Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
Welcome to the 2026-2027 academic year! On behalf of the entire Department of Public Safety (DPS) team, we are so glad to have our campus community back. As you settle in, please take a moment to review the important information below.
This monthly update includes:
- Community Engagement
- How to Keep Your Residence Safe
- Important Campus Safety Resources and Services
Community Engagement
The DPS team is always looking for opportunities to connect with our campus community. Here is what we have coming up this fall so far:
Safety Stations
Our Safety Stations are back for the new academic year. Stop by to grab resources, meet members of our team and pick up practical safety tips you can use on and off campus. Follow us on social media @SyracuseDPS for dates and locations.
Coffee With a Cop
Join us on Thursday, Oct. 1, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. outside Sims Hall for Coffee With a Cop, hosted in partnership with Student Engagement. Stop by on your way to class, grab a coffee and take a few minutes to meet our team. We would love to see you there.
How to Keep Your Residence Safe
Burglaries and thefts from residences are among the most common incidents we see on and near campus and most of them are preventable. Taking a few simple steps now can go a long way toward protecting your space and your belongings all year long.
Lock Up—Every Time
- Lock your door, even if you are only stepping out for a few minutes or are home. An unlocked door is an open invitation.
- Lock and close all windows, especially on ground floors and lower levels, when you are away or sleeping.
- Do not prop open exterior building doors or residence hall entrances—this removes a critical layer of security for everyone in the building.
Secure Your Valuables
- Keep high-value items—laptops, electronics, jewelry, car keys, documents—out of plain sight whenever possible.
- Do not leave bags, backpacks or other belongings unattended in common areas, lounges, hallways or vehicles.
- Record the serial numbers of your electronics and store them somewhere safe. This information is critical if a theft occurs.
Off-Campus Residents
- Ensure all entry points to your residence are secured, including basement doors, side entrances and windows.
- Get to know your neighbors—a connected block is a safer one.
- Report any suspicious activity around your residence to DPS at 315.443.2224 or the Syracuse Police Department at 315.442.5222.
Important Campus Safety Resources and Services
As we kick off a new academic year, we want to make sure every member of our community knows what tools and resources are available to them and how DPS communicates during safety incidents.
We have published a full overview on our website covering the Orange Safe App, our Marshall Street Substation, how and when DPS issues campuswide safety communications, and more. We encourage everyone to take a few minutes to read it at dps.syr.edu.
We Are Here to Help
As a reminder, if you have information that may be relevant to DPS, an ongoing investigation or you observe a non-emergency, unsafe situation, it is never too late to come forward. You can call DPS at 315.443.2224 or submit information anonymously via the Silent Witness tool. To report a bias incident or receive support, visit the STOP Bias website.
Here is to a great semester. We are here for you every step of the way.