Personal Safety
The Department of Residence Life makes every effort to instill a culture of safety in UAF's residential communities. The safety of UAF residents is of utmost importance to us and we strive to keep facilities secure. The more proactive we are, the safer we are as a community.
Report a Crime
You can report a crime by contacting the UAF Police Department by phone at 907-474-7721 or email uaf-policecrimereporting@alaska.edu. Or, you can submit an online report through the UAF Crime Tip Reporting Form.
The has current information relating to emergencies on campus. This includes evacuation procedures, hazardous materials, gas leaks, fumes, vapors, power outage, flooding, violence in the workplace/active shooter, fire, suspicious persons, suspicious object, bomb threats, medical emergencies, earthquakes, weather emergencies and campus advisories.
UAF also uses the UA Alert Notification System, which automatically enrolls all faculty, staff and registered students for notifications in case of emergencies.
During an emergency or crisis, information may be provided in several ways:
- Text messages to your cell phone via Rave Mobile Safety
- Alertus computer desktop message
- Alertus emergency alert beacons
- Loudspeakers
- Facebook:
- Twitter:
- UAF's online emergency information site:
- Local news radio and/or television broadcasts
- Telephone text and voice messages
- Verbal updates from building coordinators
- UAF recorded hotline at 907-474-7UAF (7823)
If there has been an emergency and you didn't receive any notifications, your information is correct in UAOnline and you saw others around you receiving notifications, please contact ua-alerts@alaska.edu. Sometimes messages are only sent out to affected areas.
In the case of a fire or fire drill, you're required under federal law to follow these safety expectations.
Immediately evacuate the building when a fire alarm is sounded. Residents must exit the building within three (3) minutes of the alarm sounding. Please remember to dress quickly and appropriately for Alaskan weather.
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DO NOT USE ELEVATORS.
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Residents must remain outside, 100 yards away from the building in their designated evacuation location:
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Cutler Apartment Complex — Head to the parking lot unless multiple blocks are on fire, in which case head toward the Moore-Bartlett-Skarland (MBS) complex to keep warm.
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Employee, Family and Graduate Housing — Go to the closest parking lot to your building.
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Stevens, Nerland and McIntosh Residence Halls — Head to the parking lot by the Lola Tilly Commons, 4A.
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Moore, Bartlett and Skarland Residence Halls — If all buildings in the MBS complex have a fire alarm, move across the street to the lawn directly across from MBS. If it is just one building and cold, stand within the MBS lobby or in the vestibule.
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Wickersham Hall — Go to the Gold parking lot by the Eielson building.
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Do not re-enter any building during a fire alarm before receiving permission from Residence Life or public safety staff.
- Except in the case of a fire, do not under any circumstances tamper with fire equipment, or carry away or remove fire extinguishers/hoses from their mounts or storage boxes.
Interference with or noncompliance with emergency evacuation procedures in a residential community is prohibited.
Causing a false fire alarm affects the safety of every individual on this campus.
The University Police Department offers a variety of fully comprehensive training and educational programs to promote a safe and secure environment. These topics include:
- Violent Intruder Training
- Alcohol Awareness
- Domestic Violence
- Drug Information
- Emergency Phones
- Safety and Security Tips
- Sexual Assault
- Workplace Violence
Weapons are not allowed in campus residences. The UAF Police Department has a secure room where you can store guns, knives, bear spray, tasers or bows. You'll call 907-474-7721 before you want to check an item in or out. This service is free of charge.
You'll need to fill out the weapons storage agreement before storing your weapons. You'll also need to complete a weapons storage card for each item checked in. You can fill out the forms, print them out and bring them with you to the UAF Police Department to expedite the process.
Any time, day or night, you can call the UAF Police Department at 907-474-7721 to have a police officer escort you to your car, campus residence or any other building on campus.
You must have photo identification ready. The escort may be on foot or in a vehicle.
This service can't be used in place of a taxi service for off-campus transport.
To request a vehicle jumpstart, you must be the registered owner of the vehicle.
During regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) jumpstarts are provided by UAF Parking Services by calling 907-474-7384. You'll be asked to show ID and sign a liability form.
At all other times, the UAF Police Department will provide this service if an officer is available. Call the Police Department at 907-474-7721.
Vehicle unlocks are provided by UAF Parking Services during regular business hours by calling 907-474-7384. You'll be asked to show ID and sign a liability form.
The UAF Police Department produces a daily crime log that's available to the public to provide information about complaints of criminal incidents occurring on campus.
All of UAF's residence halls are equipped with a card access system. This system utilizes your PolarExpress card. Only residents of the building can gain access by swiping their cards through the card reader. The system is operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Giving your PolarExpress card to someone else (including friends, family, significant others, etc.) is a security risk and violation of PolarExpress Policy.
The UAF Police Department normally keeps found items of value in the station but turns over items deemed to be less than $50 to the Wood Center's lost and found. Bicycles, however, are usually turned over to the Wood Center. Lost and found locations throughout UAF campus:
- UAF Police Department
- Wood Center
- Fine Arts (Music Department)
- Arctic Health (Library)
- Irving I (Room 211)
- IARC (4th floor Operations/Administration)
- Elvey (Room 601)
- Library (Circulation Desk)
- Physical Plant (Dispatch)