Safety is top-of-mind, and the university wants to remind all Buckeyes about the tools and resources available to enhance your safety as we begin spring semester.
While campus is a safe place, Columbus is large city and crimes do occur. Safety is a shared responsibility as students learn to live on their own in an urban area and safely navigate a growing, metropolitan city. Learning to utilize the below tools will enhance your safety now and after graduation and is an important part of the college experience.
Some of the resources below are available only to students as they are targeted specifically to enhance student safety, but many are available to faculty, staff, parents and families as well as students and all Buckeyes are encouraged to utilize them.
Community Crime Map: The Community Crime Map consists of statistics from the Columbus Division of Police (CPD) and shows off-campus crime reports. Ohio State has preprogrammed the map to a one-mile radius to include the crime reports from the most recent 7-day period. The default crime categories are pre-determined by Lexis Nexis. Additional features available include the ability to sign up for daily alerts and access heat maps or crime trends.
Citizen App : For Buckeyes seeking real-time alerts for off-campus incidents, services like the Citizen app allow users to receive push alerts about nearby incidents. The app is free, can be used in many major cities and is not limited to Columbus. Ohio State public safety cautions that the initial information provided via these types of apps is preliminary and may not always be accurate descriptions of what is later determined to have occurred during an incident, but it does provide awareness of reported incidents to alert users to avoid the area in real-time. Used in conjunction with the Community Crime Map to verify details the following day, this could be a helpful tool.
Rave Guardian App: Rave Guardian allows you to select friends or family as a virtual guardian to follow you via GPS tracking, using a destination-based timer. If time expires, your virtual guardian will be alerted and encouraged to make appropriate follow-up.
Lyft Ride Smart at Ohio State: Lyft Ride Smart at Ohio State offers eligible students discounted rides from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. inside the university-designated service area. Ohio State contributes $4 per ride, and the remainder is paid by the rider. Prices may be impacted by distance, traffic, time of day, special events and prime time surcharges.
CABS On-Demand: The free CABS On-Demand provides daytime transportation between areas west of Olentangy River and select campus bus stops. After 9 p.m., the service offers door-to-door transportation between campus buildings. Students, faculty and staff can download the “TripShot” app for scheduling and real-time tracking.
Free Safety Devices for Students: The Office of Student Life’s Willie J. Young Sr. Off-Campus and Commuter Student Engagement resource center offers students free window and door alarms as well as personal safety devices. Deterrence tools can play a big role in helping to prevent crimes. Students can stop by the Ohio Union to pick up the devices, Monday – Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Ohio State’s Department of Public Safety uses a variety of methods to communicate with the campus community. These include but are not limited to the Buckeye Alert System and Public Safety Notices. If your cell phone number is in our Student Information System (BuckeyeLink) or Workday (faculty/staff), then you are automatically registered for the Buckeye Alert Text Messaging System. These methods are supported by the Department of Public Safety website, social media, traditional media and other communication channels. Off-campus crime reports are shown on the Community Crime Map. Watch to learn more.
The Ohio State University Police Division (OSUPD) continues to patrol on campus 24 hours a day, and is supported by non-sworn security and technology, such as lights, cameras and license plate reader technology. If you see something suspicious, please report it to police. On campus, call 614-292-2121. Off-campus, within the city of Columbus, report crimes to CPD at 614-645-4545. Always dial 9-1-1 in emergencies.
Police encourage everyone to lock their doors and windows and not let unknown people inside their home or residence hall. Together, let’s make safety a priority for all Buckeyes.
Monica Moll
Associate Vice President, Department of Public Safety
The Ohio State University