At the University of Kansas, safety isn’t just a system. It’s a community effort that starts the moment you arrive on campus and continues every day you’re here. 

From 24/7 police services to residence hall support and mental health resources, KU takes a proactive, people-first approach to helping students feel secure, supported and ready to focus on what matters most: their future.

A campus-wide commitment to safety

Safety at KU isn’t handled by just one office. It’s a shared responsibility across teams who work together every day to support students.

That includes campus police, housing staff, prevention educators and counseling professionals — all focused on creating an environment where students can learn, live and grow with confidence.

With that in mind, we want you to meet the people and places that help create a true safety net on campus.

24/7 support from KU Police

The KU Police Department provides around-the-clock service focused on both safety and connection.

“The KU Police Department is committed to providing professional, community-driven police services. We strive to create a safe environment where all Jayhawks can learn, work, research, and grow. We are able to achieve this goal through partnerships with a great group of people, both inside and outside of the university.”
— Nelson Mosely, Chief of Police

Officers don’t just respond to emergencies. They build relationships across campus, working with students and staff to prevent issues before they happen and ensure help is always close by.

Helping students look out for each other

Safety also means giving students the tools to support one another.

Through KU’s Jayhawks Give a Flock program, students learn how to recognize potentially harmful situations and step in safely when something doesn’t feel right.

“With our Jayhawks Give a Flock program, we work to build students’ recognition skills in identifying harmful situations before they occur and develop a toolkit of how to intervene safely. By building up their ability to identify harm, confidence in intervening, and advocating for accountability, students can invest in not only their own health and safety, but that of the larger Jayhawk community.”
— Jaclyn Carpenter, Sexual Assault Prevention & Education Center

It’s about creating a culture where students are aware, prepared and empowered.

Support where you live

For many students, their residence hall is where they spend most of their time — and KU ensures those spaces are well-supported through the department of Housing & Residence Life.

“As full-time, live-in professionals, we serve on a 24/7 on-call rotation to respond to incidents and supervise the student staff who live and work alongside students. We collaborate with maintenance, oversee building safety, and uphold community expectations so residents can focus on thriving at KU.”
— Haley Doze, Housing & Residence Life

Live-in staff, student leaders and maintenance teams work together to maintain safe buildings and a strong sense of community.

Mental health is part of safety, too

Feeling safe isn’t just physical. It’s emotional and mental as well.

KU’s Counseling and Psychological Services team provides confidential support and helps assess student needs at every stage.

“KU is all about having a healthy and vibrant community. I contribute to this by providing a private and confidential space where students can discuss and explore issues they may be experiencing with mental health. In my role, I often serve as the initial point of contact and will assess safety and risk at every appointment.”
— Stefany Ortiz, Counseling and Psychological Services

This layer of support ensures students always have someone to turn to.

What campus safety really means

At KU, safety isn’t one program or one office. It’s a network of people, resources and everyday actions that work together to support students.

It means:

• Help is available 24/7 
• Students are equipped to look out for each other 
• Staff are present, accessible and proactive 
• Support goes beyond physical safety to overall well-being 

You can focus on your future

When you feel safe, you can fully experience college — meeting new people, exploring your interests and building your future.

That’s the goal at KU: creating a place where you can focus on what’s next, knowing support is always around you.