You have spent a lifetime keeping your children safe, and now sending them off into the unknown can make you feel a little uneasy. The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown makes every attempt to assure the safety of our students.
Every college campus, like every community, has some safety concerns. We recognize this, and take an active role when it comes to campus safety. We are proud to say that our efforts are paying off. Our track record in the area of safety is impressive. Perhaps more important than statistics, it is the opinion of our students when asked, that they feel very safe on campus — even late at night.
Residence Halls
Each resident is provided with a key that unlocks only his or her residence hall room. It is the students’ responsibility to make sure the room is secure when they leave. All students will also have a key card for their specified residence hall. This key card will open the main residence hall door, which is locked at all times.
More importantly, the residence halls are small living communities. Their size allows for personal attention to security. In addition to the Resident Staff and the Campus Police who patrol, the students are also aware of who is a resident and who is a guest.
The best way to check on the security measures on campus is to come for a visit. Our tours include a trip through the residence halls and a discussion of the safety measures taken.
Make Your Student Safer
One of the most important things you can do is to teach your son/daughter safety precautions. Encourage them to use common sense. Yes, our campus is a very safe one. But we still tell students to avoid walking alone at night, to lock their residence hall rooms, and to stay on well-lit sidewalks.
Another is to find out about the campus beforehand. Colleges are required to report their crime statistics, and Pitt-Johnstown is no exception. If you would like data to support our claim that our campus is a safe one, you can request those statistics from Campus Police.
Campus Police
Campus Police Officers are professionally trained and certified through the Pennsylvania’s Police Officers Education Training Commission. They patrol campus 24 hours a day each day of the year by foot, vehicle, and bike. Many of them are also Emergency Medical Technicians, and each of them is trained in first-aid and CPR.
Duties of the Campus Police include protection of the campus community, enforcement of federal, state, and local laws, campus judicial code, and enforcement of parking rules and regulations. The office also maintains a 24-hour emergency line. In addition, Campus Police provide the following services: escort service, crime prevention training programs, lost and found, and vehicle assistance including battery jump kits and assisting with vehicle lock outs.Campus Police Officers have worked hard to develop a good rapport with students. The Officers have managed to find the balance between authority figure and approachable staff member. It is not unusual to see an
Officer chatting with students in one of the dining halls, or elsewhere on campus.