Basic Safety Reminders from OWU Public Safety

Welcome to the 2024-2025 academic year!

The Ohio Wesleyan Department of Public Safety is here to support a safe living, learning, and working environment for everyone on campus. We’ve provided important guidelines, reminders, and tips below to help you navigate living at OWU. Please take time to read the full message, but we’d like to draw special attention to the following information:

  • If you are involved in a situation that requires an urgent police or fire department response, call 9-1-1 immediately. To contact OWU Public Safety for non-emergency assistance, call 740-368-2222. This number is answered 24/7 by our partner Campus Dispatch.

  • Download our CampusShield safety app (Android) (iOS). It is full of useful resources including Friend Watch for when you want to share your location with people whom you specify.

OWU ALERTS

  • We have updated the emergency notification system, OWU ALERT, to feature a consistent sending phone number, 740-737-8880. Save the new number as “OWU ALERT” to avoid missing critical information during an emergency.

  • Parents and guardians are able to sign up for alerts by following the instructions on the OWU ALERT website.

  • Students and families can also view information at owu.edu/emergency, which features an RSS feed that mirrors any information sent via the OWU ALERT system.

  • A federally required test of the OWU ALERT emergency notification system will occur on Aug. 28 during the lunch hour.

PARKING INFORMATION

As you move in and get settled, here are a few parking policies to keep in mind:

  • The grace period for acquiring a parking permit ended Aug. 23. Vehicles without a valid 2024 permit or parked in unauthorized areas may receive citations.

  • Parking enforcement is already in effect for accessibility spaces, unmarked areas (including parking on grass), loading zones, fire lanes, E spaces (or legacy A space markings), 24/7 restricted spaces, and reserved spaces. Please pay attention to signage to avoid receiving a citation.

  • Students with state-issued accessibility placards (issued to you, not a relative) may use any accessibility space on campus.

  • See OWU’s parking information here for a comprehensive list of policies and procedures, including how to purchase a permit or appeal a citation.

ADDITIONAL REMINDERS

  • OWU is required to follow federal regulations, including not permitting marijuana on campus. Reference the StudentHandbook/PolicyOnOtherDrugs for more details.

  • As a private university, Ohio Wesleyan continues to be gun-free. Firearms are not permitted in any campus building or outdoor space.

Please keep reading for more safety protocols and suggestions. If you have questions, contact Public Safety at 740-368-2222 or psafety@owu.edu.

We are excited to have you on campus!

Sean Bolender
Director of Public Safety
psafety@owu.edu / 740-368-2222 (office)

GENERAL SAFETY PROTOCOLS

  • Download the free CampusShield app (Android) (iOS) for access to safety systems including Friend Watch, which lets people you choose know where you are (if you want) and when you’ve marked yourself safe. Use your username@owu.edu email address to become part of the Ohio Wesleyan CampusShield system.

  • Carry a cell phone and pre-program it to include OWU Public Safety (740-368-2222) as a contact.

  • Pay attention to OWU ALERT emergency notifications. We issue OWU ALERT messages in situations that require urgent action and in case of weather-related delays or closings. The University enrolls you automatically to receive email alerts via your owu.edu email address and text alerts via your cell phone of record. Parents and guardians are able to sign up for alerts by following the instructions on the OWU ALERT website.

  • Report suspicious activity or incidents immediately. Immediate reporting greatly increases the ability of law enforcement officers to apprehend suspects. For emergencies, call 911 to reach the Delaware Police or Fire Departments; these departments automatically dispatch OWU Public Safety Officers alongside police, fire, and EMS personnel.

  • Address sexual assault or misconduct concerns immediately. You are able to contact Public Safety, Residential Life, Student Integrity and Community Standards, the Dean of Students Office, or the Delaware Police Department for reports or inquiries.

  • Report identity-related incidents immediately. If you need additional support after making your report, assistance is available from Counseling Services, the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, and the Chaplain’s Office. Please reach out as needed.

  • Keep your Ohio Wesleyan ID card secure. Report any loss or theft immediately to Public Safety so that the card can be deactivated.

  • Be an advocate for your friends and colleagues. If you witness others who are impaired or in distress, be an advocate for them to ensure they get to a safe, secure environment and receive whatever help they need.

  • Get to a safe place as quickly as possible if you feel threatened. Call for help as soon as you feel you are out of immediate danger.

  • Walk and jog with others in busy, well-lighted areas. If you have safety concerns and need a Public Safety escort, call 740-368-2222 for assistance.

  • Check twice before entering a crosswalk. Even if you have the right-of-way, check both ways to ensure that motorists see you and are coming to a stop to allow you to cross. Use push-button “walk” mechanisms when available. Remember that inclement weather may cause vehicles to skid when braking.

  • Be aware of what’s around you if you text, listen to music, or talk on your phone as you walk. You should always be able to hear, see, and quickly respond to whatever is happening.

  • Ensure that doors and windows are locked when you leave your campus residence. Do not prop open doors, and do not allow strangers to follow you into locked buildings.

  • Report broken/malfunctioning locks to OWU’s Building & Grounds team as soon as problems are detected. You are able to use the online form at www.owu.edu/report-a-problem to share this information.

  • Lock vehicles and remove valuables from view. Lock valuables in your vehicle trunk or move them to a secure indoor space.

  • Never leave valuables unattended. This includes not leaving purses, laptop computers, cell phones, and other valuable items unguarded even for short periods of time.

  • Password-protect all portable electronic devices.

ACTIVE THREAT PROTOCOLS

  • Follow an “Avoid, Deny, Defend” protocol – in that order.

    • Avoid the aggressor entirely by leaving the area — identify exits whenever you go to a new place and have a mental plan on how you can escape.

    • Actively deny entry to your area. Engage door locks, jam door frames, barricade doors, and improvise other ways to secure your location. Once secure, stay out of the line of sight of the door. Continue looking for ways to safely escape the area.

    • Defend yourself. You have the right to defend yourself in an active threat incident. If you cannot avoid or deny the aggressor, prepare yourself to fight. Use your surroundings to find make-shift weapons and rally others to help fight. Research shows that feigning unconsciousness usually does not stop an aggressor from harming you.

  • Listen to and follow law enforcement instructions when help arrives. An active threat incident will cause all area law enforcement to come to your aid. Listen to instructions carefully; the scene will be confusing and law enforcement won’t know how many aggressors were at the scene — officers will act with caution to keep everyone safe.

  • Watch for emergency updates and instructions through the OWU ALERT emergency notification system.

Additional policies, information, and tips are available for you online at www.owu.edu/safety.