We understand that safety and security is very important to students and their families; we share this value and believe that safety and security is a shared responsibility. 

Información en español

A Shared Responsibility

It is the expectation that residents agree to take primary responsibility for their own safety and security, and to support the safety and security of others. OSU and UHDS will work cooperatively with residents and with our OSU colleagues to promote a safe and secure environment, although absolute safety cannot be guaranteed. When signing the UHDS contract, students agree to read and abide by security policies and precautions stated in the UHDS Policy Guide and other university publications made available to them.

Any student who is concerned about a risk or threat of safety for themselves or others, or who has concerns about property damage, security risk, or significant disruption, should contact a housing staff member in their building or at a Service Center. If the matter is urgent, call the  Department of Public Safety at 541-737-3010. The sooner we know about something, the sooner we can intervene.

Buildings + Staff

Building Security

All residence halls have three locked security points.

  • Exterior doors. All outside doors of each residence hall are locked 24 hours a day. Students who live in the building may enter by swiping their OSU ID card at the proximity access device at each entrance.
  • Entry points to residential wings. There is a second locked point of entry at elevators, stairwells, and/or entrances to residential wings. Students who live in the building can enter these areas by swiping their OSU ID card.
  • Room doors. Students are issued a room key when they check in at the beginning of the year. We recommend that students lock their room doors when they are not in their rooms.

Courtesy Phones

A courtesy phone in a bright yellow box is located outside every residence hall entrance to allow guests to call residents and announce their arrival. This phone can also be used to call 911 if necessary.

 

UHDS Staff

Residential Education staff help provide security inside residence halls.. Each University Housing & Dining Services building has a Residential Education staff member on duty from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. every day. Residents can contact the staff member on duty using the duty phone number posted in each building. These upper-division students are available to assist residents with all questions and concerns and have extensive training to handle emergency situations.

In addition, a Residence Hall Director or an Area Coordinator is available 24 hours a day. These full-time, live-in professionals, with a background in higher education, are always available by cell phone to assist in escalated or crisis situations.

 

OSU's Department of Public Safety

In addition to Residential Education staff, OSU's Department of Public Safety, which includes Public Safety Officers and Police Officers, work to make the OSU campus a safe environment. Emergency Lights are strategically placed throughout the OSU Campus, providing a lighted walkway and emergency access to the police. By pressing the call button on the pole, a blue light is activated, providing a beacon signal while immediately connecting the caller to the campus Department of Public Safety dispatch center. For more information on campus security and safety tips, visit the OSU's Department of Public Safety website.

Security Cameras

 

To enhance safety and security efforts within the halls, family housing apartments, and dining centers, security video cameras may be placed in a hall, lobby, or other public area. These cameras are typically in set locations. However, if there is a concern for property damage or personal security, cameras may also be temporarily placed to monitor an area. To ensure personal privacy, the cameras are located in areas where people would not expect to be private. No cameras are placed in restrooms or resident rooms.

These cameras are not continuously monitored but are intended to be used in investigations of alleged policy violations. If images are needed to address property damage or personal security concerns, the OSU Department of Public Safety is the coordinating agency assigned to control access to that information.

Questions regarding the cameras or the use of recorded information can be directed to UHDS.

Fire Safety

 

Fire safety is top concern of UHDS, OSU, and the Corvallis Fire Department. The Residential Education Staff conduct a minimum of one fire drill per residential facility per term to practice the safe and orderly evacuation of the building in the event of a real fire or emergency. UHDS also employs an Operations & Facilities Coordinator, who in concert with the Corvallis Fire Department conducts training sessions for students and staff. The Corvallis Fire Department performs annual fire safety inspections of all facilities during the Fall Term. Follow-up inspections are conducted within three months of this annual inspection. You can also access resources from the U.S. Fire Association to learn more about fire safety.

Students are expected to know and follow appropriate evacuation procedures during an incident where the alarm sounds and the building must be evacuated. Information about this responsibility can be found in the UHDS Policy Guide section on Evacuations.

Personal Safety

Living Safety in a Community

Ultimately, community security is a shared responsibility between you; other residents; and university staff members. We care about the comfort and safety of our residents and we encourage them to take all reasonable steps to ensure their personal safety and security. Common sense and crime prevention strategies can help ensure the student's safety and security.

Find additional crime prevention information from OSU's Department of Public Safety (541-737-3010).  Students can also contact the Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards (541-737-3656) to report safety concerns or to learn more about the community standards that students are held accountable to as members of the university community.

 

Safety Tips
  • Keep your room door locked when you are not present.
  • Do not prop outside doors open. Do not let strangers into your building.
  • Do not leave your belongings unattended in public or common areas.
  • Be aware of what is going on around you.
  • In remote areas, walk with a friend when possible or carry a mobile phone. At night, walk in well-lit corridors of campus and try to avoid walking alone.
  • If you do not feel comfortable walking, use the SafeRide Shuttle Service or call the Department of Public Safety for a safe escort.
  • Use the buddy system. Watch out for each other.
  • Remember, alcohol and drugs can impair perceptions of and reactions to situations. Be especially careful if you drink, and if you're with someone who has been drinking. We encourage you to make a plan about how you will be safe and watch out for others.
  • Trust your instincts. If you feel unsafe, get to a safe place and call for help. Emergency Light Phones that connect directly to the Department of Public Safety can be found at many locations on campus.