Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder's Safety Resources


If you are experiencing an emergency or in immediate danger, please call 911.Ìý

Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder Alerts

Three levels of notifications are sent depending on the type of incident. Learn more about the three alert levels by clicking on each one to see a short training video.Ìý

Common Emergency Definitions

a preview of a phone with the Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder Safe app open on the screen

Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder Safe AppÌý

Virtual Walkhome

ÌýÌýAllow dispatchers to monitor your walk in real time.

Text-to-Dispatch

ÌýÌýDiscrete non-emergency chat with Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder dispatch.

Friend Walk

ÌýÌýShare your location with someone you trust to ensure a safe arrival.

Push Alerts

ÌýÌýReceive real-time emergency notifications.

Quick Access to Resources

ÌýÌýBuff Bus, CUNightRide, parking, campus maps, mental health resources.


Download Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder Safe App


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FAQ's: Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder Safe

Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder Safe is the university’s new official safety app that brings together real-time alerts, personal safety tools, and quick access to campus and community resources. It’s part of a broader initiative to create a more responsive and secure campus experience for all students, faculty and staff.

Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder safe is available at no cost to all students, faculty and staff. For iOS users they can download the new app at the Apple App store or Google Play store. Once the app is downloaded, users must log in with their IdentiKey credentials to access the app’s full functionality.

The Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder Safe app is a modern, all-in-one safety app that meets the current needs of our campus. It offers faster and easier access to resources and tools that our campus community has been asking for, such as a text-to-dispatch option and virtual walkhome—reflecting our commitment to a safer, more connected community.

No. Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder Safe is complimentary to the university's existing emergency alerts dissemination structure.

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The launch of this app is the culmination of over a year of discussion and planning within theÌýDivision of Public Safety as part of an effort to improve upon the public safety resources our campus offers. We are always looking at the latest technology and found this upgrade would allow for real-time communication and accessible support, now is the right time to launch a more modern, integrated tool that empowers the Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder community to stay informed and connected.

Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder Safe directly supports the university’s priorities around safety, wellness and community resilience. It empowers individuals to stay informed and connected while also allowing for an additional layer of communication during an emergency. The app is designed not just for emergencies, it will also support users in navigating campus life with greater peace of mind.

Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder Safe includes:

  • Text-to-Dispatch – A built-in chat function enables discreet, non-emergency communication with dispatchers.
  • Virtual Walkhome – Users can allow Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder Police dispatchers to monitor their location in real time as they walk across campus, offering peace of mind—especially at night.
  • Friend Walk – Allows users to share their live location with a friend or family member who can follow their journey to ensure a safe arrival.
  • Push Alerts – Real-time emergency notifications sent directly to users’ phones.
  • Quick Access to Resources – Including Buff Bus routes, CUNightRide, parking and campus maps, mental health resources, and connections to community partners such as BoCoAlert and the Boulder Police Department.

Yes. Friend Walk allows you to share your live location with anyone in your phone’s contacts—they do not need to have the Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder Safe app installed.

Entering your mobile phone number in the profile is essential to help Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder Dispatch be able to contact you if you are on a walk, chat or press the “Send Police Nowâ€� button but the connection is lost. It will also help with sending help to the exact location needed.

This feature immediately alerts Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder Police and begins a call to Dispatch. If the call is not completed, officers will respond to your location based on the address provided by the app. Note: the app does not transmit room numbers—complete the call if you can.

Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder Dispatch is the university’s 24/7 dispatch center. They handle all incoming emergency and non-emergency requests and coordinate with Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder Police and other support services. You can contact them via call or in-app chat.

  • The Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder Safe app will share your location with Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder Dispatch when you activate a chat with them, start a walk, or press the “Send Police Nowâ€� button. It does not track you or send your information unless you activate these features.
  • If you activate these features and then close the app or end the chat, walk, or “Send Police Nowâ€� request, Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder Dispatch will no longer be able to see your location.

Some features—like Emergency Plans—are accessible offline. However, real-time tools such as chat, Virtual Walk, and Send Police Now require an internet or data connection.

The app’s geo-fence covers a circular area that includes the entire Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder campus, as well as adjacent properties owned by the City of Boulder that lie between different campus zones. This boundary ensures that key app features, like Virtual Walk and emergency services, are available within this designated area. When outside of the geo-fence please call 9-1-1 for assistance. A feature that is started inside the geofence, and are NOT closed will continue to stay connected. When in doubt, outside of campus call 9-1-1.

This button will allow you to send a message to anyone in your contact list letting them know your location, that something has happened on campus, but you are ok.

Emergency alerts are automatically sent to the Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder Safe app—you do not need to sign up separately to receive them there. However, if you want to get alerts via text message, you must sign up through the university’s alert system at alerts.colorado.edu.

Within the app, you can manage your notification preferences under “About/Preferencesâ€� > “Notification Settings.â€� If you choose to “Disable Notificationsâ€� in the app, you will stop receiving alerts through Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder Safe. Only disable notifications if you no longer wish to get alerts on your device via the app.

The Guardian app will be phased out later this year to offer the campus community the opportunity to phase in the new app. Users are encouraged to download Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder Safe as soon as possible to begin using the new and expanded features. The university is actively communicating this transition and offering support to ensure users make the switch smoothly.

Yes. The Division of Public Safety is conducting outreach and providing guidance to help users understand and take full advantage of the app’s features. Support materials, campus presentations and digital resources are part of this awareness effort.


How to Sign Up for Alerts

Everyone with an @colorado.edu email will automatically receiveÌýÂé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØEmergency Alerts and we highly encourageÌýyou to add your cellphone number to receive text alerts by going to the Buff Portal for students or your MyCUInfo portal for staff and faculty.ÌýAlerts are always posted on alerts.colorado.edu.ÌýYou can also receive Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØEmergency Alerts by following and on X (formerly Twitter).

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Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØboulder campus

Support Services & Resources

Lighting and maintenance issues, including potential safety hazards, can be reported through theÌýFacilities ManagementÌýwebsite.Ìý

For snow removal areas of concern, please see theÌýsnow removal page.Ìý

Environmental Health & Safety provides services and support that allows the university to maintain its high standards of health and safety for laboratories, work areas and classrooms.

Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) offers a range of confidential mental health services tailored to fit the needs of Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder students.Ìý

TheÌýFaculty & Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) is dedicated to serving the emotional and psychological needs of the campus community. Confidential counselors support a wide range of personal and work-related issues.Ìý

There is a 24/7 help line for individuals exhibiting suicidal tendencies or thoughts. Simply dial 988 for help.

TheÌýOffice of Victim Assistance (OVA) provides confidential advocacy and trauma-focused counseling for students, staff and faculty who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic, disturbing or life-disrupting event.

TheÌýOffice of Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC) provides education and addresses concerns about discrimination, harassment and sexual misconduct.Ìý

Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution provides support and resources to help students understand the impact of their behaviors and resolve conflicts.

TheÌýOmbuds Office provides confidential assistance to students, faculty and staff to informally and impartially resolve complaints or disputes with other individuals, offices or departments within the university.Ìý

Student Legal Services is a small law office at Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder dedicated exclusively to serving the legal needs of students.Ìý

Student Support and Case Management offers assistance and intervention for students in distress or experiencing a challenging situation.

Emergency Management provides planning and coordination of mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery of natural and man-made disasters, and provides aÌýpersonal emergency preparedness checklist.

The Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder Police Department provides a number of services and programs to the campus community. Explore the manyÌýCrime Prevention resources available, and promptly report any and all criminal acts, dangerous situations and suspicious behavior.


Additional Resources

Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder follows the U.S. Department of Homeland Security'sÌýRun, Hide, Fight protocol, and provides in-person training, video training and site security assessments.

The Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØ is committed to ensuring the health and safety of the minors participating in all programs sponsored or supported by the university or on university premises.ÌýLearn more and register your program.

Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder has a strong, collaborative relationship with our public safety partners in Boulder county. Please become familiar with these safety resources.

The ICE Guidance webpage serves as a guide for students, staff, faculty and others seeking to better understand:

  • The situations in which ICE agents may be on campus;
  • What parts of campus ICE agents may access and under what circumstances;
  • What to do if you see or encounter an ICE agent on campus; and
  • Âé¶¹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder processes to ensure compliance with local, state and federal laws related to immigration enforcement while also respecting campus community members’ civil rights.

Call or text 911 in an emergency.

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