Campus Safety

Columbia’s Department of Public Safety is committed to providing a safe environment for all students,  faculty, staff, residents and visitors to the University. With community engagement programs, events  designed to help increase your personal safety, and guidance on personal safety, Columbia Public Safety  continues to explore new ways to help keep the community safe. The Public Safety Annual Security and  Fire Safety Report also includes essential information about crime prevention programs, fire safety  procedures, and other resources critical to the safety and security of our campus community. 

Existing resources for traveling safely around campus include: 

  • The on-demand, point-to-point Evening Shuttle service offers a safe alternative for traveling at  night. 
  • The Intercampus Shuttle has an app that provides real-time, GPS tracking of the shuttles so you know when the next bus is coming. 
  • The Lion Safe App provides quick access to all safety resources and includes a special feature, “Friend Walk” that allows you to alert a friend of your location in real-time, so they can follow your path to your destination and trigger a call to emergency services if necessary. 
  • Through the Safety Escort Program, you can request to walk with a member of the Public Safety team across the Morningside, Manhattanville, and CUIMC campuses and surrounding areas.
  • Neighborhood merchants serve as Safe Havens. 
  • Blue Light Emergency Call Boxes are located on and around campus and allow you to request help quickly.

As your safety partner, the Department of Public Safety is here for you 24/7, 365 days a year. Stay  connected by: 

  • Visiting our website for information on all resources and services. 
  • Making sure you are signed up for emergency text updates to receive real-time notifications of  emergency events on or near campus. 
  • Following Public Safety on Facebook and Instagram. 
  • Taking a moment to save Public Safety’s emergency phone numbers:
    • Morningside: 212-854-5555
    • Manhattanville: 212-853-3333
    • CUIMC: 212-305-7979

If you are ever in need of immediate assistance on campus, please call Public Safety. If you are off campus, please call New York City emergency services at 911.