There are many ways in which the Department of Public Safety works to provide a safe and pleasant environment in which community members can live, work and learn. For further information, contact the Department at (609)-896-5029.
Remember, the sooner you call Public Safety, the sooner a response can be initiated and campus-wide communications, if needed, can be disseminated.
Remember, too, that we can all play a part in protecting ourselves and those around us. Check out Public Safety’s general safety tips, bystander intervention strategies and emergency response tips.
Incident and Emergency Response
Public Safety Officers undergo training throughout the year to respond to a variety of situations in a prompt, professional and caring manner. They may rely on assistance from the Office of Residence Life or Counseling Center or off campus resources such as the police or emergency services.
Officers will respond to your on-campus location, assess the situation and take appropriate action to help ensure your safety and that of the campus community and/or enforce University policy. They will document the incident and take photos and/or collect evidence as needed. You and others involved may be asked to provide statements regarding the incident.
The Department of Public Safety is also responsible for coordinating emergency preparedness efforts, including emergency response and evacuation policies and procedures, in coordination with the University’s senior management team. Emergency policies, procedures and notification systems are evaluated as needed and tested on an annual basis.
Medical Emergencies
Public Safety Officers are qualified in first aid and CPR for the Health Care Provider, and are trained to administer the AED, Oxygen, NARCAN, and Epi-pens. The Department also has certified EMTs on staff.
Public Safety should be contacted immediately for all injuries and illnesses not brought to the attention of the Student Health Center during its normal operating hours of Monday through Friday 8:30 A.M. – 4:30 P.M., and for all injuries and illnesses on campus after normal business hours. Public Safety will notify the local ambulance as needed or requested. Students should always maintain an extra copy(ies) of their medical insurance card, in the event of a medical emergency.
Timely Warnings and Emergency Communications
Timely warning notices notify the University community of on-campus or nearby crimes or other serious incidents. They are issued via Rider Alert, the University’s electronic notification system, as well as email, phone, web posting and/or signage. Emergency notifications are similarly disseminated unless issuing a notification, in the professional judgment of the Department and senior staff, compromises efforts to assist a victim or to contain, respond to or otherwise mitigate an emergency. In either case, information is disseminated as quickly and accurately as possible.
RiderAlert
RiderAlert is the University’s electronic notification system for students, faculty and staff. RiderAlert utilizes cellphones, texts and email to communicate in an emergency, to relay weather-related and other closings and to provide timely warnings as a means of preventing crimes or other serious incidents. Remember that Rider Alert is only as useful as the contact information you provide.
Learn More about RiderAlert or update your contact information.
Emergency blue lights, surveillance cameras and campus lighting
Code-blue emergency phones are located throughout the Lawrenceville campus, providing direct connection to the Department of Public Safety in the case of an emergency or when immediate assistance is required. Surveillance cameras record activity in the majority of campus parking lots and other public areas.
Sodium vapor lights, designed to enhance visibility, illuminate all parking areas, buildings and walkways. The Department of Public Safety conducts routine campus lighting surveys which are forwarded to Facilities Management for needed repairs/replacement. Members of the University community are encouraged to report any lighting deficiencies to Facilities Management at (609)-896-5080.
Policy enforcement
The Department of Public Safety is responsible, along with the Offices of Residence Life and Community Standards, for the enforcement of the Student Code of Social Conduct, which includes the alcohol and drug polices and the University’s Anti-Harassment and Non-Discrimination Policy.
Security walkthroughs and patrols
The Department of Public Safety works closely with the Office of Residence Life to monitor and promote safe campus living. Public Safety officers conduct routine security walkthroughs in residence halls and Greek houses and respond to incidents and emergencies on both campuses. Officers also conduct routine checks of all other buildings as well as parking lots and other areas during their patrols.
Building Access – ID cards and Key Lock System
Exterior doors of all residential facilities are kept locked throughout the day and evening.
Access to exterior doors of most residential facilities is controlled by photo ID cards. These cards, issued to students, faculty and staff, are also required for entry to gated parking lots, the Rider Pub and certain campus events. They are also required for access to various University services including the Library, cashier’s and bursar’s offices, bookstores, Student Recreation Center and residential dining facilities. Students should carry their ID card with them at all times and present it upon request of authorized personnel.
The card access system is a shared responsibility of Public Safety, Residence Life and the Office of Information Technologies. See ID cards for further information or contact Public Safety at (609)-896-5029.
Access to remaining residential facilities is controlled by issued keys. Facilities Management is responsible for maintenance of the campus key lock system.
Contact Facilities Management at (609)-896-5080 for assistance during regular operating hours. Contact the Department of Public Safety at (609)-896-5029 in the event of an ID card, key or lock problem after normal business hours.
Non-residential buildings are locked by Public Safety every night. Classrooms and practice studios are not available after a building has been locked for the night unless advance permission has been given.
To practice in a classroom or recital venue, students should request the space via R25, Rider’s event scheduling system. Students may reserve a classroom for two hours of practice time per day based on availability. Reservations for recital venues are limited to two hours per week per student.
Working Closely with Local Police and Other Institutions
The Department of Public Safety maintains excellent working relationships with Lawrence Township Police and Princeton Police, as well as county and state police agencies. Information is disseminated between these agencies and the Department in an on-going effort to maintain safe campus environments. Lawrence Township Police and Princeton Police have appointed Liaison Officers who meet regularly with the Director of Public Safety to discuss crime and other serious incidents, as well as crime prevention, in and around the University community. The local police and Rider have agreed to cooperate in the investigation of possible criminal activity or conduct. Serious matters are promptly reported to local police. In addition, the Department assists victims, upon request, in contacting the police. The Department reviews all reported incidents and coordinates with local police in classifying and compiling reportable offenses as defined in The Handbook for Campus Crime Reporting. The Department completes its publicly available recordkeeping requirements, including Clery Act reporting and disclosures, without the inclusion of identifying information about victims to the extent permissible by law.
Rider University contracts with the Lawrence Township Police Department to provide on-site police patrol coverage on the Lawrenceville campus several nights a week. Also, local police officers work at various University events throughout the year.
In addition, mutual aid agreements have been established with a variety of local agencies and institutions, among them the Lawrence Township Police Department, the Princeton Police Department, Lawrence Road Fire Department, Lawrence Township and Mercer County Office of Emergency Management, Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, and area schools.