Neighborhood Safety
Many University students, faculty, and staff reside and relax in neighborhoods near the Twin Cities campus. The safety of these areas remain important to the University, not only for the wellbeing of our community members, but also to maintain the vitality of these unique and historic neighborhoods.
We are unwavering in our commitment to provide a safe environment for our students, faculty, and staff both on campus and in our neighboring communities. We will continue to make strides in assisting neighborhood leaders with resources to keep our community safe.
Being in the heart of the city, we cannot do this work alone; we rely on our many partners including local communities, city and transit police, state policymakers, landlords, and merchants to elevate safety and a vibrant community. Safety belongs to all of us.
Responding to Events Off Campus
While the University of Minnesota Police Department (UMPD) will always prioritize their service to students, faculty, staff, and visitors on campus, the safety and vitality of the adjacent areas and neighborhoods are important to the University. UMPD works with our partners at the Minneapolis Police Department to enhance public safety and support calls for assistance in Minneapolis neighborhoods surrounding campus.
In the spring of 2024, DPS launched a pilot to extend UMPD’s mutual aid assistance with MPD to respond to all emergency and non-emergency service calls and lead investigations in the geographic area between University Ave. SE and 4th St. SE, from 35W to Oak St. SE.
Enhancing Public Safety in Nearby Neighborhoods
Check out some ways the University supports safety beyond campus.
Dinkytown Safety Guides
Contracted through Block by Block, around four Dinkytown Safety guides patrol Dinkytown Thursdays through Saturdays from 6:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. They provide safety escorts, report suspicious activity, and overall give friendly neighborhood interaction with residents and visitors.
Dinkytown Alerts
The University’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) sends SAFE-U Alerts to notify the community of crime that has occurred on or immediately adjacent to campus. Our community members may also be interested in receiving safety alerts for events that take place outside of the bounds of the SAFE-U Alerts.
The Department of Public Safety 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.
How to Opt in
All students, faculty, and staff can opt in to receive alerts via email, text, and phone call through MyU.
Log in to MyU > Select My Info > Select Manage SAFE-U Alerts > Select My Information.
Parents, partners, or others interested in receiving Dinkytown Alerts may download the Everbridge app from their device’s app store. Use keyword UMNDINKYTOWN (case sensitive) to add these alerts.
Lighting
Illuminating sidewalks is a proven way to prevent petty crime. That’s why we’re working with local and city agencies to enhance lighting in the neighborhoods near campus.
Reporting Broken Lights
- Report an outage for a street light on a wooden pole by calling Xcel Energy at 1-800-960-6235 or file a report.
- Report an outage for a street light on a metal pole by contacting the City of Minneapolis at 311 or you can file an online report. You will need to provide an email address and the city will respond with a case number and expected completion date.
- To report broken streetlights, traffic signals, or traffic signs in need of repair, complete the online form.
- For after hours emergencies such as a street light or a knocked down signal pole, call 651-266-9700.
Report a broken streetlight by calling Facilities Management at 612-624-2900. Please detail the location and ID number on the pole.
Tips
Keep Warm
Stay indoors during extremely cold weather. Make trips outside as brief as possible.
Road Safety
Avoid traveling on ice-covered roads, overpasses, and bridges if at all possible.
Cold Weather Gear
Wear a hat, scarf, mittens, water resistant coat and boots.