Safety

Residence students must share responsibility for their personal safety and security. Please follow the suggestions noted below to protect yourself, your belongings, and your fellow residents.

• Keep room/unit door, windows, and patio door locked at all times
• Do not lend keys/swipe cards out or leave them where they may be taken. If keys/swipe cards are lost, report the loss immediately to your Facilities Coordinator
• Do not leave valuables in a visible location
• Identify/label all personal belongings
• Do not open doors to, or sign people into the residence that are not personally known to you
• Report any suspicious person or behaviour to a Resident Assistant or Campus Community Police immediately. Lock your door and call for assistance
• Do not carry large amounts of cash or share P.I.N. numbers
• Do not prop doors open
• Walk with a friend at night and use well-travelled and well-lighted routes. Take advantage of the Walksafe — UWSA
• Please remember that smoking and open flames (i.e., candles, incense, etc.) are not permitted in residence
• Do not leave messages saying no one is at home
• Report all damaged locks, lights, and other safety hazards immediately
• Secure laptops to desks by using a lock (if anchor bolt is attached to desk)
• Buy a high quality bicycle lock and laptop lock. 
• Keep a record (hard copy) of the make/model and serial number of any valuable equipment (computer, stereo, etc.) in case of theft

In the event of a severe weather emergency, Residence Services staff will make every effort to inform the residents and instruct them of the safety procedures:

1. Stay away from all windows, doors, and outside walls. Be sure to protect your head
2. Move yourself to an interior hallway on the lowest floor possible or take shelter under a desk or heavy table
3. Avoid upper floors, large glasses areas, windows, outside walls, parking areas, gymnasiums, and auditoriums
4. Remain inside until the warning has passed and follow any further instructions from Residence Life staff

A state of emergency or other unforeseen developments (e.g., severe weather conditions, fire, floor, labour disruption, outbreak of illness, etc.) may make normal residence operations difficult or impossible to sustain. Utilities may not be available and food services may be limited. Residence Services reserves the right to require you to vacate your room if any such situation occurs. Should this happen, all residences (or sections thereof) will remain closed until further notice. No access is permitted when residences are closed. In the event accommodations assigned to the student are destroyed or otherwise made unavailable, the University will make every effort to provide temporary accommodations for the student.

In the case of a medical emergency, contact Campus Community Police or the Windsor 911 Response Centre. 

If calling from a campus phone, dial 911 for the Campus Community Police, or dial 9911 for the Windsor 911 Response Centre.

• Contact a Resident Assistant or Residence Life team member. All Resident Assistants and Residence Life Coordinators are qualified in First Aid and CPR. They are also trained in emergency response.
• First Aid kits are located at the front desk of every building and contain basic medical/emergency supplies such as gauze, bandages, antiseptics, and a thermometer.
• Any injury or illness requiring more extensive attention should be referred to Student Health Services or a hospital.

All residents must vacate their rooms if it is safe to do so and leave the building immediately when the fire alarm sounds. Have appropriate shoes and clothing readily available for varying periods of time outdoors. The evacuation procedure is as follows:

On Discovering Fire: Activate/sound the alarm

On Hearing the Alarm: Evacuate the building

1. If possible, put on appropriate clothing and footwear for the weather
2. Close and lock room door, if in common area, do not return to room prior to evacuation
3. In an orderly manner, make way to the closest exit or stairwell and proceed to the outside area as quickly as possible, without running
4. The elevator is NOT to be used during the evacuation
5. If a particular evacuation exit is blocked, use an alternate exit
6. Upon evacuation, move away from the building. Do NOT block entrances
7. The Resident Assistant on each floor will make a final check of all resident rooms by knocking on the doors
8. Remain outside the building until the Fire Department, Campus Community Police, or Residence Staff indicate that you can return.

Students who fail to evacuate the building when the fire alarm sounds will be subject to a fine and/or educational sanction in accordance to our Community Standards. All residents must have evacuated before the Fire Department arrives. If found in your room by the Fire Department, students may be subjected to a fine administered by the Fire Department. 

Special Constable officers perform a variety of functions and services for the university community, while working closely with the Windsor Police and other agencies. They protect and serve students, faculty and staff as well as enforce the Criminal Code. You will see Special Constable officers visiting the residence buildings on a regular basis. They can be reached at (519) 253-3000 ext. 1234 (non emergency), or ext. 911 (emergency from a campus extension).

The Safe Lancer Mobile App provides access to many campus safety features including easy access to campus/community police, personal safety features, and alerts.  

WALKSAFE is a program where student volunteers help students, staff, faculty, and visitors get home if they do not wish to walk alone at night. This service operates from September to April between 6:30 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. Call (519) 253-3000 x3504. Find out more about  Walksafe — UWSA