Welcome Back to Campus

To the Columbia Community:

Welcome back to campus. As we begin the spring semester, I am writing to remind you about safety resources and enhancements available to students, faculty, and staff. I encourage you to reach out to us at [email protected] if you have questions about these or other Public Safety resources.

• Added service hours for the Public Safety Evening Shuttle previously announced, which extended the hours of operation to begin at 4:10 p.m. every day on its two routes. Consult the website for the route maps and schedule, including an app that provides real-time, GPS tracking of the shuttles.

• Extended Staffing of Public Safety Guard Posts in specific locations, including extended 24 hours, 7 days per week at two guard booths on Morningside Drive, located at 116th Street and 122nd Street, which we announced previously; expanded coverage at the guard booth at 547 Riverside Drive to 4 p.m. through 8 a.m., seven days per week; and several increased patrols in and around the Columbia University Irving Medical Center campus.

• Other existing resources available for travel around campus in addition to the Evening Shuttle mentioned earlier, including the Walking Safety Escort Service, the Intercampus Shuttle, neighborhood merchants serving as Safe Havens, and Blue Light Emergency Call Boxes.

• Information and events designed to enhance personal safety, including a list of personal safety tips in various situations, upcoming situational awareness seminars, self-defense trainings and crime prevention events, and other crime prevention programs and information available.

In addition to these University measures and resources, the New York Police Department and Parks Department have informed us about additional enhancements at Morningside Park, including creating a park enforcement substation at 123^rd and Morningside Avenue with six Parks Enforcement Patrol officers assigned; installing all-LED lights in conjunction with the Department of Transportation over the next few months; and installing additional cameras along the main commuter routes through the park, with other safety measures under consideration.

If you have not already done so, sign up for the University’s emergency text and email notification system.

As is always the case, if you are in immediate danger on campus, call Public Safety, 24/7 (Morningside: 212-854-5555; Manhattanville: 212-853-3333; CUIMC: 212-305-7979.) Off campus, call New York City emergency services at 911.

The safety and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff remains our top priority.

James F. McShane
Vice President
Columbia University Department of Public Safety