University Safety and Security

Administration and Public Safety

The Division of Administration and Public Safety (APS) is committed to further improving safety on campus while providing administrative and business support services to multiple departments. Our goal is to work in partnership with students, faculty, and staff to provide a safe, enjoyable, and fulfilling university experience. Students are a central component of APS operations and are directly responsible for the excellent relations that exist with the student population. Currently, there are over 200 students employed by APS who have adopted the motto of "Students Serving Students."

APS personnel are highly trained, certified, and licensed to respond to all emergencies (police, fire, emergency medical, hazardous material, and environmental challenges). Likewise, they have authority to enforce criminal laws and fire codes, and to inspect all existing and newly constructed buildings. Training in accident prevention, laboratory safety, hazardous waste management, CPR, defensive driving, first aid, emergency medical care, and other life safety areas is also provided. Our Department of Transportation Services provides transportation to more students than any university system in the country. APS is also involved in stormwater compliance, surplus collection, and material storage, and we manage Rutgers' own four and one-half star, 18-hole golf course, the Barnes & Noble at Rutgers bookstores, the university's first records retention center, postal operations, and mail delivery.

Rutgers University Police Department maintains a public safety presence on each of the campuses and nonemergency contact information varies by location. Safety Matters details public safety statistics, services, and programs on each campus. To view Safety Matters online or to have a copy mailed to you free of charge, please contact the Rutgers University Police Department:

Safety Matters: http://rupd.rutgers.edu/RUPD_files/Safety_Matters_2014.pdf.

New Brunswick Campus: 732-932-8407
Newark Campus (including Health Sciences at Newark): 973-353-5547
Camden Campus: 856-225-6009

Rutgers University Police Department

The internationally accredited Rutgers University Police Department (RUPD) operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, on all of the campuses to provide the university community with a full range of police and security services. The department is committed to providing progressive police services to enhance the quality of life for all students, employees, and visitors.

The RUPD employs full-time armed police officers as well as unarmed security officers that provide crime prevention functions, enforce university parking regulations, provide escorts, and serve as additional eyes and ears for the police. Additionally, nearly 100 students are employed as Community Service Officers and provide a wide range of security-related functions to supplement the RUPD mission.

Rutgers University police officers are certified by the New Jersey Police Training Commission and additionally receive supplemental training to ensure their ability to provide exceptional community policing services. All security officers and community service officers receive 40 hours of formal training through the New Jersey College and University Public Safety Association.

In addition, the Public Safety Building in New Brunswick is home to a state-of-the-art 911 Communications Center while Camden, Newark, and Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences provide emergency and nonemergency call-taking and dispatching services. The centers operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and are staffed by telecommunicators. Telecommunicators have direct communications with our public safety partners in the field and can enhance public safety response by viewing select security cameras live from our vast network of in excess of 2,700 Cameras for Safety.

The RUPD is located at the addresses listed below and can be reached at the following nonemergency numbers:

New Brunswick Campus
5 Commercial Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1340
Nonemergency: 732-932-7211

Health Sciences at Newark Location
5 Bruce Street
Newark, NJ 07102
Nonemergency: 973-972-4491

Newark Campus
200 University Avenue
Newark, NJ 07102-1813
Nonemergency: 973-353-5547

Camden Campus
409 North Fourth Street
Camden, NJ 08102-1406
Nonemergency: 856-225-6009

To report emergencies (police, fire, and emergency medical), please dial 9-1-1; or from university Centrex telephones, obtain an outside line and dial 9-1-1. You also can contact the police by using the blue-light emergency telephones located throughout the campuses.

Follow the Rutgers Police Department on Nixle for regular updates on issues impacting your community: http://local.nixle.com/rutgers-police-department.

To obtain more information about the RUPD, please visit http://rupd.rutgers.edu.

Public Safety Technologies

The Public Safety Technologies Department is responsible for the installation and service of access control systems, intrusion and panic alarm systems, closed-circuit television cameras, and door hardware throughout the university. They also oversee the operations of the ID Card Offices universitywide.

Access control systems that require students, faculty, staff, and visitors to swipe identification cards to gain access into university facilities have been put in place at various locations. To date, we have over 2,300 doors of access control at the university and that number continues to grow. It is important to remember that these state-of-the-art technologies are utilized for your safety, and you can help support these practices by not circumventing existing systems or allowing others to do so.

In 2007, the Cameras for Safety project was initiated and we continue to add to the already 2,700 cameras installed throughout the university. These cameras are intended to prevent, detect, and record events that violate university regulations and municipal, state, or federal laws.

For more information, visit http://pst.rutgers.edu.

Emergency Services

The Department of Emergency Services is dedicated to enhancing the safety and quality of life for the university community as well as the surrounding areas. It provides emergency response, emergency medical services, public safety education, fire prevention inspection services, and testing and maintenance of fire suppression and detection equipment. The department serves all university properties statewide.

Fire safety is a major component of our total safety and security program. State-certified fire inspectors provide fire safety awareness training sessions in the residence halls and conduct emergency evacuation drills to familiarize occupants with emergency procedures. Department personnel regularly inspect all university buildings and facilities, conduct alarm tests and fire drills, and enforce the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code. As a state-licensed ambulance service, the Department of Emergency Services provides emergency medical care to the university community. The staff of New Jersey-certified emergency medical technicians responds to emergency medical calls and provides standby services at major university events.

To obtain more information on emergency services, please visit http://rues.rutgers.edu or call 848-932-4800.

Emergency Management

The Office of Emergency Management serves all campuses and works to prepare the university to properly respond to and address emergencies that threaten public safety. These emergencies may include, but are not limited to, severe weather conditions, major power failures, fires and explosions, transportation accidents, other accidents involving mass casualties, release of hazardous materials, violent crimes, civil disorder, bomb threats, public health emergencies, acts of terrorism, and other events that could pose a significant threat to the university community. University emergency planning focuses on the areas of preparedness, prevention, mitigation, response, and recovery.

Rutgers collaborates with neighboring emergency response agencies, local governments, the State of New Jersey, the National Guard, and community partners to regularly conduct exercises designed to better prepare the university for the most likely kinds of emergencies or disasters. Rutgers often tests our emergency operations plans in order to validate and assess them. Based on lessons learned from these exercises and from experiences at other universities nationwide, Rutgers' Emergency Operational Plans are constantly reviewed and updated.

In times of emergency, the Office of Emergency Management provides coordination and support for university operations statewide. Some of the functions include sheltering, communications, evacuations, and assisting with business continuity. You are encouraged to take an active approach in your personal preparedness by reviewing the university's emergency action plans.

To learn more about emergency management at Rutgers University, please visit http://emergency.rutgers.edu.

Notification to the Rutgers Community about an Immediate Threat

Rutgers Administration and Public Safety (APS) has personnel assigned 24 hours a day, seven days a week to monitor and respond to events on campus. In the event of an emergent situation, APS has an emergency operation communications plan and emergency notification procedures that provide for the immediate notification of the campus community. This plan will be activated upon the confirmation of a significant emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or staff. This information will be sent out unless issuing a notification will compromise efforts to contain the emergency.

The university's emergency notification system (ENS) uses many different and overlapping mechanisms to provide time-critical information to the Rutgers community, as no single mechanism is sufficient to provide blanket notification. Methods include email, website announcements, TV, radio, and text messaging to cell phones, as well as low-tech mass communications such as electronic signs, bullhorns, and police car speaker systems. Additional messages and updates may be posted on the campus operating page at http://www.rutgers.edu/about/operating-status.

For questions or problems concerning the Rutgers ENS, please visit https://ess.rutgers.edu/ens/.

Department of Transportation Services

The Department of Transportation Services (DOTS) at Rutgers is the largest university transportation system in the country. DOTS is committed to providing all members of the Rutgers community with the best possible solutions for getting around campus safely and easily.

Transportation options include campus buses and shuttle services, walking and bicycle paths, and public transit services.

The university maintains various parking facilities including permit-controlled lots and decks, metered parking spaces, access-controlled lots, and restricted assigned lots. Anyone wishing to park on university property is encouraged to visit our website to obtain the appropriate parking permit and/or to view the rules and regulations governing the use of parking facilities at Rutgers.

To learn more about transportation services at Rutgers, visit http://rudots.rutgers.edu.


Rutgers Environmental Health and Safety

Rutgers Environmental Health and Safety (REHS) provides comprehensive environmental, health, and safety services for all university facilities, employees, students, and visitors. These services are provided in the following disciplines: biological safety, health physics, laboratory safety, industrial hygiene, occupational safety, environmental programs, hazardous waste services, and emergency response.

Our goals are to protect the health and safety of the university community, protect the environment, and promote compliance. This is accomplished through the development and implementation of compliant programs, education and training, process reviews, universitywide and departmental EHS committees, inspections and audits, and worksite assessments. REHS also serves as the liaison to all regulatory agencies with respect to EHS issues, including regulatory inspections, licensing, and permitting.

Construction Code Enforcement

The Construction Code Enforcement (CCE) Unit is responsible for ensuring compliance with state construction codes and regulations for all Rutgers owned and leased properties throughout the state. Under a Memorandum of Understanding with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA), this office reviews construction documents, issues permits, and inspects newly constructed or altered buildings and structures for compliance with state construction, safety, and accessibility codes and standards. Additionally, CCE conducts periodic safety inspections and tests on elevators, swimming pools, spas, and water backflow prevention devices. CCE functions similarly to any municipal building department. However, with a combined student, faculty, and staff of more than 90,000, Rutgers is the eighth-largest municipality in New Jersey by population.

Business and Administrative Services

The Business and Administrative Services Department (BAS) provides some centralized administrative support to all public safety operational units. Additionally, BAS oversees the business operations of Rutgers' own four and one-half star, 18-hole golf course, the Barnes & Noble at Rutgers bookstore's operations, postal services, surplus, shipping and receiving and material services, and the university's records management services.