MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — As a new semester begins at Penn State Harrisburg, students and other campus community members are reminded that many resources and services are available to help them stay safe as they study and enjoy campus life. Below are some tips for staying safe on campus.
Know who to contact
In an emergency, students and other campus community members should always dial 911.
The Penn State Harrisburg Police nonemergency line can be reached at 717-948-6232. The office is located in the north entrance of the Susquehanna Building.
Students can report a crime by calling 911 or calling Penn State Harrisburg Police. On-campus crimes also can be reported online here.
Reports also can be made to the Penn State Behavioral Threat Management Team, which investigates reports of individuals who may be a danger to themselves or others. For more information, including indicators of potential concern, visit btmt.psu.edu.
Emergency phones are located throughout campus and connect the caller to the Dauphin County 911 Emergency Dispatch Center.
The emergency phones can be found on poles, topped by a blue light, or in elevators or hallways as a callbox. The locations of these phones can be found on the online campus map.
Penn State Harrisburg Police also offer “Safe Walk” services on campus (available when officers are not on a priority call) for individuals who do not want to walk alone. To request an officer walk with them, individuals should call the office at 717-948-6232, press 1, and leave a message including their location. Individuals should place the call about five to 10 minutes before they are ready to leave.
More information on a variety of safety topics can be found on the campus’ University Police and Public Safety webpage. The Penn State Student Affairs website also contains information on how to report various types of incidents and student concerns.
Sign up for emergency alerts
PSUAlert is the emergency notification system used to alert members of Penn State’s campus communities of emergencies, campus closings, and other urgent information. Students, faculty and staff automatically receive alerts at their Penn State-issued email address. Enrollees in the system also may opt to receive alerts by text message, at other email addresses, and by phone/voicemail. To make changes to your account, visit the PSUAlert homepage, click the "Manage My Alerts" button, and sign in using your Penn State ID and password.
Students may add parent/guardian/family member contact information to their PSUAlert accounts if they wish, but they must take the initiative to do so. Faculty and staff may do the same for a spouse, partner or family member.
PSUAlerts also are available and archived directly at the psualert.psu.edu website, allowing anyone, including community members who cannot enroll in the PSUAlert notification system, to view a list of current and prior alerts for each campus.
For more information, visit the PSUAlert homepage. Additional questions can be sent to PSUAlert@psu.edu.
Take safety precautions
Students should always be mindful of their personal safety and be responsible when on campus and in the community.
Whether you live on campus or off, always lock your doors to help safeguard against theft. Residence halls are equipped with safety systems to restrict access to residents only. If you have a bicycle, make sure it is properly locked and registered. Similarly, make sure items such as phones, laptops, wallets and purses are not left unattended.
Please use sidewalks and designated walkways, respect private property, and adhere to community regulations to ensure your safety and the safety of others.
Near a major transportation hub, the campus neighborhood includes the airport and high-speed train travel. Please be reminded that walking on or near train tracks is dangerous, illegal and could impact not only your safety, but your enrollment at Penn State Harrisburg, as well.
Safeguard your personal information
Phishing scams and phone scams unfortunately are common, so be sure not to give out your personal information, including your Penn State ID number and your passwords.
If you receive a strange email or phone call trying to get you to share personal information, even seemingly from someone you know and trust, it may very well be a phishing attempt.
Official law enforcement agencies, including University and local police, will never contact you demanding money under the threat of arrest — this is a common scam that can take many different forms.
If you’re unsure if something is legitimate, reach out to a trusted source or report the incident to University Police. You can report suspicious emails to phishing@psu.edu. To learn more about information security and what you can do to protect yourself online, visit security.psu.edu/phishing. If you believe you are a victim of such a scam, you should report it to police by calling 911 or using the online reporting form.
Understand ‘Run, Hide, Fight’
Penn State has adopted an Active Attacker Response Program as part of the University’s ongoing commitment to the safety of those who are on University campuses to learn, live, work and visit.
Based upon the “Run, Hide, Fight” model developed by the city of Houston, Penn State’s Active Attacker Response Program offers the same three action steps if confronted with an active assailant, making it easy to remember and act upon in an emergency: run if you can, hide if you can't, and fight if you have to.
University Police and Public Safety has additional details on the “Run, Hide, Fight” protocol, including a step-by-step guide and training video.
Online Active Attacker Response Program training is required for all students at the University and is available in Canvas. The course also is available to all Penn State faculty and staff on the Learning Resource Network.
Understand the concept of ‘medical amnesty’
The first steps to avoid trouble with alcohol are not drinking while underage and, for those of legal age, to always use alcohol responsibly.
As a reminder, the possession or use of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in all on-campus residence halls, including the Capital Village Apartments and Nittany Village, regardless of age.
However, Penn State policy and Pennsylvania law both protect underage individuals who make a report out of concern for the safety and well-being of a friend.
Pennsylvania's Medical Amnesty Law and Penn State's “Responsible Action Protocols” protect certain individuals who report an alcohol or drug overdose out of concern for another person's safety. The protections can apply to both the caller and the person needing medical attention when the caller reasonably believes they are the first to call for help, provides their name, and remains with the person until authorities arrive.
Understand the importance of consent and know where to get help
Sexual assault unfortunately does occur on college campuses, and the beginning of a semester can be a particularly important time for students to understand consent, establish boundaries, and know where to turn for support.
The University offers guidance to all students on understanding consent, and the importance of obtaining consent before sexual activity, and resources available to survivors of sexual assault.
If you are ever the victim of sexual assault, Penn State Harrisburg has campus-specific resources available to support and empower survivors.
A campus sexual misconduct resource person and Victim/Witness Advocates are available to assist in incidents of sexual assault. Counseling and Psychological Services is available to provide emotional and logistical support for crisis situations such as sexual assault at 717-948-6025. Survivors are also encouraged to report the crime of sexual assault to University Police and Public Safety or call 911 in an emergency.
The Penn State Office of Sexual Misconduct Reporting and Response, while not a confidential resource and subject to Title IX reporting requirements, offers ways to report sexual misconduct, resources for victims, and information for how to support survivors of sexual assault.
Recognize and report hazing
Hazing is illegal and violates University policy. Penn State will fully investigate every allegation of hazing, and individuals or organizations found responsible can face University discipline, including expulsion or termination of employment.
Hazing involving an individual or a University-affiliated or recognized organization can be reported to the Office of Ethics and Compliance, Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response, or the Penn State Hotline. Students also can submit an anonymous online hazing report.
For emergencies, call 911 or contact University Police.