Emergency and Safety

Division of Public Safety

The Division of Public Safety comprises the Police Department, Fire Department, Office of Emergency Management, Fire Marshal and Building Inspector’s Office, and Environmental Health and Safety. Emergency services can be notified immediately from the emergency blue phones located throughout campus.

UConn Alert

In the event of an emergency, the University community is notified through the UConn Alert system, including: website alerts, text messages, email, voicemail, and outdoor sirens (Storrs campus only). All students are automatically enrolled in UConn Alert, however, faculty and staff need to opt in to receive text messages. Students, faculty, and staff should confirm their registration to receive UConnALERTs on the Alert Notification System website.

Emergency Closings Due to Severe Weather

In the event of severe weather, such as snow storms, it may be necessary to cancel some or all classes. The Emergency Closing Policy outlines notification procedures and expectations. Emergency closings are announced via the UConn Alert notification system (email, text messages, and voicemail), the University home page, and the UConn Alert website.

Building and Emergency Contact List

The Building & Emergency Contact List (BEC List) is a web application that stores, manages, and accesses emergency contact information for the University buildings at the Storrs and regional campuses and the School of Law. The list is used by dispatchers and communicators in Public Safety and Facilities for emergencies and for sending messages to BECs about important building-related information.

Environmental Incidents and Spill Response

For incidents requiring immediate response, such as fire, explosion, flooding, electrical, and any incident which has an impact on the environment, please call 9-1-1. For non-emergency issues involving the outdoor environment, contact the Environmental Programs Team. For non-emergency issues involving the indoor environmental quality, contact the Department of Environmental Health and Safety.

Public Health or Workplace Concerns

For non-emergency concerns, Environmental Health and Safety provides assistance to the University community in evaluating and addressing potential hazards. The University maintains two websites dedicated to information regarding workplace safety and a respectful workplace. The Employee Safety Training Assessment is required for all newly hired or reassigned employees to assess safety training requirements and confirm that a workplace hazard assessment has been completed.

Mental Health

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a confidential assessment, brief counseling, and referral service available to all faculty and staff. It is designed to assist in the identification and resolution of any personal problem that may be affecting job performance.

Safety Trainings

The University offers several trainings to promote a safe campus environment and ensure regulatory compliance provided by Environmental Health and Safety.