UMD College Park Safety (Campus Security Guide)
For immediate danger or a serious medical emergency at the University of Maryland, College Park, call 911. UMPD also lists 301-405-3333 for emergencies and 301-405-3555 for non-emergency police matters. Before arriving, enroll in UMD Alerts, save the numbers, and read the latest university security report. Confirm service hours and instructions on official UMD pages.
Could you feel prepared for campus and still not know whom to call when something happens? That gap is common. A safety plan is not about expecting danger; it is about knowing where to find reliable help and what to do under pressure. As I guide students through college planning, I encourage them to treat safety information like any other part of their transition: learn the basics before they are needed, then check for changes.
UMD Campus Safety Services, Reporting & Emergency Alerts
Campus safety services include police response, emergency messages, and university support resources. Their purpose is to help students respond to urgent threats, report concerns, and get help after an incident. Phone numbers, service hours, and procedures can change, so use current University of Maryland Department of Public Safety (DPS) information rather than an old guide or social post.
Which number should I call?
An emergency is an immediate threat to a person or property, or an urgent medical situation. Call 911 when someone may be in immediate danger. UMPD lists 301-405-3333 as its emergency line and 301-405-3555 for non-emergency police matters. Do not use a non-emergency line to report a life-threatening event.
| Situation | First step | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate threat or urgent medical emergency | Call 911 | Do not delay to search online or call a non-emergency office. |
| Emergency involving campus police | UMPD lists 301-405-3333 | Confirm current details in UMD DPS materials. |
| Police matter that is not urgent | UMPD lists 301-405-3555 | If the situation becomes urgent, call 911. |
| You receive an official emergency alert | Follow the alert’s instructions | Check official UMD updates for further directions. |
| You are unsure where to report a concern | Check UMD DPS or the relevant university office | Reporting and confidentiality rules vary by office and role. |
Set up UMD Alerts before you need them
UMD Alerts are official university emergency messages. Subscribe and keep your contact details current so the university can reach you. Read messages in full and follow their directions. For updates, rely on official UMD channels; social media can be incomplete, delayed, or wrong.
Before classes begin, save the emergency contacts in your phone and tell a trusted person where you keep them. Review the alert sign-up process and any account settings on UMD’s official pages. Check them again each term, especially if your phone number changes.
Report incidents through the right channel
Call 911 for an immediate threat. For a non-urgent police matter, use the UMPD non-emergency number listed above. Other concerns, including sexual misconduct or a need for confidential support, may involve different university offices. Their privacy practices and reporting duties can differ, so ask the office directly what it can keep confidential and what it must share.
When safe, note basic details such as the time, location, and what you observed. Share facts you know, not guesses. If you are reporting online or by phone, follow the instructions on the current official UMD page.
Next step: Save the numbers, turn on UMD Alerts, and identify the official reporting page before the first week of classes.
Safety Policies, Clery Disclosures & Student Responsibilities
The Clery Act is a federal law that requires colleges to share certain campus crime information and safety policies. UMD’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is a key place to review that information. It includes required crime statistics, policies, and procedures. Read the latest report for context, but use current emergency instructions when action is needed.
What to look for in the annual report
UMD must publish its Annual Security and Fire Safety Report by October 1 each year. Find the latest version through an official UMD source. Look for the crime statistics, reporting options, emergency notification policies, and safety procedures that matter to your daily life.
Statistics help you understand reported incidents over time. They do not predict exactly what will happen to one student or in one location. Read the report’s definitions and notes before comparing numbers. The report and official updates are more useful than an isolated statistic shared without context.
Know the difference between an alert and a disclosure
An emergency alert is meant to give timely instructions about a current situation. The annual report is a required yearly disclosure that includes statistics and policies. One does not replace the other. If you receive an alert, follow its instructions first. Read the report in advance to understand the university’s broader procedures.
Students also have a role in safety. Report urgent threats promptly, use the correct channel for non-urgent matters, and follow official instructions during an emergency. Do not assume a concern has been reported because someone posted about it online.
A practical report-reading exercise
I advise students to open the latest report before moving in and answer three questions: How does UMD describe emergency notifications? Where are reporting options explained? Which procedures apply to residence halls or other places you use? Write down the official page or section names, not just a summary from memory.
This is a planning exercise, not a test of every policy detail. If a rule or reporting option is unclear, contact the university office named in the report. Policies can vary by issue and by office.
Next step: Read the current report and save its official link. Do not use an older report as a source for current phone numbers or service hours.
Personal Safety, Campus Resources & Student Experience
Personal safety means making informed choices and knowing where to get help, not trying to control every risk. Before arrival, learn residence-hall entry rules and emergency procedures. Once on campus, locate exits and emergency call boxes where available, and check official information about nighttime transportation or escort options.
Prepare before you arrive
Use this short checklist before move-in:
- Save 911 and UMPD’s published emergency and non-emergency numbers.
- Enroll in UMD Alerts and check that your contact information is correct.
- Read the latest Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.
- Learn your residence hall’s access rules and emergency procedures.
- Identify trusted contacts and relevant university support offices.
- Check UMD’s official pages for current nighttime transportation and escort options, including eligibility and hours.
Service availability, eligibility, and hours can change. Do not rely on a friend’s memory or an old online post for those details. Confirm the current instructions before you need a ride or escort.
Build a plan for late hours
A late-night plan should fit the activity and the current services available. Before leaving, know how you plan to return and where to find official transportation details. Keep your phone charged if possible, and let a trusted person know your plan when that makes sense. If an immediate threat arises, call 911 rather than trying to solve the situation alone.
| Planning moment | Useful action | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Before going out | Check current official ride or escort information and hours | Assuming a service runs all night |
| On the way | Follow official instructions and stay aware of your route | Relying on an unverified post for directions |
| If you notice a non-urgent concern | Record what you observed and use the right reporting channel | Sharing guesses as confirmed facts |
| If someone faces immediate danger | Call 911 | Waiting for a friend or office to confirm what to do |
A realistic first-week scenario
A student leaves a late study session and is unsure whether an escort option is available that night. The safest first step is not to assume the service is running or to rely on an old message. The student checks the current UMD page for availability and hours, then makes a plan based on that information. If a threat occurs, the plan changes: call 911.
I use scenarios like this when helping students prepare for campus. They show why checking details ahead of time matters. A plan that depends on a service should include a backup, and the backup should rely on current information too.
Next step: During your first weeks, learn the exits and procedures in the buildings you use most, and confirm transportation options before late activities.
Safety Skills, Preparedness & Post-Graduation Transition
Safety skills are simple habits that help you act quickly: knowing emergency contacts, following alerts, and using the right reporting route. These habits matter on campus and beyond it. Review them each term and before travel, since contact details, university services, and your routine may change.
Check your plan each term
Use this five-minute review at the start of each semester:
- Confirm that your phone can receive UMD Alerts and that your contact details are current.
- Check that emergency numbers remain accurate on official UMD DPS pages.
- Review any changes to residence-hall or building procedures that affect you.
- Recheck current hours and eligibility for transportation or escort services.
- Refresh your route and trusted-contact plan for late activities or travel.
If you move, change numbers, or take classes in unfamiliar buildings, update the parts of the plan that depend on those details. A safety plan is useful only if it matches your current routine.
Keep decisions simple during an emergency
In an urgent situation, act on the official instructions you have. Call 911 for immediate danger or an urgent medical emergency. Do not wait to verify details online, call a non-emergency office, or see what social media says. For non-urgent concerns, use the appropriate official reporting option and share what you know.
Next step: Put a brief safety check on your calendar at the start of each term and before travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
These answers cover common campus safety questions in brief. For current phone numbers, policies, service hours, and reporting steps, check official UMD DPS and university pages. In an immediate emergency, call 911 rather than waiting for an online answer.
What number do I call for an emergency at UMD?
Call 911 for immediate danger or an urgent medical emergency. UMPD also lists 301-405-3333 as its emergency line.
What is UMPD’s non-emergency number?
UMPD lists 301-405-3555 for non-emergency police matters. Call 911 instead if a situation becomes urgent or life-threatening.
How do I receive UMD Alerts?
Subscribe through the university’s official UMD Alerts information and keep your contact details current. Check the official page for current sign-up instructions.
Where can I find UMD crime statistics and safety policies?
Read the latest UMD Annual Security and Fire Safety Report through an official university source. It includes required statistics, policies, and procedures.
When is the annual security report published?
The Clery Act requires the report to be published by October 1 each year. Use the latest report for current disclosure information.
Should I rely on social media during an emergency?
No. Follow official UMD instructions and alerts. Social posts may be unverified, incomplete, or out of date.
Where can I get confidential support?
Check UMD’s official support resources and ask the office about confidentiality and reporting duties. These rules can vary by office and role.
How do I find nighttime transportation or escort options?
Check current official UMD information for available services, hours, and eligibility. Do this before you need a ride or escort.
What should I do if I am unsure whether to call 911?
If someone may be in immediate danger or needs urgent medical help, call 911. Do not delay to verify information online.
How often should I review my safety plan?
Review it at the start of each term and before travel. Recheck it sooner if your contact details or routine changes.
UMD safety planning starts with reliable information and a few clear actions: save the right numbers, receive official alerts, read the current security report, and check service details before relying on them. If an immediate threat occurs, call 911. For everything else, use the current official university channel that fits the situation.
(This article was written by one of our staff writers, Christopher Langston. Visit our Meet the Team page.)
