Personal Safety
General Safety Tips
Start with a few practical habits: stay aware, plan your route, keep important numbers close, and ask for help whenever something does not feel right.
Be Aware
Be especially aware of your surroundings at all times and do not be so involved in a cell phone conversation or other devices that you are not aware of the environment around you.
Do not walk alone
Do not walk alone, especially at night. Plan your travels through, to and from campus, walk with friends and utilize services such as the free city transit system, taxis, and SLO Safe Ride.
Use designated paths
Stay on designated paths and refrain from taking shortcuts through isolated parts of the campus.
Tell a friend
If you must be in an isolated area, such as working or studying alone in labs or offices, lock the doors when you can and tell a friend where you are and when you plan to leave.
Add our contacts
Keep your cell phone close and 911 or UPD contact numbers programmed into your phone. Know the location of campus emergency telephones on routes to and from campus destinations.
Watch personal belongings
Keep personal belongings in view while eating, meeting, or studying on campus.
Never hesitate to call 911
Whenever you are on campus or off, and see or hear someone who might be in trouble, never hesitate to call 911 and ask for assistance.
Use campus safety escorts
Use the campus escort van or walking escort patrol for on campus safety escorts.
Talk with your partner
Talk about sexual expectations with your partner. Sex without mutual agreement is rape. If you or someone you know has become a victim of sexual violence, contact University Police at 805-756-2281, or 9-1-1. For additional resources and information regarding sexual violence please refer to: safer.calpoly.edu.
Need help right now?
Call 911 for emergencies. For non-emergency University Police assistance, call 805-756-2281 in San Luis Obispo or 707-654-1176 at Cal Poly Maritime Academy.