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Safety and Security

On-Campus Housing Security

Community Policing

Housing and Residence Life believes in an immersive community policing model.  Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers are assigned to specific on-campus buildings and spend time getting to know the students in those buildings.  We believe this model creates a positive relationship between our officers and the students.

Escorted Walks

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) provides an on-campus escorted walk service for campus residents during the fall and winter semesters. The student foot patrol provides escorted walks to students who request them between 9:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. Monday through Sunday while school is in regular session. Those interested in an escorted walk should contact DPS at (231) 591-5000.

Department of Public SafetyLearn More:
Ferris State University
Department of Public Safety
Escort Walks

Quiet Hours/Courtesy Hours

All residence halls have quiet hours Sunday through Thursday, 11 p.m. to 8 a.m., and Friday through Saturday, 1 a.m. to 10 a.m. In addition, every hall has 24 hour courtesy hours where residents are expected to demonstrate courtesy and consideration by complying with the request to reduce ones noise so that others can study or sleep.

Door/Building Security

All residence hall entrance doors are locked 24 hours each day. Bulldog ID Card swipe access is available on all residence halls for the convenience of residents.

Visiting A Resident and Escorting Policy: to preserve the integrity of the security system, the host must come to the door to greet their guest and escort him or her back to their room. All guests in the residence halls must be escorted by their host throughout the time they are visiting the building. The escort and visitation polices are noted in the Student Handbook. These are important behavioral expectations for students in addition to being integral components of Residence Hall security.

Blue Light PhoneVisitors to the building may utilize the call-box style telephone at the front entrance to each building to contact the resident they intend to visit.

Each call-box telephone is equipped with a "blue light" emergency phone which allows immediate contact with the Department of Public Safety at the push of the red "EMERGENCY" button. Students are encouraged to utilize the phones any time they feel threatened or unsafe in the campus community. These phones are located all over campus.

Security systems are only as effective as students will allow them to be. When entering your residence hall please do not allow others to "tailgate" or follow you into the hall without utilizing their Bulldog ID card to unlock the door. Students may not prop open any entrance to the hall, and any attempts to disengage security systems will be dealt with through the Office of Student Community Standards. All students are asked to do their part to keep our campus and their residence hall secure. The partnership and cooperation are greatly appreciated.

Life Safety Systems

Residence halls are equipped with fire detection systems and pull box stations. University apartments use local smoke detection systems. All fire life safety systems report directly to the Department of Public Safety’s 24 hour Dispatch personnel.

Health and Safety Checks

RESIDENCE HALLS

Hall Staff are required to do room checks on a periodic basis for the purpose of making sure no fire hazards, health and safety, or violations of University rules exist. For a complete listing of Housing Service Regulations and Standards see Section V, sub-section A, of the Student Handbook.

WEST CAMPUS APARTMENTS

Health and Safety checks are performed one or more times per semester. These are done to help assure healthy and safe living environments for all residents. Violations of Health and Safety standards include, but are not limited to, overloaded electrical circuits, modified plumbing, grease buildup in and around stoves, unsanitary conditions, pets, etc. Smoke detectors are tested during health and safety checks. Residents are expected to test smoke detectors monthly and immediately report any that are not working properly. Removing the battery of a smoke detector, for any purpose other than to immediately replace it with a new one, is a serious violation.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Housing staff receive training at the beginning of the school year on how to conduct fire and tornado drills. Students are given fire and tornado safety instructions at their mandatory floor meeting on the first day of classes.

Watchdog Residence Hall Security Program

Large signs reading "BE AWARE" are posed outside of most entrances to residence halls. Additional information instructs students to report suspicious behavior within their community. This program is designed to increase a sense of community and responsibility for safety within the residence halls. Students can help deter crime by watching for and reporting suspicious or disruptive activities. The purpose is to make potential criminals think twice, knowing that students will be watching for them.