Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
As we begin a new academic year, I want to take this opportunity to welcome our new and returning students, faculty and staff.
Below is an overview of safety strategies we recommend to our campus community. It explains the processes and protocols that guide how we communicate about safety matters.
Safety Strategies
Every member of our campus community plays a role in keeping Syracuse University safe. Please take a few minutes to review these safety strategies:
- Download the Orange Safe app (also available in the OrangeNow app) to receive alerts, connect with the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and access resources.
- Follow Syracuse DPS on social media for important updates and safety information.
- While traveling across campus, use sidewalks when possible. Be aware of your surroundings while crossing streets, use crosswalks when you can and wait until the walk sign is on.
- Always lock your doors, windows and vehicles. Keep valuables out of sight.
- Use a heavy duty, anti-theft U-shaped lock for bikes/scooters and register them with DPS.
- Travel in groups after dark or use the Safety Escort Shuttle (available to request via Orange Safe from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.).
- Stay alert to phishing and scam attempts, and never share personal information requested from suspicious messages.
- If you or someone you know is impacted by an incident, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at 315.443.2224.
There are several more safety strategies that can be found both on our website and in the Orange Safe App.
Communications Processes
The summary below explains how and why DPS uses emergency notification and public safety messages. This includes how, when and via what channels we issue safety communications to our campus community.
DPS Issues Broad Communications Across the Campus Community:
- When there is an active or imminent threat of physical danger to the campus community.
- When there is an active crime scene on or immediately adjacent to the campus and we need community members to avoid the area.
- When a perpetrator is at large on or immediately adjacent to the campus and we need the community’s help locating the individual.
Broad Communications Will Not Be Issued:
- When initial investigation into an incident indicates there is no continuing threat.
- When another law enforcement agency has jurisdiction or is the lead investigator on an active case, and we have been directed not to issue a notice. That agency may communicate to the broader public and direct us to inform our community.
- When communicating broadly will impede or jeopardize an active investigation. (Please note: Although it is our intention to communicate in a timely manner, we will always prioritize maintaining the integrity of an investigation, especially when we are following active leads).
Public Safety Messages (Timely Warnings)
Public Safety messages are distributed via email and posted on the DPS website and on DPS social media accounts. There are three types of messages:
- Public Safety Notice designates a timely warning related to an ongoing concern for violence.
- Public Safety Information designates a warning related to an ongoing property crime pattern or about general safety-related information.
- Public Safety Update provides information regarding a threat that has passed or an update to a previously issued Public Safety Notice.
Public safety messages include information about the incident that triggered the warning to promote safety and enable members of the campus community to take steps to protect themselves from similar incidents. They are intended to inform the community of suspects at large or an ongoing threat to campus community members and to seek the community’s help in identifying suspects and gathering pertinent details. Follow-up information will be disseminated when appropriate and all alerts are posted online.
Emergency Notification and Response (Orange Alert)
The Orange Alert system is designed to provide rapid notification and instructions to Syracuse University students, faculty and staff, and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry students in the event of a verified weather emergency, serious incident or an immediate threat of serious physical harm. All DPS officers have the authority to activate the Orange Alert system if necessary.
Orange Alert uses email, text messaging, social media networks, the Orange Safe app and cell/landline phone calls to send a brief notice about the incident and instructions about what actions to take, including a directive to shelter in place or evacuate/avoid an area. Additionally, sirens located on the Kenneth A. Shaw Quadrangle, Whitman School of Management building, the Falk College complex and South Campus housing will sound in the event of an Orange Alert. After an Orange Alert message is broadcast, more detailed follow-up information will be provided through various means, including but not limited to the University’s website, University social media resources, email, phone, and campus radio and television resources.
Updating Contact Information in MySlice
To receive Orange Alert and Public Safety communications, all students, faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to go to MySlice, log in using your NetID and password, select Student Home or Employee Home depending on your primary affiliation with Syracuse University, select the Personal Profile tile, select “Orange Alert Contacts” from the navigation menu and then review your information.
If you need to add, update or delete contact information, select “Contact Details” from the navigation menu. Utilize the “Orange Alert Private Phone” feature to add a secondary/emergency contact (i.e., parent, spouse, sibling, etc.) to receive alerts.
Finally, our team at DPS is always available to discuss our processes, protocols and how we collaborate with local, state and federal law enforcement to keep our campus community safe. Remember that the Department of Public Safety is here for you 24/7 by calling 315.443.2224 or by connecting on the Orange Safe app.
I wish all of you an enriching and safe semester!
Sincerely,
Michael Bunker
Department of Public Safety
