Drexel’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) is thrilled to welcome Dragons old and new back to Drexel this month. Are you set up for a safe start to the year? In this edition of Public Safety & U, DPS’ official newsletter, you’ll find some key contact information to store in your phone, as well as everything you need to know about safely traveling on campus and in the Greater Philadelphia area. Not to mention, all the upcoming opportunities to connect with and get to know the DPS team — activity fairs, safety courses, the police liaison program, and so much more!
The Basics: DPS’ Top Safety Tips
This newsletter is full of important information to help you start the academic year off right, but if you only click one link, let it be this one (and share it with your friends and colleagues!): Drexel Public Safety’s Top 12 Safety Tips.
Important Numbers to Save in Your Phone
If you haven’t already, please save 215.895.2222 in your contacts as the main emergency number for Drexel Public Safety, including Drexel Police and Fire & Emergency Services. (You can also call 911 in any emergency.) If you are on the University City Campus, you can call 215.895.2222 to request a walking escort (more on that later). Additional public safety-related numbers, including security offices for Drexel’s other campus locations, are provided on the DPS website; bookmark that page or add any relevant numbers to your address book today!
To optimize your communication to and from DPS, please also take the following actions, which you can do right now on your phone:
- Download the Drexel Guardian app via iOS or Google Play. In the event of an emergency, Drexel Guardian allows the DPS Communications Center to immediately access important information about you.
- Confirm or update your mobile phone number via DrexelOne to ensure you receive emergency text-message notifications from the DrexelALERT system.
DPS also recommends saving these numbers to help you navigate other issues that may arise:
- Real Estate and Facilities, 215.895.1700 (during business hours): Contact this department for all concerns or questions about maintenance emergencies, work orders, campus bus service, and on-campus construction. For after-hours maintenance emergencies, call Public Safety at 215.895.2222. For general maintenance and non-emergency requests, submit an online work request.
- Environmental Health and Radiation Safety, 215.895.5919
- Employee Assistance Program, 1.888.881.5462: SupportLinc, Drexel’s Employee Assistance Program, offers free, confidential, 24/7 in-person or virtual counseling for up to six sessions, per issue, per year, as well as many other mental health and well-being services.
- Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 988: If you’re struggling, help is a phone call away.
- Homeless Outreach Hotline, 232.1984 or 1.877.222.1984: If you see someone in Philadelphia experiencing homelessness who needs help, you can call one of these numbers provided by Project HOME’s Outreach Coordination Center.
How to Move Safely Around Campus and Within Philly
For Extra Security on Foot: Request a Walking Escort!
Upon request, Public Safety security officers provide walking escorts for Drexel students, faculty and professional staff 24/7 within DPS patrol boundaries in University City: 30th to 36th streets and Chestnut to Spring Garden streets. For more information and to request a walking escort, you can either 1) call Public Safety on 215.895.2222; 2) use one of the many building and blue-light emergency phones located across campus; 3) make a request on the Drexel Guardian app; or 4) ask any Public Safety officer on patrol or inside a building.
Escorts are also provided by University City District Ambassadors from 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. between 30th Street and 42nd Street from Wallace Street to Woodland Avenue and from 42nd Street to 50th Street from Market Street to Woodland Avenue. To request a walking escort from University City District, call 215.387.3942.
In Center City, walking escorts are available at the New College Building by calling the security desk at 267.359.2380 (escorts are provided by Allied security officers).
Are you a Dragon that utilized our walking escort service? We’d love to hear your feedback. Please email Linda Moran at lmm467@drexel.edu if you would like to share your experience.
Travel With Your DragonCard
You’ll need your DragonCard on hand at all times, as it’s required to enter and exit all on-campus buildings. If you lose your DragonCard and need a replacement, visit the Business Services website for instructions.
Climb Aboard a Drexel Shuttle
Drexel Real Estate and Facilities (REF) provides free shuttle bus transportation across Drexel’s three Philadelphia campuses — University City, Center City and Queen Lane — for students, faculty and professional staff. Upon boarding a bus, you must present a valid DragonCard to the driver. The bus service includes three fixed routes: Powelton/Spring Garden (seven days a week), Dragon (Center City loop, Monday through Friday), and Queen Lane (Monday through Friday). You can access shuttle schedules on the REF website.
Use SEPTA’s Buses, Trolleys or Trains
Philadelphia’s regional transit system, SEPTA, has convenient stops located throughout Drexel’s campuses, allowing you to traverse the city via bus, trolley, subway or “El” (the elevated Market-Frankford train line). To do so safely, make sure you know where you’re going and how to obtain the right fare. SEPTA has an app for that, or you can visit septa.org for more information. To report incidents or suspicious activity on SEPTA, call SEPTA Transit Police at 215.280.8111, text a tip to 215.234.1911, or use SEPTA’s free Transit Watch app. Find more info on SEPTA’s Safety page.
Did you know? Drexel partners with SEPTA to offer benefit-eligible employees all-access SEPTA monthly transit passes through the Key Advantage Program. Learn how to sign up on the HR website.
Participate in Rideshare — Safely
Last month’s Public Safety & U shared some important rideshare safety tips. As a quick reminder, follow these steps when using Uber, Lyft or other rideshare platforms:
- Plan ahead.
- Request your ride inside.
- Check that you’re entering the right car.
- Avoid riding in the front seat.
- Share your trip details with a friend.
- Follow your intuition.
Get to Know Us: DUPD Liaison Program
Relaunching this fall, the Drexel University Police Department’s (DUPD) Liaison Program allows DUPD officers to make long-lasting connections with students, understand student concerns, and protect them through education, which in turn helps students understand that Drexel police officers are here to help. DUPD recognizes that the student population changes over the years, and officers want to be able to maintain relationships. Officer liaisons will help to earn the trust of students, while providing opportunities for candid conversations, partnerships and relationship-building. Officers and students can also collaborate on projects and philanthropic events. DUPD officers have been assigned to fraternities, sororities, residential halls, student organizations and teams. Look for them throughout campus and at DPS events.
Also as part of Vice President and Chief of Police Mel Singleton’s commitment to community engagement, all DUPD officers have been issued cell phones, and they are urged to distribute their contact number during each encounter with members of the Drexel community. This initiative provides DUPD with the opportunity to get to know you, and vice versa. Be sure to swap numbers when you meet our officers!
Community Commitments
Own a Hyundai or Kia? Come Get a Free Steering Wheel Lock!
Drexel affiliates and surrounding community residents who own a Hyundai or Kia can come to Drexel University Police Headquarters at 3219 Arch St. and pick up a steering wheel lock free of charge. A valid driver’s license and proof of Hyundai or Kia vehicle registration will be required to receive the steering wheel lock.
Drexel Public Safety Day — Mark Your Calendars for Oct. 4
We’ve declared October 4, 2023, Public Safety Day, and we hope you can join us at one or all three events we have planned!
- National Coffee with a Cop, 9–11 a.m., sponsored by Greek from Greece (107 N. 33rd Street)
- Public Safety Resource Fair from 1–3 p.m. on Perelman Plaza; join DPS, university and community partners, and first responders to learn some important safety information.
- Community event from 5–7 p.m. at Dornsife Center — details to come!
Try The Two-part Self-Protection Course, SAFE
Public Safety’s self-protection program, Self-Awareness for Everyone (SAFE), is split into two sessions: SAFE I and SAFE II. Due to the hands-on nature of the class, we strongly recommend you register with a fellow Dragon! Participation in the techniques is recommended, but not required. Registration is required 72 hours prior to the class. You can register via Eventbrite for these classes. These classes are also available by request for your group.
Wondering what a SAFE class is like? Check out the video feature, created by Drexel students, on the DPS website.
- SAFE I classes will be offered the second week of every month on Monday and Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. Upcoming classes are on Sept. 13, Oct. 9 and Oct. 11.
- SAFE II classes will be offered the fourth week of every month on Monday and Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. and cannot be taken until you have completed SAFE I. Upcoming classes are on Sept. 25, Sept. 27, Oct. 23 and Oct. 25.
Additional DPS Educational Programs
You can request any of the following presentations and trainings by completing the Request a Presentation Form.
- Your Safety Is Our Goal: This virtual workshop is a great way to learn how to stay aware of your surroundings and always be prepared, not scared, when moving through the city.
- Fire & Emergency Services, Emergency Preparedness: The Office of Fire and Emergency Services offers tailored, data-driven awareness and training programs, by request, to help the Drexel community reduce the risks of fire, medical emergencies, elevator entrapments, power outages, gas leaks, and other common challenges.
- Workplace Safety Program: The Public Safety & U workplace safety program is designed to empower and educate members of the Drexel community and can be customized to address the unique security challenges of your unit.
We Are Here for You When You Need Us
Please call 215.895.2222 immediately if you experience or witness a crime. Drexel’s Public Safety Communications Center is staffed 24/7 to serve you, whether or not you choose to remain anonymous when making a report. It is vital that crimes are reported promptly to Drexel Police so that they can be investigated, and so that Public Safety can connect the victim(s) with proper resources. You can also contact DPS through the Drexel Guardian app. Drexel Guardian will not track you nor share your information unless you initiate an emergency. To download the app, search for “Rave Guardian” in the app store or Google Play store.
Emergency Numbers
215.895.2222 or 911
TTY: 215.571.4141
Walking Escorts
215.895.2222