January 7, 2026
Dear Members of the University Community,
With Winter Quarter underway, I want to share an update on the University’s safety initiatives and important resources.
First, if you haven’t done so already, I encourage you to download the UChicago Safe mobile app and follow UChicago Safe on Instagram, Facebook, and X for timely and helpful safety-related information.
The information below highlights some of the work that we have undertaken to help keep the people on our campus and in our community safe. You can find a more comprehensive list of our safety initiatives on the Department of Safety and Security (DSS) website.
- Emergency Response Preparedness: At DSS, we are constantly working to ensure we are prepared to respond to any emergency that may occur on our campus. Emergencies can happen quickly and are, by nature, unpredictable. Taking swift and decisive action is crucial in the event of an emergency on campus.
- This 7-minute video will help guide you on how to respond effectively.
- If an emergency occurs, once confirmed, you will receive a cAlert that briefly describes the situation and provides safety guidance or instructions. Reviewing these common cAlert instructions will help you stay prepared.
- Please visit the cAlert website to make sure your contact information and preferred devices are up to date.
- Crime Reduction: While the 2025 year-end numbers are still preliminary, it appears that robberies in the University of Chicago Police Department’s (UCPD) extended patrol area continued to decline in 2025, with some areas such as Hyde Park and South Kenwood reaching some of their lowest levels in more than 50 years of recorded crime statistics. The DSS’ crime reduction efforts contributed to an approximate 40% year-over-year reduction in robberies on campus and an approximate 41% reduction in robberies in the UCPD extended patrol area, which includes both campus and surrounding neighborhoods. While we are always working to make further improvements, this progress reflects the impact of recent safety initiatives, and DSS will continue to pursue strategies to help keep our community safe.
- Citymapper: We are pleased to announce a new partnership with Citymapper, an app that helps members of the UChicago community find the fastest and easiest ways to get around campus and the city of Chicago. Citymapper overlays University transit options, such as UGo Shuttles, with public transportation options from the CTA and Metra to show routes that work best for your trip. This new resource provides an expanded option for accessing real-time transportation information alongside the PassioGo app, in response to feedback from last year’s transportation survey. I encourage you to download the Citymapper app and explore its features.
- Pedestrian Safety: The University has worked with the Chicago Department of Transportation, which oversees the public right-of-way, including streets and sidewalks, to complete several enhancements to improve pedestrian safety near campus. During Autumn Quarter, additional concrete curb “bump-outs,” flexible bollards, yellow flashing crosswalk lights, speed feedback signs, and design and functionality upgrades to crosswalks were installed in high-traffic areas along the Midway and 55th Street. Some of the yellow flashing crosswalk lights and speed feedback signs are already online, with the remaining devices expected to come online by next week. Pruning tree branches this fall also improved visibility for both pedestrians and drivers.
- RideSmart by Via: Through the University’s on-demand rideshare program, students can book free rides on and around UChicago’s campus from 5:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m., seven days a week. In 2025, the RideSmart by Via program provided students with more than 1.1 million rides in the service area, with an average wait time of 7.5 minutes and an average trip rating of 4.8. We recommend planning trips in advance whenever possible, taking potential wait times into account. For the service area and other program details, visit the RideSmart webpage.
Many additional safety resources are available at the University of Chicago; below are some key ones, and a complete list can be found on our website.
- Safety Escort Program: Members of the University community who are concerned about their safety for any reason as they walk within the UCPD’s patrol area can call 773.702.8181 to request a safety escort.
- UGo Shuttles: UGo is the University’s free shuttle service available to all members of the University community. Shuttles run day and night on campus, around Hyde Park, and to/from downtown Chicago. For more information about routes and timing, visit the Shuttle Service webpage.
- Communications Resources: DSS provides multiple ways to stay informed about crimes that happen on and off campus. This map provides information about the boundaries for the alerts and notifications that the University sends.
- Public Safety Advisory Council: The Council is a mechanism to gather community input on issues impacting safety and security on and near campus. RSVP to attend its next meeting on January 28 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. via Zoom.
If you have any questions or concerns about campus safety, contact our team. I wish you a safe and productive quarter.
Sincerely,
Eric
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Eric M. Heath
Senior Associate Vice President for Operations