The University of Chicago

The University of Chicago

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Community Safety FAQ

Answers to general questions community safety.

What are the late-night transportation services the University provides?

The late-night transportation services consist of an Evening Bus Service, a SafeRide on-demand van service, and Umbrella Coverage provided by the University of Chicago Police Department.

In response to the violent attacks on November 19, two additional vans were added to the SafeRide Program and the start time was changed from midnight to 5pm We expect to make additional improvements to that service as soon as we can determine—with community input—what changes would be most effective. Enhancements under consideration include additional vans as well as changes to routes, policies, and other operational aspects of the program to better meet the needs of the University community.

For more information about the UCPD Umbrella Coverage and other personal safety programs please call 773.702.8181 or visit the Office of Community Affairs.

Evening Bus Service

Evening Bus Service is available during the academic year, the University operates four routes (North, East, South, and Central) of evening bus service throughout the Hyde Park-Kenwood neighborhood during the academic year. Buses operate on 20-minute schedules and depart from the front of the Regenstein Library.

Buses operate Sunday–Wednesday from 6pm to 2am and Thursday–Saturday until 3am. Drivers will stop to pick up or drop off passengers along any of the established routes. A University of Chicago ID is required to ride the buses.

During the summer and academic breaks, alternate routes, A and B, provide reduced service. Route A is a combination of service for the North and East evening routes. Route B is a combination of service for the South and Central evening routes.

SafeRide Program

An on-demand van service is available Sunday–Wednesday from 5pm to 4am and Thursday–Saturday from 5pm to 6am for students and employees located in the University Police area of coverage (39th Street to 64th Street, Lake Shore Drive to Cottage Grove Avenue). Individuals should call 773.702.2022 and give their precise address for pick-up, and have their University ID ready when boarding the bus. Delays in pickups may occur since the buses operate on a “first call, first come” basis. We strongly encourage riders to be patient until the van arrives to ensure safe travel.

Umbrella Coverage

Anyone within the University Police coverage area may request a police escort at any time if they feel uncomfortable with their surroundings. Call 773.702.8181 and give your location; the first available patrol car will be dispatched to accompany you as you walk to your destination.

What improvements have been made in recent years to police services?

The University of Chicago Police Department (UCPD) has worked to keep our communities safe for more than 40 years. This professionally trained force operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days per year.

Over the past decade, we have expanded University Police coverage from 39th to 64th Streets and Cottage Grove Avenue to Lake Shore Drive. Our budget for police protection has increased by more than $1 million over the past three years with the additional budget funding 15 new FTE police officer positions. With a current annual budget of $5.5 million, the University employs 146 state-certified officers who have full police powers. They respond to emergency calls, patrol neighborhoods, listen to residents’ concerns, and more. Their location and staffing allow them to respond very rapidly to incidents and safety requests in their coverage area.

We have spent an additional $1.5 million on emergency phones over the past four years. Currently, we have 329 emergency phones located throughout our coverage area, and we continue to add new phones as we evaluate the environment on campus and in our surroundings neighborhoods.

To reach the UCPD in an emergency, dial 773.702.8181 or press the red button on one of the emergency phones located in the area. For non-emergency requests please call 773.702.8190. Suggestions on security enhancements in or around campus may be sent by email to communityaffairs@uchicago.edu.

What is the safety alert system at the University of Chicago?

The University has two safety awareness and alert systems in place.

Safety Awareness Alert System

The system used to alert the campus community and others who register about specific crime incidents is the Safety Awareness Alert system. This system is not designed to report every crime in the community; it is an email communication system that provides factual information about certain crimes and crime patterns to help the community make prudent safety decisions. An incident prompts a safety awareness alert when particular precautions are warranted or when an unusually violent or high-profile crime is reported. An incident prompts a Safety Awareness Alert when:

  • a crime against a person occurs within the University campus area;
  • the police believe particular precautions are warranted to avoid encountering an offender;
  • an unusually violent crime—such as sexual assault or homicide—has been reported; or
  • a crime has become the subject of widespread community discussion and an alert is needed to replace rumor with facts.

Safety Awareness Alerts briefly describe what happened, when, and where; descriptions of the offender are given if the victim’s report is sufficiently detailed to aid in identification of a specific suspect. Safety Awareness Alerts do not identify the victim by name, exact address, or University affiliation, nor do they report domestic crimes or crimes where the victim knows the offender.

Emergency Notification System (cAlert)

The Emergency Notification System, called cAlert, enables authorized University officials to reach members of the University community through mechanisms other than regular University email and telephones. The new system can transmit short notifications by email to any outside email address, by text message to a cell phone, or by voice message to an off-campus telephone. This system allows the University to contact individuals in case of emergency, a University closing, or some other event that requires rapid, wide-scale notification of the community.

What other safety resources are available?

Below is a list of websites that provide a variety of information about safety:

What data are available regarding the incidence of crime on and around campus?

Violent crime (murder, sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault and battery) has been relatively unchanged from 2004–2006 in the patrol area of the University of Chicago Police Department, which includes 39th to 61st streets and Cottage Grove to Lake Shore Drive. However, violent crime during that three-year period has decreased in Hyde Park-South Kenwood and increased in Woodlawn.

More detailed crime statistics:

How can parents and family members of current students stay informed?

If your student is enrolled in the College, please contact your student’s College adviser or Susan Art, the Dean of Students in the College, at 773.702.8615 or art3@uchicago.edu. If your student is enrolled elsewhere in the University, please contact the Office of the Vice President and Dean of Students in the University at 773.702.7770 or Sheila Yarbrough, Associate Dean of Students in the University, at sayarbro@uchicago.edu.

President Robert Zimmer and other University officials have sent several messages about past safety incidents to the campus community and to parents, and these messages are posted to this website. Regular updates will be posted here as new information becomes available.

What is the University doing to address the underlying issues of poverty and unequal opportunity that contribute to crime in the community?

Throughout the University of Chicago are students, faculty, staff, and alumni who dedicate their time, energy, and talents to strengthening the neighborhoods of the mid-South Side and the city of Chicago. As a research institution, the University devotes considerable resources to studying the issues that deeply impact our communities, our society, and our world. The University has undertaken a number of specific initiatives, in partnership with government and community organizations, to improve the quality of life in our surrounding communities. These efforts include charter schools and school partnerships to improve the public education system; provision of medical care to many members of our community; programs to enhance the availability of jobs for residents of the mid-South Side; and investments in housing, retail, and public amenities. Over the past five years, the University has invested more than $70 million in these and other community engagement initiatives. For more information on these efforts, visit the Office of Community Affairs.

campus emergency phone