7 security tips to stay safe at CWRU this academic year

Whether you’re walking across campus, settling into new living spaces or navigating life online, taking a few simple precautions can help you stay safe at Case Western Reserve University. 

To help members of the CWRU community protect themselves throughout the 2026-27 academic year—and beyond—we spoke with Sarah Shendy, police lieutenant at the CWRU Division of Public Safety, who offered several tips. 

Read on to learn more. 

2. Keep your home secure.

Whether you live in university housing or off campus, basic security habits can help protect you and your belongings.

If you live on campus:

• Keep your residence hall door locked at all times. 
• Never prop open a building door or allow access to someone you don’t know.
• Don’t open the door for someone who cannot provide proper identification.
• If you feel uncomfortable confronting someone who follows you into a residence hall, alert your resident assistant (RA) or another staff member.

If you live off campus:

• Keep windows and doors locked whether you’re home or away.
• Don’t buzz people you don’t know into your building.
• Never prop open an exterior building door.
• Report concerns such as broken locks or non-working hallway or exterior lights to your property manager immediately.

3. Use Spartan Safe and Spartan Ride.

CWRU offers numerous tools designed to help members of the campus community stay informed and connected, including the Spartan Safe and Spartan Ride applications. 

Spartan Safe provides:

• Quick-tap emergency assistance,
• Real-time alerts,
• Reporting tools,
• Safety guides, and
• 24/7 access to safety resources.

Download Spartan Safe through the iPhone App Store or Google Play, and open the app regularly to prevent your device from placing it in hibernation mode, which could prevent important notifications from reaching you.

Beyond live arrival time and route updates of CWRU’s shuttle bus service, the CWRU Spartan Ride app provides access to Safe Ride, an evening safety escort and transportation program available between 6 p.m. and 3 a.m. 

To request a pickup, individuals can visit saferide.case.edu, call 216.368.3000 or download CWRU Spartan Ride via iPhone App Store or Google Play. 

4. Stay aware when walking on campus.

A little awareness can go a long way when you’re traveling around campus.

• When possible, walk with friends or colleagues. There is strength in numbers.
• Keep earbuds and headphones off when walking so you can remain aware of your surroundings.
• Avoid texting while walking. Keep your eyes on the roadway and your surroundings, particularly when crossing streets.
• If you see something suspicious, say something. Report concerns to CWRU Police by phone or through the Spartan Safe app.
• If you’re walking at night, CWRU Police and security officers can provide escorts. Call the non-emergency number at 216.368.3300 to request an escort.

In case of an emergency, call CWRU Police at 216.368.3333.

5. Take precautions when parking.

Protect your vehicle—and the belongings inside it—by making vehicle safety part of your daily routine.

• Always lock your vehicle and roll up the windows.
• When possible, park in a well-lit area.
• Never leave valuables in plain view.
• Avoid leaving bookbags, laptop bags, purses or wallets inside your vehicle.
• If you must leave valuables in your vehicle, secure them in the trunk.

Vehicle break-ins can be common in cities, so if you see something, say something. Report any suspicious activity—such as someone looking into cars, pulling door handles or lurking in parking areas—to CWRU Police at 216.368.3300. 

6. Build your emergency response skills.

Knowing what to do during an emergency is important—but practicing those skills at CWRU safety presentations can help build confidence.

Educational opportunities include: 

• Safety 101: Designed to enhance awareness and preparedness for personal and community safety by providing an overview of key campus safety resources and practices.
• Safety 201: A comprehensive presentation designed to equip participants with essential life-saving skills and safety strategies, including sessions for “Run, Hide, Fight" protocol, the "Stop the Bleed" program and other emergency management preparation. 
• Safety 301: Building on the foundation of other educational opportunities, this scenario-based course is designed to put safety skills into action through realistic, low-pressure emergency scenarios. 

Through practical exercises and repetition, participants learn how to:

• Recognize evolving threats;
• Apply emergency response techniques in real time;
• Strengthen situational awareness;
• Build confidence through practice; and
• Make informed decisions during critical incidents. 

To sign up for a training session or learn more about safety prevention at CWRU, visit the CWRU Division of Public Safety website. 

7. Know that CWRU police are here to help.

The CWRU Division of Public Safety operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, serving the campus community and surrounding areas.

The division includes 40 sworn police officers from various backgrounds, as well as staff members who are fluent in Arabic, Spanish and German. Officers also receive specialized training in areas such as mental health, de-escalation and serving individuals on the autism spectrum.

Members of the CWRU community are encouraged to store the Division of Public Safety’s emergency number, 216.368.3333, and non-emergency number, 216.368.3300, in their phones for quick access when assistance is needed. You should also be sure that your mobile number is active in Rave to receive CWRU Alerts, timely emergency notifications and important safety information. 

For in-person assistance, blue light emergency phones are available across campus for immediate connection to CWRU’s 24-hour Communications Center.