Important Public Safety Updates and Reminders: DrexelALERT, Walking Escorts, and More

September 8, 2025

Summary:

Call 215.895.2222 (Drexel Public Safety emergency number) or 911 immediately if you experience or witness a crime.
Confirm your contact information and manage your DrexelALERTs via DrexelOne.
Download the Drexel Guardian app to turn your phone into a personalized safety device.
Walking escorts are available in University City and Center City; call designated numbers based on location and time.

Dear Members of the Drexel Community,

On behalf of the Department of Public Safety, I look forward to welcoming all new and returning students, faculty and professional staff members to our campuses for the 2025-26 academic year. As part of our commitment to provide a safe and secure environment through effective relationships and excellence in service, we are sharing the following safety updates and reminders. New for this fall, you have the option to receive DrexelALERTs for campuses other than your primary location, and Drexel is now providing walking escort services in Mantua that were previously handled by University City District. Please read on for more details.

Emergency Numbers

Please call 215.895.2222 (TTY: 445.221.5436) or 911 immediately if you experience or witness a crime. We recommend saving 215.895.2222 in your phone contacts as “Drexel Public Safety.” 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.

For more important phone numbers across Drexel’s campuses, please visit the Emergency Numbers page of the Public Safety website.

Confirm Your Contact Info for DrexelALERT

DrexelALERT is an emergency notification system that provides fast dissemination of critical information to the Drexel community. All students, faculty, and professional staff receive DrexelALERT text messages for their primary campus automatically, but the system’s effectiveness depends upon individuals providing accurate and up-to-date contact information. At the start of each term, you are asked to confirm and update your mobile phone number when you log in to DrexelOne. (Please note: New students will begin to receive alerts approximately six weeks before the start of their first term.) To proactively confirm your information:

Log in to DrexelOne.
Select the Welcome tab from the main menu.
Select DrexelALERT under the Safety, Security and Support header.
Update your contact information and select Submit.

New: Opt-in to Get DrexelALERTS for Other Campuses

We have expanded the DrexelALERT system to provide campus-specific alerts, and you may now opt-in to receive DrexelALERTs for campuses other than your primary location. To enroll:

Sign in to DrexelOne and click on the Drexel Guardian link located in the Safety, Security and Support section, or visit getrave.com/login/Drexel (you must log in with your Drexel credentials and confirm the terms of use).
Select “Opt-in List”
Click the checkbox next to the list(s) you wish to join: Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower Health; Drexel University Elkins Park and The Eye Institute; and/or Drexel University’s Philadelphia campuses.

To opt out of an alert that you previously opted into, follow the same steps and uncheck the box next to the list you wish to unsubscribe from. (You cannot opt out of alerts from your primary campus.)

Download the Drexel Guardian App

Drexel Guardian, available for both Android and Apple devices, provides safety features including an emergency GPS locator, the ability to set a safety timer, the option to manage and message your “guardians” (e.g. family members, roommates, friends, etc.), and the ease of emergency communication through one-touch dialing. All members of the Drexel community are encouraged to download the app and explore its many safety features.

How to Request a Walking Escort

Upon request, security officers provide walking escorts for Drexel students, faculty and professional staff in the following locations:

Within Drexel’s patrol boundaries (30th to 36th streets and Chestnut to Spring Garden streets): Call 215.895.2222, use a blue-light emergency telephone, or ask any public safety officer on patrol to request a walking escort 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In the Mantua neighborhood (Spring Garden Street to Wallace Street between 31st and 40th Streets): Call 215.895.2222 from 4 p.m. to 3 a.m. (Note: This service was previously provided by University City District).
On the Center City Campus (Vine Street to JFK Boulevard and 16th Street to Broad Street): Call 267.359.2334 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
University City District (UCD): Between 10 a.m. and 3 a.m., UCD Ambassadors provide walking escorts between 30th Street and 42nd Street from Spring Garden Street to Woodland Avenue, and from 42nd Street to 50th Street from Market Street to Woodland Avenue. Call 215.387.3942 to request a UCD walking escort.

Stay Connected and Informed

Look for Drexel Public Safety during Welcome Week, check out our monthly Public Safety & U newsletter published in DrexelNow, and follow us on Instagram @drexelpublicsafety for safety tips, event updates and FAQ Fridays. We look forward to seeing both new and familiar faces back on campus this fall. Wishing you a safe and meaningful academic year!

Sincerely,

Mel Singleton
Vice President/Chief of Police
Department of Public Safety