Please direct any questions or information about crimes to the Department of Public Safety.
SAFE-U Alerts
SAFE-U is the University’s emergency mass notification system. Rapid notifications in emergency situations are sent to students, faculty, and staff for incidents that occur within the University’s Clery Geography. As part of the Clery Act, all students, faculty, and staff are required to receive emails with SAFE-U Alerts. You can also change your contact preferences in MyU regarding text and phone call notifications.
Types of Alerts
SAFE-U Emergency Alerts are issued when police confirm that a significant emergency or dangerous situation that poses an immediate threat to campus has occurred and the campus community should take immediate action to preserve safety.
These steps include:
- Use caution if you are in the area
- Avoid the area
- Shelter in place until an all-clear is given
- Evacuate the building
- Run Hide Fight. If you can safely leave the area, leave. If you are unable to leave the area safely, find a safe and secure location to hide. If you are left with no other option, use materials at your disposal to fight the active threat
SAFE-U Advisory Alerts are issued when emergency response personnel confirm that a crime that occurred within University Clery Geography could pose a serious or ongoing threat to the campus community but does not require immediate action.
Severe Weather Alerts are issued for thunderstorm and tornado weather warnings in our area, meaning the event is occurring and can pose an immediate threat to life or property.
Update your preferences
All students, faculty, and staff are automatically enrolled in SAFE-U Alerts. Text and phone call methods may be updated or changed within MyU. You can update your preferences by taking the following steps:
Log in to MyU→ Select My info→ Select Manage SAFE-U Alerts →Select My Profile
You can also choose to receive alerts from any of our system campuses by following the steps above, but choosing My Information instead of My Profile. Please note that you will receive duplicate alerts for each of your preferred contact methods.
If you have trouble updating your contact information and preferences, contact the support team at [email protected].
Dinkytown Alerts
To enhance safety communication with our campus community, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) works with the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) to produce Dinkytown Alerts. These alerts cover the limited area of Dinkytown, defined here as east of 35W, south of 8th Street SE, and northwest of the East Bank campus. They are intended to notify the community to take immediate action or avoid an area. Dinkytown Alerts are received as a courtesy from MPD, as they do not cover primary UMPD jurisdiction areas.
How to opt-in
All students, faculty, and staff can opt-in to receive alerts via email, text, and phone call through MyU. You can opt-in by taking the following steps:
Log in to MyU→ Select My Info→ Select Manage SAFE-U Alerts →Select My Information
Frequently Asked Questions
The SAFE-U Alert says the crime occurred several hours ago, why am I just now being notified?
There are many factors that may contribute to delays between when the crime occurred and when you are notified. Crimes are not always reported to the police right when they occur and sometimes are reported hours or even days after the crime occurred. Crimes that are reported to partner law enforcement agencies are often reported to UMPD at a later date. The University aims to notify the campus community as soon as pertinent information regarding the reported crime (e.g., what happened?, where did it happen?, when did it happen?) is available.
Why didn’t I receive a SAFE-U Alert for a crime that occurred in a neighborhood near campus?
SAFE-U Alerts are issued when emergency response personnel confirm that a crime that occurred within University Clery Geography could pose a serious or ongoing threat to the campus community but does not require immediate action.
The University may issue SAFE-U Alerts for crimes that occur outside of the University’s Clery Geography on a case-by-case basis.
- Did the reported crime involve a member of the campus community?
- Did the crime occur within close proximity to the University’s Clery Geography?
- Does the crime appear to be a continuation of a known pattern or trend?
In most cases, a SAFE-U Alert will not be sent for crimes occurring outside of the University’s Clery Geography.
I heard about a serious crime occurring on campus, but didn’t receive a SAFE-U Alert about it, why not?
SAFE-U Alerts are only sent for crimes that pose serious or ongoing threats to the campus community. Generally, an alert will not be sent if the perpetrator of the crime is immediately arrested and detained.
Why is there no suspect description?
SAFE-U Alerts are not intended to identify a suspect, but to alert students, faculty, and staff of danger and empower the campus community to make informed decisions about their safety.
The Clery Act requires that this important safety information is distributed to the campus community as soon as pertinent information is available including the type of crime, location, and time of occurrence. At the time of the notification, suspect descriptions may not be available, may be incomplete, or may change as the investigation continues and new information becomes available.
On occasion, DPS may ask for the public’s help in identifying a suspect(s) or person(s) of interest in an investigation. In those cases, DPS will use social media, the DPS website, email, and/or the media to ask for help.
Why is the race of the suspect not included?
It is the University’s practice to not publish the race of a suspect in SAFE-U Alerts. These alerts are not intended to identify a suspect, but to alert students, faculty, and staff of danger and empower the campus community to make informed decisions about their safety.
The Clery Act requires this important safety information is distributed to the campus community as soon as pertinent information is available. As such, the University aims to distribute general information about the crime (crime type, location, and time of occurrence) as soon as this information is available. At the time of the notification, suspect descriptions may not be available, may be incomplete, or may change as the investigation continues and new information becomes available.
I moved from one campus to another. How do I get alerts for my new campus?
Students, faculty, and staff who have moved from one campus to another should contact [email protected] to have their assigned campus updated in order to receive alerts for their new campus.
My peer received a SAFE-U Alert via text or phone but I did not. Why?
Always confirm that your contact preferences are correct in MyU. If that is accurate, there could be a delay in the system.
If issues still occur, contact [email protected].
I am new to the University. When will I start receiving SAFE-U Alerts?
Students will begin to receive alerts during the first week of classes.
Faculty and staff will begin to receive alerts once their information is approved in the system.
Does SAFE-U work with all cell phone carriers? Does it cost anything to use?
The University is using a service provider that works with all major cell phone providers. Standard text messaging rates apply.
How can I receive crime alerts from the jurisdictions surrounding campus?
Neighborhood residents and visitors are encouraged to opt into Dinkytown Alerts as well as familiarize themselves with Minneapolis Crime Alerts, the Saint Paul Emergency Notification System, and other local public safety organizations and subscribe to their crime alerts.
What other methods does the University use to broadcast emergency information?
Other tools include but are not limited to on-the-ground public safety personnel, campus-wide email, the University home page, MyU, and other websites, campus-wide outdoor public address systems, Tone Alert radios (not in use in Rochester), social media accounts, and digital signs throughout campuses. The University's goal is to communicate emergency information in many different ways to ensure that most people receive alerts as quickly as possible.
If I make changes to SAFE-U contact information will it also be changed on the MyU >My Info tab?
No, if you make changes to your SAFE-U Alerts preferences, they will not be automatically made on the MyU >My Info tab. You will also need to make these changes on the MyU >My Info tab if you also want the change to be reflected in your official record.
Will my emergency contacts listed on the MyU > My Info tab be alerted of emergencies?
No, your emergency contacts that are listed in MyU > My Info tab will not be automatically alerted of emergencies by SAFE-U. Interested parties who are not affiliated directly with the University may download the Everbridge app to receive safety notifications.