It is the goal of the Department of Housing and Residence Life to partner with residents and other campus officials to provide a safe and secure environment for residents to live and learn. There are many measures/strategies in place that offer residents ways to be and stay safe while on campus; however, it is the responsibility of each resident to do their part by practicing safety measures and reporting any suspicious activities.
Education & Prevention
The most effective strategies for a safe campus are education and prevention. Crime prevention programs are conducted in all residence halls each semester; and tables, booths, flyers, bulletin boards, and the Residence Life Channel are utilized throughout the year to remind residents of the importance of being alert, cautious, and to report any type of suspicious behavior. Residents are informed of policies and procedures and are held accountable through the judicial system for any action that breeches the health, safety, and security of others.
ETSU Safe App and Emergency Alerts
We strongly recommend that all residents sign up for ETSU's emergency alerts, which sends out text message alert to your mobile phone in the event of an emergency. Text ETSU to 237233 to opt in to text messages.
Residents may also consider downloading the ETSU Safe Mobile App for additional features.
Staff Presence
- Housing and Residence Life partners with the ETSU Police Department and Student Life and Enrollment to provide a Night Patrol service that patrols around and in the residence halls and parking lots, checking lights and doors, and provides a walking escort Safe Voyage to students.
- The residence halls/apartments are managed by numerous levels of live-in staff, such as Resident Advisors, Resident Directors, Assistant Resident Directors, and full-time Area Coordinators who are on-duty/call 24/7, including breaks and holidays. Staff contact information is disseminated to all residents at move-in or shortly therafter and is posted around each building, most notably at the front desk. All staff members are trained in the response protocol for emergencies such as medical, mental health, fire, tornado, pandemic, and more.
Equipment & Features
- Code Blue emergency/courtesy phones are installed near the entrance of the residence halls.
- The entrance to all residence halls with exterior doors are locked 24/7, except at selected times, such as move-in, move-out, Open House, Orientations, and other special occasions. All building exterior entrances are accessed by the student ID card. Many of our halls offer ID access to the student room as well.
- A system of e-watch cameras are installed in the interior and exterior of many of the housing facilities. The cameras are for recording purposes.
- The housing facilities are equipped with fire safety systems, and residents are educated as to proper procedures in case of emergencies. Regular inspections and drills are conducted for staff and residents.
Protecting Yourself & Others
- You should lock your room door whenever you and your roommate are not in the room, even when you are close by, and also whenever you are sleeping.
- You should not leave your room door unlocked for convenience—virtually all thefts from residence hall rooms occur when residents leave their rooms unlocked.
- You should never prop exterior or hallway doors or let anyone tailgate behind you. If you see an exterior or hallway door propped, unprop it and dispose of the item used to prop it open.
Personal Safety Tips from ETSU Police
Four Ways to Increase Your Personal Safety
- Reduce or eliminate opportunities that may make you a target.
- Increase awareness in places you're most comfortable.
- Trust your instincts regardless of feeling embarrassed.
- Prepare your schedule daily with safety in mind.
Be Responsible for Your Personal Safety
- Be alert to potential danger.
- Trust your instincts.
- Be aware of all your surroundings.
- Avoid anything that does not feel safe.
- Anticipate possible problems.
- Be vigilant and prepared for anything.
- Report suspicious activity.
Student Incident and CARE Reports
- Submit an *Incident Report - Submit an incident report about a violation (Submitted information should not be considered confidential)
- Submit a *CARE Report - Submit a report concerning a medical situation, mental health, or other non-disciplinary violation (Submitted information should not be considered confidential)
This information and links to much more can be found here.
ETSU Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (AS&FSR)
In order for individuals to make informed decisions about their personal safety, ETSU makes available to current and prospective students and employees the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. This annual publication includes information on crime reporting procedures, policies, safety tips, prevention programs, and fire and crime statistics for the last three years. The report is available online at the ETSU Police Department website, where it can be downloaded for viewing or printing. Hard copies may also be obtained via US mail at no cost by calling the ETSU Police Department at (423) 439-6900, by writing to ETSU Police Department, Box 70646, Johnson City, TN 37614, or by emailing oorj@etsu.edu.
For additional information concerning safety at ETSU, contact: ETSU Police, (423) 439-6900, Student Life and Enrollment, (423) 439-4210, or Housing and Residence Life, (423) 439-4446.