San Diego State University (SDSU), a public university based in southern California, is home to over 35,000 undergraduate and graduate students. To better protect students from security threats and connect them with public safety officials, SDSU has launched "SDSU Safe," a mobile app to address and promote personal safety both on and off campus.
SDSU has bolstered public safety through security programming and other initiatives, according to SDSU President Adela de la Torre. "In addition to enhancing safety-related workshops, training sessions and events over the recent years — including improved policies related to student conduct — we have improved our mechanisms for communicating campus emergencies and resources to students, faculty, staff and our parents and families," de la Torre said.
SDSU Safe from AppArmor helps disseminate certain campus safety alerts as well as provide access to a range of university safety resources and reporting tools, including:
- Safety notifications: Users can receive notifications and instructions from SDSU when the university is communicating about emergencies occurring on or near campus. Generally, notifications are deployed only when there is an imminent threat to people or infrastructure, to include the sending of Clery notices or a change in university operations.
- Friend Walk: Users can share their physical location with an individual through email or SMS, allowing that individual to track their progress to their destination after accepting the Friend Walk.
- Mobile blue light: If an individual is in crisis on campus, the feature will contact the university police department, sharing location information in real time so that the department may respond.
- Reporting tools: Whether it is an emergency, a crime tip or an incident, the mobile app provides mechanisms to report safety-related issues.
- Maps and directions: Access to campus maps are provided, including information about the shuttle that transports students and employees between both family locations.
The mobile safety app aims to help students remain safe on and off campus. Serving as a line of two-way communication between the SDSU public safety team and the wider university community, SDSU may reduce safety-related issues on campus with the app.
