SafeZone
The University of Louisville's official safety app
Stay Safe with SafeZone
SafeZone is the official safety app of the University of Louisville, providing students, faculty, staff and approved affiliates with immediate access to campus safety services, emergency assistance, wellness resources and important university information. Whether you need emergency help, want to request non-emergency assistance, check in while working alone on campus, connect with support services or receive official university alerts, SafeZone puts the resources you need at your fingertips to help you stay safe and informed.
Text Alerts
Sign up to receive text messages and emails during an emergency or when campus conditions affect class/work schedules. Must download and register phone number to receive text message alerts. Please review FAQs at the bottom of webpage.
SafeZone features
Available for download for free from the Apple App Store and Google Play, SafeZone provides fast access to campus safety, support services, and important information — all from your smartphone.
With SafeZone, you can:
- Request Assistance: Contact the Department of Public Safety for non-emergency assistance, such as a safety escort or other campus safety services.
- Emergency (Blue Button): Instantly share your location with University Police during an emergency, helping responders find you as quickly as possible.
- Check In: Let Public Safety know you're working, studying or working alone on campus. If you don't check out as expected, responders can be notified.
- Well-being: Quickly connect with university wellness and support resources when you or someone else needs assistance.
- Information: Access important campus resources, maps, Card Cruiser Transportation, report a tip, and other helpful services in one convenient location.
- Mass Notifications: Receive official emergency alerts and important campus communications directly through the app.
Card Cruiser Transportation
SafeZone includes convenient access to the TripShot app for requesting a Card Cruiser ride. TripShot operates similarly to ride-sharing services, allowing you to request a ride, track the vehicle on a map, receive arrival notifications, and view your trip status. If you have not already installed TripShot, download the app from your device's app store and sign in once using your University of Louisville credentials.
Your privacy
Your privacy is important. SafeZone only shares your location when you actively request assistance, initiate an emergency alert or use features such as Check In. You remain in control of when your location is shared with University of Louisville Police.
Need assistance?
For questions, please contact Heather Egan in the Department of Public Safety.
The SafeZone app complements — but does not replace — traditional methods of contacting the Department of Public Safety. If you need immediate assistance or prefer to speak with someone directly, contact the Department of Public Safety at 502-852-6111.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The UL Alert system is integrated with the SafeZone app. Faculty/Staff and Students will continue to automatically receive UL Alerts via email. However, to continue receiving UL Alerts via text, you must download and register your phone number with SafeZone.
No, once a user has registered with SafeZone with a valid cell phone number, that will ensure you receive text and phone call alerts regardless if you keep the app downloaded.
If you would like to opt out, you will need to enter the SafeZone app and delete your account using the menu in the upper left-hand corner.
When you press "Emergency," an alert is sent to ULPD. A communications officer will call the user while simultaneously sending officers to your location. During this time, a communications officer can also chat back and forth with the user via two-way text.
When you press "help," the SafeZone app prompts your phone to call ULPD.
When you press "first aid," an alert is sent to ULPD. A communications officer will call the user, while simultaneously sending officers and EMS to your location. During this time, a communications officer can also chat back and forth with the user via two-way text.
The "Wellness " button takes the user to a menu with resources for mental well-being such as the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
The Check-In function allows users to share their location with ULPD. Once enabled, a communications officer will monitor your location, providing a virtual escort until the user turns this off. No request for emergency help will be sent unless the user taps the emergency button in the app.
The Check-In Timer allows users to share their location with ULPD for a set amount of time. If the user does not select "Cancel" within that time, a communications officer will call the user. If the user cannot be reached, emergency help will be sent to their location. A user can schedule a check in up to two hours in advance and can attach a note for ULPD to read while monitoring your location.
To opt out of UL Alerts via text and phone call, students, faculty and staff must download the SafeZone app and delete their account data. You can do this by visiting the settings menu located in the upper left-hand corner of the app.
No. Your location is only sent to ULPD when you choose to share that information through certain functions. When you submit a tip (anonymous or not) or use one of the emergency features or check-in features, your location will be shared with a ULPD officer and members of an emergency response team, if necessary. When you submit a tip, your current location is only submitted once and is attached to that tip.
Enabling your location services, notification services, Wi-Fi and data services is recommended to fully use SafeZone.
Once you download the app, a series of prompts will give you the opportunity to enable most of these. These services will allow ULPD officers to accurately locate you during a check-in or an emergency.
Ensuring that your precise location is shared will help ULPD find you in an emergency. Android users can enable this through the prompts that appear after downloading and registering with the app. iPhone users can enable this by visiting SafeZone in the Settings app.
Importantly, SafeZone will not share your location with ULPD until you call for help, check in or submit a tip.
The Motion & Fitness Activity permission allows the app to detect when you are moving and when you are stationary. This information will enhance emergency response, if needed.
By always allowing access to location, you can check-in and then continue to use your phone as normal while SafeZone operates in the background. If “only while using” is selected your location will stop being shared if you exit the app. This could prevent effective emergency response in the event that you close out of the app.
NOTE: Always allowing access does not mean your location is always shared with responders. Your location is only shared when you actively raise an alert or check in.
If you accidentally press any SafeZone call button, such as emergency, help or first aid, a countdown timer will start. While it counts down, you can press the button once again to cancel the call. If the call has been sent, you can still cancel your request, but you will be contacted by communication officers to ensure your safety. Please answer their call or message to confirm you are safe.
SafeZone will operate at any location. If you request emergency assistance/tap the emergency button off campus, the app will call the local police department.
It is critical to keep your contact details up to date, so that in the event of an emergency, your response team can easily identify and contact you. You can update your phone number by downloading the SafeZone app, logging in and visiting the menu icon in the top left of your screen.