way to chat anonymously.
UIC Police Virtual Escort
Similar to the “friend virtual walk” there is an option to have virtual monitoring. If the location is within the coverage area, students have access to this amazing benefit. UIC police have access to location data and can dispatch officers if the emergency button is pressed.
Work Alone
With the work-alone feature the UIC community has access to a virtual lookout with their choice of an emergency contact. The feature asks you to enter the emergency contact, their number, your exact location (down to the room number you're in), the frequency of your check-ins (15 or 30 minutes), and the duration.
Failure to check-in will result in being sent a message prompting them to check-in. UIC Police will eventually contact the user or their emergency contact to see if they can assist in any way.
Safe Commute
On campus late and need a lift? Travel safely with the safe commute button. With the walking escort services, either student patrol or UIC police will be dispatched to walk users to their destination (within the coverage area). UIC night ride is a safe transportation option that is available every single day of the year between the hours of 10PM-7AM. Paratransit service is another feature that is offered 365 days a year however this feature is available 24 hours a day. Parking offers motorist assistance from anything like battery charging, tire inflation, fuel assistance, and escorts.
Salma Abdelhady, a graphic design student living on campus, frequently uses the UIC Night Ride service. She often relies on it when visiting friends within the coverage area and has consistently had positive and safe experiences. Salma describes it as a "free and safer version of Uber."
Panic Button
The panic button is like having a blue light button in your pocket. When the button is pressed, UIC police receive an alert along with location information. Provide name, number, and a safe word. If the user does not respond or fails to say the correct safe word an officer will be dispatched to the location.
Safety Toolbox
Within the safety toolbox, UIC provides you with an array of resources:
- UIC alert subscription
- registering emergency/mental health contact
- the Counseling Center phone number
- veteran's crisis line
- campus care form
- student legal services
- travel safety roster
- reporting an issue with ice or snow
- registering bike/electronic devices with the UIC police
Support Resources
Here students will find numerous resources right at their fingertips, including contact information for Student Affairs, Dean of Students, Title IX sexual misconduct, Campus Advocacy Network, Counseling Center, Gender and Sexuality Center, Wellness Center, Student Legal Services and the Clery help desk.
Emergency Response Guidelines
The emergency response guidelines button provides guidelines for different types of emergencies one might encounter on campus. For convenience the information is provided offline. Some of those guidelines include natural hazards, active threat, bomb threat, suspicious person, shelter in place, infectious diseases, medical emergency, elevator entrapment, and fire.
Push Notifications/UIC Alert
Haven’t turned on notifications for UIC alerts? This is your reminder to do so! Be in the know every time an emergency occurs on campus. Subscribe to UIC alert notifications in the safety toolbox button.
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The UIC Safe app offers numerous features to ensure campus safety, such as virtual friend walks, police virtual escorts, and emergency response guidelines. The app continuously evolves to meet the safety needs of students and staff. Utilizing these tools, every member of the UIC community can contribute to, and enjoy a more secure campus.