As an eventful summer comes to a close and the start of fall term rapidly approaches, this issue of Public Safety & You has all the resources you need to prepare for a safe return to campus.
Plus: find out what Drexel Public Safety has been up to all summer, and learn about our upcoming September events.
Three Ways to Use Your Phone to Prep for a Safe School Year
Drexel Public Safety (DPS) encourages you to equip your cell phone with the following safety resources:
1. Store DPS’ emergency number — 215.895.2222 — in your phone contacts and label it Drexel Public Safety. The DPS Communications Center is operational 24/7, and dispatchers are available to answer calls for emergencies, walking escorts, or reports of a crime or suspicious activity.
2. Confirm your cell phone number for DrexelALERT, an emergency notification system that provides fast dissemination of critical information to students, faculty and professional staff. You do not have to sign up to receive DrexelALERT text messages — all students, faculty, and professional staff receive them automatically. However, the system’s effectiveness depends upon individuals providing accurate and up-to-date contact information. At the start of each term, you are asked to confirm and update your mobile phone number when you log in to DrexelOne. (Please note: New students will begin to receive alerts approximately six weeks before the start of their first term.)
To proactively confirm your information:
- Log in to DrexelOne.
- Select the Welcome tab from the main menu.
- Select DrexelALERT under the Safety, Security and Support header.
- Update your contact information and select Submit.
3. Download the free Drexel Guardian app to turn your phone into a personalized safety device. Drexel Guardian, available for both Android and Apple devices, provides safety features including an emergency GPS locator, the ability to set a safety timer, the option to manage and message your “guardians” (e.g. family members, roommates, friends, etc.), and the ease of emergency communication through one-touch dialing. For a deep dive into Drexel Guardian and its many features, read “How Does it Work? Drexel Guardian App.”
Bonus — Elect to Receive Alerts for Other Campuses
All Drexel students, faculty and professional staff are automatically enrolled in DrexelALERT for their primary campus.
Now, you may also opt in to receive alerts for other campuses at any time. To do so:
- Sign in to DrexelOne and click on the Drexel Guardian link located in the Safety, Security and Support section, or visit getrave.com/login/Drexel (you must log in with your Drexel credentials and confirm the terms of use).
- Select “Opt-in List”
- Click the checkbox next to the list(s) you wish to join: Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower Health; Drexel University Elkins Park and The Eye Institute; and/or Drexel University’s Philadelphia campuses.
To opt out of an alert that you previously opted into, follow the same steps and uncheck the box next to the list you wish to unsubscribe from. (You cannot opt out of alerts from your primary campus.)
And One More Thing: Follow Drexel Public Safety (@drexelpublicsafety) on Instagram for safety tips, department events, and FAQ Friday, in which you can get answers to frequently asked questions about the department.
How to Request a Walking Escort
Within Drexel’s patrol boundaries (30th to 36th streets and Chestnut to Spring Garden streets): Call 215.895.2222, use a blue-light emergency telephone, or ask any public safety officer on patrol to request a walking escort 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In the Mantua neighborhood (Spring Garden Street to Wallace Street between 31st and 40th Streets): Call 215.895.2222 from 4 p.m. to 3 a.m. (Note: This service was previously provided by University City District).
On the Center City Campus (Vine Street to JFK Boulevard and 16th Street to Broad Street): Call 267.359.2334 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
University City District (UCD): Between 10 a.m. and 3 a.m., UCD Ambassadors provide walking escorts between 30th Street and 42nd Street from Spring Garden Street to Woodland Avenue, and from 42nd Street to 50th Street from Market Street to Woodland Avenue. Call 215.387.3942 to request a UCD walking escort.
Safeguard Your Vehicle Against Theft
While an exciting time, September brings an influx of vehicles to campus and the surrounding neighborhoods, packed with valuable personal belongings. It’s important to stay vigilant, as vehicle burglaries and thefts can happen at any time, day or night. These crimes often occur when personal belongings, such as purses, bags, clothing, laptops and other electronic devices, are left in vehicles. Never leave anything valuable in your car, remember to always lock your vehicle, and never leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has more tips for safeguarding your vehicles.
Own a Hyundai? Extra Safety Resources Available
Drexel affiliates and community residents who own a Hyundai can come to Drexel University Police Headquarters at 3219 Arch St. and pick up a steering wheel lock free of charge. A valid driver’s license and proof of Hyundai vehicle registration will be required to receive the steering wheel lock. As a Hyundai owner, you can also schedule an anti-theft software upgrade for your vehicle by calling 888.498.0390 or going to hyundaiantitheft.com.
Public Safety Supports Move-in and Welcome Week
Drexel Public Safety will be on hand throughout Move-in Weekend (Sept. 13-14) and Welcome Week (Sept. 15–21), providing opportunities for you to get to know officers and safeguard your property. New and returning students, as well as faculty and staff, are encouraged to visit us at any of the following events:
- Resource Fair: Sept. 13–14, Behrakis Grand Hall
- Public Safety Information Sessions in Nesbitt Hall: Sept. 13 (every hour on the hour from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.), and Sept. 14 (every hour on the hour from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.)
- Water Ice with Drexel University Police Department: Sept. 14, 4–6 p.m., Eagles Watch Party at the Daskalakis Athletic Center.
- Property Registration on Race Walk: Sept. 15 and Sept. 19, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., 2–4 p.m. and 6–8 p.m. All students, faculty and professional staff are encouraged to register their bikes, skateboards, computers, laptops, cell phones and larger headphones with Public Safety. The goals of this program are to heighten awareness in the University community, deter would-be thieves, and provide law enforcement with valuable crime-solving information.
- Cookies With Cops: Sept. 16, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Lancaster Walk. Stop by for a sweet treat and conversation.
- Cookout With Cops: Sept. 16, 7–9 p.m., on Race Walk. Join DPS for some grilled goods ahead of Welcome Week’s Movie Night.
- Night on the Row: Sept. 18, Race Street Lawn, 8–11 p.m. Try your luck on our trivia wheel for a chance to win DPS swag and gift cards to campus hot spots.
- SAFE (Self-Awareness for Everyone) Classes: Sept. 19, 12–3:30 p.m. or 4:30–8 p.m. Public Safety’s self-protection program, SAFE, aims to give Drexel students, faculty and staff the practical skills, resources and knowledge to increase their personal safety and protect themselves in an unsafe situation. The program focuses on your mindset, self-awareness, techniques that could assist in the event of a physical assault, and information on how and to whom you should report incidents and any safety concerns.
We Are Here for You When You Need Us
Please call 215.895.2222 immediately if you experience or witness a crime. Drexel’s Public Safety Communications Center is staffed 24/7 to serve you, whether or not you choose to remain anonymous when making a report. It is vital that crimes are reported promptly to Drexel Police so that they can be investigated, and so that Public Safety can connect the victim(s) with proper resources. You can also contact DPS through the Drexel Guardian app. Drexel Guardian will not track you nor share your information unless you initiate an emergency. To download the app, search for “Rave Guardian” in the app store or Google Play store.
Emergency Numbers
215.895.2222 or 911
TTY: 445.221.5436
Walking Escorts
215.895.2222