Michigan State University Police and Public Safety works to keep your student safe at their home away from home. We pride ourselves in making sure our campus is safe for all students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Below are a few common resources that will help you as your student transitions to life at Michigan State University.
Download the SafeMSU App!
Designed with input from students, faculty and staff, the SafeMSU App provides access to valuable safety resources direct to Spartan’s hands. A key feature of the app is the virtual friend walk. This function allows Spartans to share their location with a friend in real-time so they can follow their progress to their destination. The friend can also contact the police immediately if they feel there is a problem.
Other features include:
- One-touch emergency calls
- Access to Safe Ride from the Associated Student of Michigan State University
- Link to NightOwl from the Capital Area Transportation Authority
- Form to send tips to the police
The app can be downloaded by anyone through the Apple Store and Google Play.
Read more about the SafeMSU App here.
Here are a few safety tips to share with your student:
- Remain vigilant and reduce distractions such as using a cell phone or digital devices
- Familiarize yourself with campus to know the quickest way to get help
- Take extra precaution at night by walking with a friend or group of friends
- Safely dispose expired, unwanted, or unused prescription drugs in the collection bin located in the main lobby of the Michigan State University Department of Police and Public Safety
We all play a role in keeping our community safe. If your student sees something suspicious, please encourage them to report it. They can do so by texting MSUDPPS to CRIMES (274637) along with their message. They can also call our tip line at 844-99-MSUPD (844-996-7873).
For all parking-related information on campus including permits, visitor parking, etc., please visit the MSU Parking Services Website.
Michigan State University Police and Public Safety is responsible for developing and distributing Timely Warning and Emergency Notification messages. When a Clery Crime is reported to have occurred within Clery Geography and MSU Police and Public Safety determines that it may represent a threat to our community, it will provide a Timely Warning. If there is an immediate threat to the health or safety of students or employees occurring on campus, MSU Police and Public Safety will issue an Emergency Notification. These messages inform community members about incidents that may pose a threat and provide information to promote safety. The decision to issue a Timely Warning or Emergency Notification is based on a variety of factors.
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (or Clery Act) is intended to provide students and their families, as higher education consumers, with accurate, complete and timely information about safety on campus. One of the mandates of the Act is to provide these Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications to the campus community.
You can learn more or sign up for MSU Alerts at alert.msu.edu. If you would like to receive emergency alerts and public safety advisories from the City of East Lansing for areas off campus, you can text EASTLANSING to 888777.
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (or Clery Act) is intended to provide students and their families, as higher education consumers, with accurate, complete and timely information about safety on campus. One of the mandates of the Act is to provide these Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications to the campus community.
You can learn more or sign up for MSU Alerts at alert.msu.edu. If you would like to receive emergency alerts and public safety advisories from the City of East Lansing for areas off campus, you can text EASTLANSING to 888777.
The East Lansing Police Department (ELPD) and the Michigan State University Department of Police and Public Safety (MSU DPPS) partnered in October 2022 to form the Proactive Engagement and Community Enhancement (P.E.A.C.E.) Team, which works to address community concerns with long-term solutions on both sides of Grand River Avenue. You can learn more about the P.E.A.C.E. Team here.
While DPPS and ELPD work collaboratively together on a daily basis, generally, DPPS is responsible for responding to on-campus incidents, while ELPD is responsible for responding to off-campus incidents. You can learn more about the East Lansing Police Department here.
Here are a few bicycle safety tips to share with your student:
- All bicycles on campus must be registered. You can register your bicycle here.
- Be sure to lock your bicycle to a bike rack using a steel U-lock through the frame and at least one wheel.
- Bicyclists are required by law to ride on the right side of roadways or on bike paths.
- When riding on roadways and bike paths, bicyclists are required to obey all traffic laws.
- If you ride your bicycle at night, be sure to utilize a white headlight and rear red reflector or light.
- If you have any questions about bicycle permits, please contact MSU Parking Services at 517-355-8440.
In August 2023, the Michigan State University Office of Student Support and Accountability introduced the Care and Intervention Team. The Care and Intervention Team strives to promote individual well-being and success, while also prioritizing community safety. Utilizing a collaborative and proactive approach, the team is committed to identifying, preventing, assessing, intervening, and reducing threats to the safety and well-being of the MSU community.
You can learn more about the Care and Intervention Team here and/or report a concern here.