Staying safe: important reminders

Dear Faculty, Staff and Students, 

Welcome to the 2025-26 academic year! At the start of the year, your well-being is at the heart of a great academic experience. Public Safety invites everyone to take a moment to review a few simple steps that help keep our campus safe. 

As a follow-up to last week’s message regarding recent news about increased immigration enforcement, please know that university leaders and Public Safety continue to closely monitor the situation, and no changes to university operations are expected.  

To prepare for a range of possibilities, Public Safety officers are trained to respond if federal law enforcement or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) come to campus. Housing and Residence Life has also trained professional and student staff to contact Public Safety should any federal law enforcement show up to campus, especially in the residence halls. Residence Life staff have also been trained to ensure that students living in residence halls have access to support and resources if concerns arise. 

To keep our spaces secure, community members are reminded not to allow “tailgating” into residence halls or other restricted areas. Please close doors fully behind you. 

If you need support, resources are here for you, including Public Safety’s safety escort service, inter-campus shuttle, and Vinnie Van. The inter-campus shuttle provides rides in the evening to help students travel safely between campuses, and the Vinnie Van provides rides to nearby residences. The Office of General Counsel provides updated FAQs and Know Your Rights resources related to ICE. And if you ever feel unsafe, please call Public Safety. Our university community is highly encouraged to save Public Safety’s number in your phone: 773-325-7777 (Lincoln Park) or 312-362-8400 (Loop). 

Staying connected is another way we can look out for one another. Please keep your contact information updated in Campus Connect for DPU Alert so you receive timely notifications about emergencies on or near campus. 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. 

DePaul wants everyone in our community to feel safe and stay safe​, with many ways to support your own well-being and the safety of others. Your partnership in staying alert, making use of resources, and looking out for one another helps keep our campus a place of care and security. 

Sincerely,

Bob Wachowski 

Director, Public Safety