myBama
The University of Alabama Police

Safe Living

LIVING ON CAMPUS

Living on campus is the key to a great start at The University of Alabama. Residential living puts you at the heart of campus life, where you will interact with a wide variety of people.

While our residence halls are safe, crimes and other emergencies do occasionally occur. Here are some safety tips if if you live in a UA residence hall.

  • If you have an emergency or if you become the victim of a crime inside a UA residence hall, contact UAPD at 205-348-5454.
  • Get to know your RA. They are there to help you with any problems from roommate disputes to maintenance issues.
  • If you have a problem after business hours, call the 24-hour area desk. They can get you connected to an RA on call as needed.
  • Always lock your door. If you live in a suite-style residence hall, always lock you bedroom door, and talk to your roommates to set expectations that the exterior door will remain locked.
  • Don’t allow people you don’t know to access the residence halls. All UA residence halls require residents to use their ACT Card for entry. Do not prop open exterior doors. Do not allow others to follow you into the residence hall unless you know they are a resident. If someone is supposed to be there, they will have access.
  • If you see an unescorted male in a women’s residence hall, immediately notify an RA or UAPD.
  • If you notice anything suspicious happening in your residence hall, notify an RA or call UAPD. Voicing your concerns can prevent criminal activity.
  • Keep an eye on your personal belongings. If using laundry facilities in the residence halls, do not leave your clothes unattended while washing and drying.
  • If you suspect someone has stolen an item from your room or one of the laundry facilities, contact UAPD.

FIRE SAFETY

  • Items that have open flames, flammable liquids, or that may pose a fire hazard are prohibited in UA residence halls. These items include, but are not limited to:
    • Candles
    • Oil lamps
    • Hookah pipes
    • Incense
    • Gasoline
    • Charcoal
    • Natural cut trees, branches or greens
    • Halogen lamps and bulbs
    • Air fryers
    • Deep fat fryers
    • Electric griddles, grills, sandwich makers or presses, waffle irons, woks
    • Hot oil popcorn poppers
    • Hot plates
    • Indoor grills or boilers
    • Toaster ovens
    • Crock pots
    • Any cooking tool that does not have an automatic shut-off feature
  • Some electrical appliances may not be used in residence halls. These items include, but are not limited to:
    • Personal air conditioners
    • Space heaters
    • Ceiling fans
    • Fog/smoke machines
    • 3D printers
  • To avoid a possible fire, students who are cooking or heating food in an approved device must not leave it unattended.
  • If using one of the common kitchens in a residence hall, never leave food unattended.
  • In the event of a fire alarm or fire drill, you must immediately evacuate the residence hall and remain outside until emergency personnel allow you to reenter the building.
    • Failing to evacuate a residence hall during a fire alarm or fire drill will result in University disciplinary action.
  • Tampering with, damaging, or covering fire safety equipment (including smoke detectors, pull stations, fire extinguishers, sprinkler heads, etc.) will result in University disciplinary action and may also be punishable under state law.
  • Initiating a false alarm will result in University disciplinary action and may also be punishable under state law.
READ MORE ABOUT UA’s FIRE SAFETY POLICY

LIVING OFF CAMPUS

If you live off campus or are planning to live off campus in the future, you need to be extra aware of your surroundings to stay safe and within the law.

When looking into rental properties there are a few basic safety features and policies which you should consider before signing a lease.

  • Doors should be made of metal or solid wood construction.
  • Doors should have deadbolt locks and peepholes.
  • Make sure the management changes the locks or allows you to change the locks when moving in.
  • Sliding glass doors should be secured with pins through the frame or have a “charlie bar” locking device.
  • Apartments located on the second floor, or higher, are safer from property crimes. However, they are not safe in severe weather events.
  • Hallways and stairwells should be well-lit at night. Mirrors that help you see around hallway corners are also important.
  • Bushes and shrubbery should be well maintained and cut back below window height to reduce the risk of attackers hiding in them.
  • Look for a complex that limits access to residents and guests.
  • Look for a complex that has on-site security or a neighborhood watch program.
  • Ask management if there have been any burglaries in the complex, and if so, ask how the burglars gained entry.
  • Ask management about the availability of extra keys to your apartment. If there are extra keys, ask how they are secured and who has access to them.
  • Ask management about who will have access to your apartment, such as maintenance workers or exterminators.
  • Ensure parking areas are well-lit at night.
  • Ask management if there are security cameras located in parking areas and outside areas of the complex.
  • Ask management if you can install a doorbell with video capabilities.
  • Ask management if they have a policy against installing intrusion alarms in individual apartments. If not, the installation of a simple alarm system might be a good option for additional security.

Keep in mind that looks can be deceiving. Just because an apartment complex is new does not mean that it is safe. Look closely at the apartments you are considering. If they don’t have some of the safety features listed above, you may want to keep looking. Do not compromise when it comes to your safety.

Once you have chosen an apartment or off-campus rental property, here are a few safety tips to keep in mind:

  • If you have an emergency, or if you become the victim of a crime, call 911.
  • Always lock your exterior door. If you’re sharing an off-campus rental with friends, lock your bedroom door at night when you go to bed.
  • If someone knocks on your door claiming to be a maintenance worker, exterminator, etc., make sure they show identification before you allow them into your apartment. If they come when you’re not expecting anyone, check with your apartment manager or landlord before letting them in.
  • If living in a complex with restricted access, don’t let people you don’t know follow you into the complex.
  • If you notice anything suspicious happening in or around your rental property, call 911.
  • If you suspect your rental property has been burglarized, call 911.

Off-Campus Resources, or OCR, oversees the off-campus housing search website, housing fairs, and programming for UA students about leases, landlords, and successful community living.

VISIT OCR’S WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE

UAPD FRINGE PATROL

UAPD works closely with members of the Tuscaloosa Police Department to provide an additional law enforcement presence in the business and residential areas surrounding the University. The geographical boundaries are Jack Warner Parkway to the north, Queen City Avenue to the west, 15th Street to the south, and McFarland Boulevard to the east. UAPD officers also patrol other UA-owned properties throughout Tuscaloosa.

UAPD and TPD operate a police precinct on University Boulevard, in the area commonly referred to as the Strip. This precinct is staffed 24 hours a day by UA security officials. A UAPD officer is always in the area.

UAPD officers may perform their law enforcement tasks in marked patrol units, unmarked vehicles, police motorcycles and bicycles, on foot patrol or a combination of all of these methods. The officers may be in police uniforms or in plain clothes depending on the mission of the assignment and the needs of the community.