Campus and Community Safety
At Chico State, the safety of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors
is our highest priority. A safe campus can only be achieved through the
cooperation and collaboration of the entire community. The information
here is offered with the hope that you will read it carefully and use it
to help foster a safe campus environment for yourself and others.
The University Police Department (UPD) is a full-service law enforcement
agency. Its officers have full California state peace officer powers and
provide around-the-clock services 365 days per year. The UPD handles all
crimes and police service requests on campus.
Reporting Crimes and Emergencies
Dial 9-911 from an “on-campus” phone to report an emergency.
Use this
number only from an on-campus or University Housing telephones for emergency
fire, police, or medical aid. The non-emergency number for the University
Police Department and Campus Escort Service is 898-5372.
Dial 911 from an “off-campus” phone to report an emergency.
Use this number
from pay phones, cell phones, and all off-campus locations for community-based
emergency fire, police, or medical services. Non-emergency calls to police,
fire, or ambulance services may be directed to the appropriate business
number for the agency. See the telephone book for police or fire numbers
for your locale.
There are several “blue light” emergency phones at exterior locations throughout
the campus which ring directly into the University Police. These phones
may also be used to call the Campus Escort Service which is operated by
the UPD and provides escorts to and from campus within a one-mile radius.
This service is available at all times by calling the non-emergency number
above or by using a blue light phone.
Access to Campus Facilities
Our campus is viewed as a cultural and educational resource for the entire
area and its academic buildings are quite accessible. This openness promotes
learning and interchange in an academic context, but it can also lend itself
to predation from lawless elements. Keeping criminality suppressed while
still maintaining accessibility requires the support and participation
of the entire community, including the prompt reporting of suspicious persons
or circumstances.
While campus residence halls are considerably less accessible, even to
the extent of staff locking all exterior doors and requiring guests to
check in at the front desk on weekends, it is still necessary for residents
to maintain the security of their personal areas and to report suspicious
persons to the residence hall staff. Residence hall security is the shared
responsibility of staff and residents and requires mutual cooperation and
support to be successful.
All fraternity and sorority houses are located off campus. There are also
off-campus residence halls, privately owned and operated, which cater to
students. Law enforcement services for fraternities, sororities, and off-campus
residence halls and apartments are provided by either the Chico Police
Department or the Butte County Sheriff’s Office, depending on the housing’s
location. The University Police Department will often provide preventive
patrols and assist those agencies with incidents in areas near campus.
Crime Prevention Programs
Among the other components of campus safety and crime prevention are lighting,
landscaping, and personal awareness. There has been a significant effort
recently to improve lighting in several areas of campus. University Police
and the Facilities Management staff are open to suggestions for additional
lighting improvements. The grounds crews do a great job of keeping shrubbery
next to buildings and pathways well trimmed, eliminating potential areas
of concealment.
Awareness is the most critical factor in the personal safety equation.
If your attention to surroundings is compromised by intoxication, fatigue,
or preoccupation, you operate at a disadvantage and have a greater potential
for being victimized. The primary responsibility for avoiding victimization
resides with you!
The University Police Department offers several crime prevention programs
and services to assist you. Among these are the 24-Hour Campus Escort Service
(898-5372), Bicycle Licensing, and other crime prevention presentations
which are given on an as-needed basis. The campus newspaper (The Orion)
and the faculty-staff newsletter (The University Bulletin) publish course
offerings well in advance, and you may inquire anytime at UPD, 898-5372.
Campus Safety and Crime Information
Brochures are available in the University Police lobby which provide information
about many safety related and crime prevention issues.
In spite of the pastoral appearance and friendly atmosphere of Chico and
its surroundings, the campus is not a haven from crime. As incidents occur
which may pose a threat to other students and employees, the University
Police Department will disseminate this information to the community through
newspapers, television, radio, and other means.
Statistical information addressing crimes and arrests which have occurred
on the campus is published annually in The Class Schedule. This data and
other safety information can also be viewed on our website: www.csuchico.edu/up. You can compare this information to your own community’s crime statistics,
as contained in either Crime and Delinquency in California, published by
the California Department of Justice, or Crime in the United States, which
is published by the FBI. These publications are usually available in the
reference section of your local library.
Campus Crime Stoppers
If you know of anyone that has committed a crime on campus, please call
Campus Crime Stoppers at 898-5372. Callers can remain anonymous and may
be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.
SAFETY TIPS
Be aware of what is going on around you. If you see something suspicious,
go to the nearest phone and call the police. Don’t be afraid of seeming
foolish.
Use lighted walkways on campus at night— don’t take shortcuts. If you can’t
walk with a friend, call the Campus Escort Service (898-5372).
Take precautions at night. Park your car or bike in a well-lit area.
Always lock the doors and windows in your residence hall or apartment.
Pull the window shades at night.
If you come home and find a door or window open, don’t go in! Go to the
nearest phone and call the police.
When someone knocks on your door, look first, and then open it only if
you know the person.
Look inside your car before getting in. Lock your doors after you’re inside.
Have your key ready when approaching your car or home to minimize the delay
in getting the door open and entering.
Don’t waste time if you’re approached by someone suspicious. Get away fast.
“Blue Light Phones” can be found at several exterior locations on the campus.
Activating one of these phones gives you immediate access to the University
Police Department to report an emergency or request the Campus Escort Service.
Remember, the most important part of the campus safety equation is your
watchfulness and good judgment!
Write down emergency telephone numbers you might need and keep them by
your telephone.
Trust your instincts. When a voice inside you says you are in danger, listen
to it!
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