Dear Faculty, Staff and Students,
As Public Safety does at the beginning of every quarter, I want to take a moment to remind our community about safety resources and emergency preparedness. In light of heightened awareness following recent events at Brown University, this reminder underscores the importance of vigilance, care and readiness. With the safety and well-being of our community as our top priority, Public Safety is sharing the following reminders and resources to help ensure you know how to respond in an emergency and where to turn for support.
Active shooter threat training
DePaul Public Safety and the Chicago Police Department will host an in-person active-shooter threat training on Monday, Jan. 26 from 3 - 4:30 pm in the Student Center, room 314AB, on the Lincoln Park campus. Faculty, staff and students are welcome to attend. Register on DeHub (link removed, event has passed).
If you are unable to attend the session on Jan. 26, Public Safety can also provide training for individual departments and student groups. To schedule a training, contact information is available at the bottom of this message.
In addition to training, I encourage everyone in our community to review the following emergency preparedness reminders.
Responding to an active threat – Run, Hide, Fight
If you hear gunfire, shouting, screams or commotion, react immediately.
I encourage all faculty members especially to practice using door barricades in the classrooms where they teach. Knowing how to use these devices before an emergency is critical.
Reporting suspicious activity
Report any suspicious activity on campus immediately to Public Safety at 773-325-7777 (Lincoln Park) or 312-362-8400 (Loop). Suspicious activity is observed behavior or circumstances that appear unusual, out of place or raises concerns about potential criminal conduct. This may include:
- Unusual noises such as glass breaking, gunshots, screaming or yelling
- An individual roaming hallways, peering into rooms or checking to see if doors are unlocked
- A bag or package left unattended
- Vehicles parked hastily and abandoned while still running or with doors left open
- Objects being thrown from a vehicle
- A prolonged interest in or taking pictures/videos of buildings or security features in an unusual or covert manner
Emergency Notification Systems
DePaul would alert the campus community to an on-campus emergency, including an active threat situation in several ways:
DPU Alert
DPU Alert notifies the DePaul community of an emergency on or around campus via text, voice call and email. Be sure to verify your contact information for DPU Alert in
Campus Connect. In an active threat situation, DPU Alert will be used to communicate which campus is affected, either Loop or Lincoln Park, and will direct you to take action, such as getting to a secure location.
Emergency speakers
All university-owned buildings and the Quad have speakers that allow for audible announcements of emergencies. These speakers will be used to announce the current threat inside buildings at the affected campus. Similar to DPU Alert messaging, you will be directed to take appropriate action such as getting to a secure location.
Fire Alarm
In the event of a fire, you will hear a loud siren and see activated strobe lights. Immediate evacuation is required when a fire alarm sounds. Please note – a loud siren inside buildings indicates the presence of fire or smoke and is NOT used for any other emergencies.
Review general safety tips
Beyond campus, the City of Chicago offers additional tools, including
Notify Chicago text alerts and the
OEMC app. The app also features the CHI Safe Walk tool, which allows you to share your live location.
Thank you for reviewing this information and for supporting one another. Your care and readiness play an important role in maintaining a safe and secure campus environment.
If you have questions regarding emergency preparedness or are interested in training for your department or student group, please reach out to Cheryl Hover, associate director of emergency management, at 312-362-7078 or
chover@depaul.edu.
Sincerely,
Bob Wachowski
Director, Public Safety