Safety

On-Campus Security
Inspections
Keys/Lockouts
Hurricanes

Student safety is a top priority at UCF. There are a number of systems and programs in place to ensure an environment that is welcoming, secure, and fosters learning. Each residence hall has staff available 24 hours a day to assist residents with any concern that may arise. Our Residence Life staff is among the first responders for any student concern and have been trained to handle concerns throughout the school year. The first step in anyone’s safety is learning how best to protect themselves.

 

On-Campus Security

An effective residence hall security program depends on:

  1. Cooperation from all community members.
  2. An alert community.
  3. Staff supervision.
  4. University Police assistance and response.

We have taken many steps to provide you with a safe and secure place to live on campus. We call upon all members of our community, including you, to help keep our halls safe and secure. By following a few common safety precautions, the residence halls and apartments will remain, as they are, a safe place for everyone to live.

We have taken steps such as placing video cameras outside of building exits to monitor against intruders, placing smoke detectors in each room and requiring University employees and service personnel to wear IDs. However, any amount of prevention can only go so far. All the fire equipment in the halls will not prevent a fire that is caused by carelessness with an illegal candle or appliance. Nor can residence life staff and the UCF Police Department prevent thefts from your room if the door is left unlocked.

  1. Never walk alone at night and do not let friends walk alone.
  2. Avoid dimly lit or unlit areas on campus.
  3. Never prop open outside doors of your residence hall.
  4. Report unescorted or un-familiar persons to the staff immediately.
  5. Be familiar with the blue light emergency phones on campus and use them.
  6. Call 407-823-5555 or 911 for any emergency situation.
  7. Always lock the door to your residence hall room.
  8. Inform your RA of any crisis, theft or emergency situation.
  9. Report anything out of the ordinary to your community office.

Health and Safety Inspections

Please visit our Health page to learn more.

Keys and Lockouts

You will be issued a key at the beginning of the semester during check-in, and you are responsible for that key the rest of the year. You should keep your key with you at all times.

  1. Keep them with you at all times. Your keys should never be left in a hiding place outside your room.
  2. Lockouts. If you are locked out of your room, take your UCF ID card to your community office to request assistance.
  3. Lost keys. Report all lost keys immediately to your community office so that we can assure your safety, or that of your roommate and your belongings.

If you lose your key, a new lock core and new keys will be ordered for your room. Your account will be billed for the cost of a new lock core. Note: residence hall staff members will not open another resident’s room for you at any time!

Hurricane Tips

Residents are encouraged to monitor emergency information via the University of Central Florida website. The Department of Housing and Residence Life staff will inform residents of necessary preparations in the event of a hurricane. More tips on preparing for a hurricane are available here.

Continue to check the UCF Hurricane website for updates and additional information.

If you feel you need some additional support, here are some additional resources from UCF Counseling and Psychological Services:

  • Keep yourself informed, yet avoid obsessing over the news
  • Gather supplies that help you manage distress in the moment (stress balls, coloring books, stuffed animals, etc.)
  • Talk it out! Reach out to family and friends and discuss your feelings
  • Use our crisis hotline if you need to speak to a counselor: 407-823-2811 and press 5
  • You can also use our Therapy Assisted On-line (TAO) program with modules to provide support during the storm. Access TAO by finding it in the UCF App under Wellbeing, or by using this direct link (enrollment key: stay calm): https://us.taoconnect.org/register

Residents are encouraged to go to their homes or out of the storm’s path before the storm approaches.

Depending on the level of severity of the hurricane, the Department of Housing and Residence Life may initiate Ride-Out plans. Residents will be notified in advance of Ride-Out locations. If Ride-Out locations are designated, students living in the Orlando main campus housing facilities will be required to leave their residence and report to a designated Ride-Out. A photo ID is required during check-in at Ride-Out locations.

Residents unable to go home must comply with the following directions.

  1. Notify your family where you will be for the duration of the storm. Remind them there is a possibility we could lose electricity, cell phone service, and local phones in the Central Florida area. Let them know about website updates.
  2. Residents should take measures to protect personal possessions that are left behind in rooms/apartments during the hurricane. Personal items should be moved away from windows and taken off the floor. Electronic equipment and important books and papers should be placed in plastic bags to prevent water damage. Electronically back-up all of your important data, separate from your machine, and shut off your computer(s) and related equipment. The University is not responsible for loss or damage of residents’ possessions.
  3. Valuables should be placed in safekeeping. All doors should be locked when the occupants are not in the room or apartment.
  4. All windows must be closed tightly. All window blinds should be closed.
  5. Any resident who has a car on campus should see that the emergency brake is set and in reverse gear (standard transmission) or park (automatic transmission). All windows should be closed and the car locked. You may want to move your car to a parking garage and fill up your tank with gas.
  6. Each student should provide his/her own flashlight in case of power failure. DO NOT USE CANDLES OR OTHER FLAME-TYPE LIGHTING UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES; FIRE IS UNCONTROLLABLE DURING A HURRICANE. Use battery-powered lighting only!
  7. Make sure you have enough cash. ATMs may be unavailable.
  8. Fully charge cell phones, laptops, and any other battery powered items.
  9. Make sure you have an adequate supply of any prescription medications.
  10. Do not attempt to open doors or windows.
  11. Stay indoors away from windows or glass.
  12. If you have a bicycle on campus, make sure it is securely locked to a bicycle rack.
  1. Residents should plan on taking ample clothing, a sleeping bag or blankets, a pad to sleep on, toiletries, prescription medication, important papers, snacks, a radio with batteries, a flashlight, and something to occupy their time.
  2. Residents are encouraged to provide for their own food requirements for the initial period of the emergency, usually three days. Non-perishable snack-type food, including crackers, power bars, cookies, pretzels, chips, peanut butter, jelly, bread, cereal, soda, etc.
  3. Items that are not allowed in a ride-out location include pets, alcohol and other controlled substances, tobacco products, and weapons.
  4. Telephone calls should only be made in emergencies.
  5. Comply with directions of UCF Housing and Residence Life staff and the UCF Police.
  6. It is essential that all residents stay indoors throughout the entire hurricane or other emergency situation. Residents must not leave the ride-out location until directed to do so by the Residence Hall staff.
  1. Follow all steps under subheading A.
  2. Whenever possible, food service facilities will be open.
  3. During the peak of the storm, for maximum protection, residents should close their room and/or bedroom doors and remain in the hallways.
  4. Students should remain away from dangerous areas, such as the glass windows and doors in the lobby areas of the halls or the living rooms of the apartments.
  5. Students should not attempt to open windows or doors to see what is happening outside.
  6. Report all accidents, injuries, broken windows, or excessive water to Housing Staff.
  7. Cell phone calls should be made only in case of emergencies.

 

The University is not responsible for damages to, or for loss of, personal property as a result of a hurricane or any weather-related event.

If you have questions, please see a UCF staff member or ask an RA.