Student safety, welfare remain top priority

Northern Arizona University has several measures in place to promote the safety and welfare of on-campus residents.

• During the first few weeks of school, students work with their resident assistant to complete a roommate agreement. This agreement provides an opportunity for students who will be sharing a space to open the lines of communication and establish mutual expectations and ground rules for the coming year.
• Freshman halls have a full-time residence hall director and resident assistants who are charged with the general operation of the residence hall, including overseeing the welfare and safety of residents.
• Resident assistants, who live in the residence halls, are trained to mediate conflicts between roommates.
• In the absence of a conflict resolution between residence hall students, the university may relocate residents to another room or building.
• Side entrances to all residence hall entrances are locked 24 hours a day to control who enters and exits the buildings. The main entrances are staffed when not locked.
• Five residence hall buildings require card access, and all remaining halls will be converted to this type of access system in 2007-08.
• NAU maintains a fully accredited, 24-hour-a-day police department on campus.
• The university has several methods for communicating with campus about a crisis or emergency. It has a notification system for students, faculty and staff, including text messaging, e-mail, web, phone calls, door-to-door notification, radio, television and public address systems in Reilly and Sechrist residence halls. When time allows, posters and fliers are distributed.
• More than 90 emergency telephones are connected directly to the police dispatch center.
• Safety escorts are available any time for anyone walking from one location to another on campus, including residence halls, sororities and fraternities.
• The NAUPD has general safety tips online.
• If anyone observes suspicious behavior or activity, call the NAUPD emergency line at 523-3000 or 911.