Safety and Security

Housing and Residence Life knows that safety and security are important issues. We believe it takes a partnership among Housing procedures, our staff and students to maintain Western Michigan University's reputation as a safe campus.

Campus safety

WMU’s Department of Public Safety is active an active partner with Housing and the campus community. In addition to a police force, Public Safety includes Parking Services, Environmental Safety and Emergency Management and the Bronco Card Center. 

A few key things to know:

• Public Safety sponsors a Student Watch and escort service.
• Public Safety publishes an annual campus crime report.
• There are blue light emergency call stations throughout campus that connect students directly to dispatch.
• Environmental Safety conducts regular fire and tornado drills in the residence halls.
• Lost student ID cards should be reported to the Bronco Card Center to be deactivated.

Building access

Residence halls, Spindler Hall

• Front doors are locked at all times. Residents enter by swiping their student ID. Guests should call their friend to be let into the building, and guests should be escorted at all times.
• Interior hallway doors leading to residential areas and house doors are locked at all times and require a key or student ID for access.

Arcadia Flats

• Front doors and floor corridors are locked at all times. Residents enter by using their student ID.  

Stadium Drive Apartments

• Exterior stairwells are open and do not have a door.

Western View

• Exterior stairwell doors are locked at all times. Students swipe their ID to enter.

Staff

Housing staff is a great resource for students. Residence halls are run by a team lead by a full-time professional hall director who lives in the building. Each floor has a Resident Assistant, who is an upper-level student there to assist and guide students during the year. They are trained to help with or make referrals for any type of situation. 

• Housing staff is accessible 24 hours a day.
• Each night there are multiple levels of housing staff on call to assist students and respond to student concerns.

Fire safety

• Each apartment and residence hall room is equipped with a smoke detector that is checked a minimum of twice a year.
• Fire extinguishers and fire alarm pull stations are located in multiple locations in each residence hall and Spindler Hall. Apartments are provided a fire extinguisher.
• On the back of room or apartment doors is a schematic showing the nearest exit and identifying the reassembly location for residents should they need to evacuate.
• Unannounced fire drills are conducted eight times per year.

Other

• Video cameras are located in elevators, the lobby and in some hallways and stairwells in the residence halls.
• Tornado shelters are located throughout the residence hall system.
• We maintain a working relationship with the Department of Public Safety, the campus police.

How students can do their part

• Lock your door when not at home and at night while sleeping.
• Keep your keys with you at all times.
• Do not loan your keys to others.
• Report lost room keys immediately.
• Report suspicious people to hall staff.
• Use designated entrances when entering the building.
• Do not prop doors.
• Do not let individuals you do not know into the building.
• Read and understand Housing and University policies.
• Look out for one another.