JANUARY 31, 2025 — UTSA Public Safety and UTSA Business Continuity and Emergency Management recently launched SafeZone, a new campus safety app that helps students, faculty and staff stay connected and safe on campus. The new app joins the robust lineup of safety resources available to the Roadrunner community.
The SafeZone app strengthens UTSA’s commitment to prioritize campus safety by providing fast and easy access to emergency services and the UTSA Police Department (UTSAPD), as well as emergency notifications from Business Continuity and Emergency Management.
In the event of an emergency or non-emergency incident on campus, app users can quickly raise an alert to UTSAPD. Once an alert has been raised, the device’s location is shared with UTSAPD, and the app can be used to call UTSAPD or communicate with them via two-way messaging. The SafeZone app can also connect students to UTSA’s confidential Mental Health Crisis Helpline, providing easy access to assistance from a counselor.
“SafeZone puts emergency services at Roadrunners’ fingertips,” said UTSA Chief of Police Stephanie Schoenborn. “Quick access to these services, crime prevention and personal safety education, and ongoing partnerships between the police and the campus community are all key to fostering a safe and thriving campus environment. SafeZone is a great tool that supports all of these efforts.”
Roadrunners can also use the app to send non-emergency reports to UTSAPD about incidents that may require their attention, with options to report anonymously, share location and attach a photo to the report. The app supports user privacy by only sharing the device’s GPS location with UTSAPD in the event the user raises an alert to request assistance or submits a report that is not anonymous.
The SafeZone app is free and available for download from the Apple Store or Google Play. Additional information about the app, download instructions and frequently asked questions are available on the UTSA Public Safety website.
In addition to SafeZone, UTSA Public Safety provides a wide variety of important resources and services to help keep the campus community safe. From emergency response tools and campus safety escorts to bike registration and bike theft prevention, these programs, services and educational opportunities provide support and peace of mind for the Roadrunner community.
The UTSA Alerts emergency notification system provides telephone, text and email notifications to the campus community in the event of an emergency or incident threatening life safety. Students, faculty and staff are automatically enrolled to receive UTSA Alerts via the default contact information found in their myUTSA account. Notification settings and preferred Alerts contact information can be updated in the “UTSA Alerts” section of the “Personal Information” tab at myUTSA.
University guests and family members can sign up to receive temporary UTSA Alerts by texting “UTSAGuest” to “59713.” Text alerts expire after 120 days, unless cancelled by replying “STOP” to the most recent alert message.
On-demand safety escorts are available 24/7 on the Main, Downtown and Southwest campuses through the Rowdy Watch student program and UTSAPD. This service is designed for anyone who has safety concerns while making their way across campus to their destination. To request a safety escort, call 210-458-4242 and a uniformed officer/guard or vehicle escort will be there soon.
For those at San Pedro I, the Downtown Campus or Southwest Campus, safety escorts are also available from Centro San Antonio ambassadors—in addition to UTSAPD—during designated times by calling 210-224-7747. UTSA partners with Centro to provide a safe, clean and welcoming campus experience at its downtown locations. Ambassadors’ visible presence at these locations helps prevent unwanted activity and improve safety. Centro kiosks are strategically located to provide services and information to the downtown community.
Additionally, The Little Runner and the VIA Link Downtown Zone offer safe, sustainable and reliable transportation between UTSA’s downtown locations, free with VIA U-Pass. The Little Runner provides service between San Pedro I and Downtown Campus parking lots on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. For those traveling between campuses or to nearby locations, on-demand rides are available within the VIA Link Downtown Zone, which includes Downtown Campus, San Pedro I and Southwest Campus. Visit the Campus Services website for more information.
In case of an emergency, UTSA has a network of over 155 emergency blue phones placed strategically throughout all campuses. These emergency phones, easily identified by the blue light mounted above the phone box, are along walkways, in parking lots and garages, and closely positioned around many buildings. The phones give callers a direct line to UTSAPD, automatically pinpointing the caller’s location and allowing campus police to quickly dispatch officers to the area to assist in whatever capacity needed.
UTSAPD offers support services on and off campus to provide a safe space for victims of crimes. The goal is to connect those within the community who have been directly affected by crime with the resources and support they need. Services offered include safety planning, emergency relocation assistance, protective order assistance, home and safety inspection and resource referrals. For assistance, contact UTSAPD at 210-458-6250 or 210-458-4242 at any time, day or night.
To help prevent bicycle theft, free bicycle registration and storage is available on the Main and Downtown campuses throughout the year. Anyone who bikes on campus is encouraged to register their bicycle with Campus Services to receive a permit number for their bike, which serves as a theft deterrent and makes it easier to contact the owner. Additionally, students who will be away for a long weekend or holiday break can drop their bike off with UTSAPD, which will store it in a safe, secure, indoor location.
UTSAPD also offers free U-locks, which secure a bicycle frame and wheel to a bike rack, to currently registered students. U-locks and bicycle drop-off are available 24/7 at the Bosque Building on the Main Campus and at the Security Services Desk in the Frio Street Building at the Downtown Campus.
Through its wide array of resources and services, UTSA Public Safety is dedicated to maintaining a safe campus environment that empowers students, faculty and staff to feel secure and supported as they learn, work and discover.
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Día en la Sombrilla, formerly Fiesta UTSA, is a festival hosted each spring as a part of Fiesta® San Antonio events. Sponsored by Roadrunner Productions, the event features music, food, confetti, games, event t-shirts, and more.
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Group Spot B, John Peace LibraryEach fall and spring semester, students convene at the Main Campus at UTSA with booths, ideas and prototypes. A crowd of judges, local organizations, students, faculty and sponsors walk around and talk to the students about their projects and ask questions. Students get the real-life experience of "pitching" their project with hopes of getting funding or support to move to the next level.
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AlamodomeThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
