Dear students, faculty, and staff,

Last fall, the safety and security teams began work to modernize our approach to campus safety. In part these efforts will help us proactively address campus safety challenges that are all too common these days.

The upgrades have already started. Equipment upgrades include a multi-year effort replacing the 1980s-era blue light phones with the CATSafe app—powered by LiveSafe—as well as expanding safety camera systems and electronic access controls. We've been introducing the app and encouraging its use for the last three years. Check out the safety initiatives and FAQs about the value of this technology upgrade—it is a key part of the toolkit for keeping our community safe.

Coming soon are upgrades to display screens across campus that will communicate critical information during an emergency. Combined with LiveSafe's geofencing feature—an optional but highly recommended feature of the app—our Emergency Management team will have the ability to deliver urgent safety messages specific to the area of campus where you are located and enable you to interactively text messages to first responders if necessary.

It’s never been more important to download CATSafe, powered by the LiveSafe app. There you’ll find links to important information on how to use the blue light in your pocket and to enable the SafeWalk feature. Please visit the Division of Safety and Compliance's Campus Safety and Security Initiatives webpage for more information about our plans, and stay tuned in the months to come for news on other technology and communication enhancements and training opportunities. Maintaining a safe, healthy environment on the UVM campus is our highest priority and we can’t succeed without your help.

Sincerely,

Michael Schirling
Chief Safety and Compliance Officer