Emergency Preparedness
The safety and security of students and campus employees and visitors are essential components of a great experience at UT Dallas. The following departments have primary responsibility for the safety of the campus community:
Police Department & Emergency Management
The University’s Police Department patrols campus 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The department serves the UT Dallas community with a mix of commissioned officers and public safety individuals. The UT Dallas Police maintain a close relationship with public safety teams for the city of Richardson, including its police, fire and emergency management departments. The city of Richardson Fire Department responds to incidents on campus and works with our fire marshal to monitor facilities for fire prevention.
The Emergency Management team coordinates a comprehensive, all-hazards approach through all cycles of an emergency — preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation.
The Office of Institutional Risk & Safety Programs ensures the campus community has the tools needed to make active safety choices and minimize risks in UT Dallas’ research areas, academic programs, operational and administrative units, student affairs, campus events and neighborhood environment.
Student volunteers with University Emergency Medical Response serve as around-the-clock first responders to provide fast, direct Basic Life Support and first aid on campus.
Alert Systems
Alert systems throughout campus supplement safety efforts. An outdoor siren system warns residents of severe weather or other hazards approaching the area. The siren system typically is tested on the first Wednesday of each month. Indoor voice alert systems are in most academic facilities and residence halls. The UT Dallas community and guests are encouraged to help keep the campus safe by taking the same precautions for personal safety and belongings you would take elsewhere:
- Be aware of your surroundings when walking around campus, especially when alone. Call x2222 from any campus phone to request a police escort.
- Always know where exits are in case of fire or other emergency.
- Close windows and lock your vehicle when leaving it.
- If you have a bicycle, lock it to a solid, fixed object.
Plan now to stay informed in an emergency. In emergencies, traditional communications systems can be overwhelmed. The UT Dallas homepage is always the most authoritative source of information in emergencies. But if it should be rendered inaccessible, UT Dallas offers alternative communication channels you should make note of now, before the need arises. How to stay informed:
- Make sure your cellphone number is up-to-date in University records for text message alerts. See instructions to change your number in the Galaxy system.
- Add the number to get recorded update information to your mobile phone: 972-883-7669
- Bookmark UTD’s Facebook page and X (Twitter).
In case of emergency, you can ease communication by doing the following:
- Call or text your family and loved ones to let them know you’re OK.
- Conserve your phone’s power (and reduce the load on the homepage). Rely on text alerts for information.
- Share only official information.
- Attend to and follow the directions issued by campus safety personnel.
- Don’t share images or tweet a location where people are sheltering if there’s risk of alerting a dangerous person to their presence.
- Don’t call the police to ask about what’s going on; only call them to report information.
The WeatherSTEM station on campus provides a micro-local forecast and current weather information for the University.
An Ohio State University video provides advice for surviving an active shooter event on a college campus. This video contains graphic reenactments that may be disturbing to some.
Emergency Numbers
Emergency
911
University Police
972-883-2222
Recorded Information
972-883-7669
University Village
972-792-9100
Maintenance Request
972-883-2147