How can students/parents make Move-in Day easier?
Check the mail for communication from UCA. Move-in information is sent directly to the student and includes maps, arrival instructions, and other resources to help make the day go smoothly. There will also be signs and staff available to direct traffic. Volunteers will help unload belongings and transport them to students’ rooms. Family members who are not helping unload should proceed directly to a parking lot rather than following the unloading route. After unloading, vehicles must be moved to a designated parking lot before returning to the residence hall on foot.
What about parking permits?
To receive your permit, we need the following information: student ID, vehicle make, model, color, and license plate number (LPN) . Vehicles without permits may be issued campus citations. There are certain areas that residents and commuting students can park. Those areas are clearly indicated by the paint color of the lines. Parking rules can be found here.
Does UCA have a campus safety app?
Yes, UCA partners with SafeZone to provide mobile safety features to the campus community. More information about SafeZone here.
Do the resident halls have safety features?
All halls have first aid kits, naloxone, digital video recording, live-in housing staff, fire detection, emergency plans, and magnetically locked exterior doors 24/7. Students should read the rules for guests and what items can’t be brought into resident halls before move-in.
When do officers work and how many are there?
There are 23 officers, 8 dispatchers, and an emergency manager. Our officers are active on campus 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
What do officers do for campus?
Officers are state certified, accredited through ALEAP, and are empowered to investigate crimes, issue citations, and make arrests. They are trained in mental health crisis response, critical incident, de-escalation, and more. They provide safety escorts around campus, vehicle unlocks, jumpstarts, and put on Safe@UCA programs, all for free. Officers also patrol campus parking lots, academic buildings, and residence halls to maintain a safe and secure learning environment.
What are the Safe@UCA Programs?
Safe@UCA offers programs including Brake for Bears, Safe Walk, Operation Gotcha, Operation ID, self-defense classes, CRASE (Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events), Alcohol Safety, Sexual Assault Awareness, Hazardous Weather Awareness, and Safe Spring Break.
What safety tips would you give to freshmen living on campus?
Record your valuable items digitally, don’t walk around while looking at your phone, tell someone where you are going and who you’ll be with, lock your room and vehicle doors.
What can students do to have a better response from UCAPD if they need help?
Students can voluntarily provide important information such as medical conditions, severe allergies, emergency contacts, medications, or individuals they do not want contact from to UCAPD in advance. Having this information on file, or keeping it readily available on a phone or in a wallet, can help first responders provide assistance more quickly during an emergency.
What scams are students most likely to encounter?
Common scams targeting college students include phishing emails offering high-paying jobs for little work, fake check scams that ask students to send back part of the money, requests to purchase gift cards, and deals that seem too good to be true. The Federal Trade Commission has more details on scams here.
What is the CLERY Report?
A document that colleges and universities must publish every year by October 1st. It details specific campus crime statistics from the previous three years, along with specific safety policies, security procedures, and victim resources.
What happens when a student calls campus police for a welfare concern?
Typically, officers may check to see if they are in their assigned room, if they have entered resident halls via card access, or check with professors to see if they have attended classes. Officers may check with neighbors or roommates and attempt contact in other locations that they determine the subject may be.
What simple habit would reduce a freshman’s risk here more than anything else?
Nothing can fully eliminate risk, but reducing it can be accomplished. Be aware of your surroundings, slow down when making decisions, and know your boundaries.
If a student is worried about a friend’s mental state, what should they do first?
If you’re concerned about a friend’s mental health or well-being, submit a Student of Concern report. Watch for significant changes in behavior, and if you’re not comfortable speaking with the student directly, notify someone who can help, such as Housing staff, UCAPD, a trusted professor, or Student Health.
What is one university policy students commonly misunderstand?
Parking is a privilege and can be revoked. Red curbs mean no parking, not short term parking only.
If you had five minutes with every incoming freshman, what would you tell them?
We are here to help, first and foremost. Go to class, make time to study, find a healthy way to handle stress like hiking, sports, or one of the many clubs on campus. Ask questions and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Think ahead about things like drinking, dating, spending money, studying, and personal time. It’s easier to stick to boundaries that you’ve already defined. Practice saying no.
What is the most common crime on campus? How can students prevent/reduce them?
Theft and hit-and-run collisions are the most common reported crimes on campus. Students can reduce their risk of theft by locking residence hall rooms and vehicles and avoiding leaving valuables unattended. While hit-and-run incidents cannot always be prevented, parking in well-lit areas and away from crowded sections of parking lots may help reduce the risk.