Category: Campus Safety

WSU Fire Safety and Myers Automatic Fire Protection LLC will conduct the required annual fire sprinkler inspection and testing throughout campus starting Monday, March 16.

Housing will not be included in these tests. Testing will last approximately two weeks, but could be longer. Every attempt will be made to keep testing as quiet as possible; however, sounding the fire alarm system will be required in some buildings. The alarm will only sound momentarily, but it may sound more than once. No evacuation is necessary during this testing.

There is no set day or time for when a particular building will be tested, and due to the number of buildings and unforeseen complications, a testing schedule is impossible. If you have any special concerns or requests about these tests, email Scott Murray at scott.murray@wichita.edu. Remember, these are required tests that must be conducted.

The Wichita State University Police Department wants to remind Shockers to stay vigilant of scammers. Make sure you’re informed of the telltale signs of scammers:

• The police will never notify an individual over the phone that they have a warrant for their arrest. Additionally, the police or legitimate companies will never demand payment over the phone through cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin, or through gift cards.
• Do not share personal or financial information over the phone unless you are certain of the caller’s identity. If you are ever concerned a caller may be a scammer, hang up and find a phone number from a trusted source, such as an official website or phonebook, and call back to confirm their identity.
• Make sure to reach out to law enforcement if you have been contacted by a scammers or have fallen victim to them. WSUPD can be contacted at 316-978-3450, and the Wichita Police Department can be contacted by dialing 911. You can also file a police report to the Wichita Police Department by calling 316-268-4221.

And share this information with your friends and family so they know to not engage with potential scammers. WSUPD is here to help the campus community stay safe and hopes that everyone can help keep their peers safe from scammers. If you have questions, email WSUPD at police@wichita.edu.

In case you did not receive an alert during this week’s Severe Weather Preparedness Week tornado drill, you can sign up to receive alerts straight to your phone by going to wichita.edu/alert and signing up for ShockerAlerts.

The alerts will notify you in the event of an emergency situation on or around campus or if there is a change in operations on campus.

Remember that the Wichita State University Police Department is available 24/7 on campus during emergencies.

See something? Say something: Call UPD at 316-978-3450 for emergencies on campus. Calling 911 while on campus will connect you to Sedgwick County dispatch, which could result in delays from responders. Add 316-978-3450 to your contacts list so you always have immediate access to emergency services on campus.

If you are away from a phone, you can use one of the many emergency phones on campus, which you can find the locations of through the campus map (wichita.edu/map) under “Campus Safety.”

The University Police Department is here to support students, employees and visitors and ensure they feel safe on campus.

The Wichita State University Police Department urges all Shockers to be proactive in protecting their property and valuables.

Keep valuables with you at all times, and if you need to leave something in your car, make sure the items are not visible from the windows, the car is locked and you have your keys with you.

Additionally, if you are storing a bike on campus, use a strong, u-bolt style lock when parked at a bike rack or elsewhere on campus. A bike should never be left unlocked while in a public area.

If you experience any issues while on campus, call WSUPD at 316-978-3450 or use one of the emergency phones located across campus.

The Wichita State University Police Department wants to remind Shockers to stay vigilant of scammers. Make sure you’re informed of the telltale signs of scammers:

• The police will never notify an individual over the phone that they have a warrant for their arrest. Additionally, the police or legitimate companies will never demand payment over the phone through cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin, or through gift cards.
• Do not share personal or financial information over the phone unless you are certain of the caller’s identity. If you are ever concerned a caller may be a scammer, hang up and find a phone number from a trusted source, such as an official website or phonebook, and call back to confirm their identity.
• Make sure to reach out to law enforcement if you have been contacted by a scammers or have fallen victim to them. WSUPD can be contacted at 316-978-3450, and the Wichita Police Department can be contacted by dialing 911. You can also file a police report to the Wichita Police Department by calling 316-268-4221.

And share this information with your friends and family so they know to not engage with potential scammers. WSUPD is here to help the campus community stay safe and hopes that everyone can help keep their peers safe from scammers. If you have questions, email WSUPD at police@wichita.edu.

The University Police Department wants to remind students, faculty and staff about the appropriate channels for reaching emergency services while they’re on campus.

If you are on campus with a phone:

Calling UPD directly at 316-978-3450 is ideal for getting immediate assistance. Calling 911 will connect you with Sedgwick County and could result in longer wait times for responders.

If you are on campus without access to a phone:

Use one of the many emergency telephones across campus, which are identifiable by the blue light located atop them. These phones connect straight to UPD, and even if you are unable to talk to the dispatcher, an officer will be sent to the location. You can view the locations of all emergency phones on campus through the campus map (wichita.edu/map) under “Campus Safety.”

Other resources:

• Dial 988 or text 741-741 to be connected to the suicide and crisis lifeline.
• Submit a CARE Team report for potentially concerning, but non-emergency, behaviors.
• Counseling and Psychological Services provides mental health treatment to students. Learn more about Counseling Services.

The University Police Department encourages all students, faculty, staff and visitors to remain safe while driving and walking across campus.

WSUPD offers the following safety tips to both drivers and pedestrians:

For drivers:

• Follow all traffic laws, including driving at or under speed limits and coming to a full stop at stop signs.
• Stop for all pedestrians and offer proper clearance for them to cross the road.
• Be vigilant when approaching intersections. Even if you have a green light, pedestrians may still be crossing.
• Be prepared for pedestrians to suddenly cross the road if you see them approaching a crosswalk. They may not give you adequate signals they will cross before doing so.
• Make sure to use your blinkers when making turns, and check that you don’t accidently have your blinker on when you don’t intend to turn.
• When making turns, make sure to check for pedestrians in front of you as well as where you are turning into.
• If you see a yellow light, slow down and proceed with caution when it is safe to do so. Pedestrians may start crossing as you pass through.
• Be extra vigilant when visibility is low, such as at night or in heavy rain, snow or fog.
• Consider using the Wichita State Transit buses when traffic is high or visibility is low, or when you have to drive a considerable distance across campus.

For pedestrians:

• Follow all traffic laws and traffic signals that tell you when and when not to cross.
• Always use marked crosswalks. Many drivers are not expecting pedestrians crossing elsewhere.
• Check for cars coming from both directions before you begin to cross the road.
• Remain vigilant for cars when crossing the road. Pedestrians have the right of way on roads, but drivers may not see you crossing in time to slow down.
• Make sure drivers coming from both directions have clear sight of you before you cross the road.
• When using a crosswalk, make it clear that you are about to cross before doing so to give drivers enough time to see you, slow down and let you through.
• If a driver has their car blinker on, make sure they are slowing down and completing the turn before crossing the road. They may have a malfunction or left it on by mistake and may not be turning.
• Be extra vigilant when visibility is low, such as at night or in heavy rain, snow or fog.
• Consider using the Wichita State Transit buses when traffic is high or visibility is low, or when you have to walk a considerable distance across campus.

The Wichita State University Police Department wants to remind Shockers to stay vigilant of scammers. Make sure you’re informed of the telltale signs of scammers:

• The police will never notify an individual over the phone that they have a warrant for their arrest. Additionally, the police or legitimate companies will never demand payment over the phone through cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin, or through gift cards.
• Do not share personal or financial information over the phone unless you are certain of the caller’s identity. If you are ever concerned a caller may be a scammer, hang up and find a phone number from a trusted source, such as an official website or phonebook, and call back to confirm their identity.
• Make sure to reach out to law enforcement if you have been contacted by a scammers or have fallen victim to them. WSUPD can be contacted at 316-978-3450, and the Wichita Police Department can be contacted by dialing 911. You can also file a police report to the Wichita Police Department by calling 316-268-4221.

And share this information with your friends and family so they know to not engage with potential scammers. WSUPD is here to help the campus community stay safe and hopes that everyone can help keep their peers safe from scammers. If you have questions, email WSUPD at police@wichita.edu.

Wichita State University is committed to the safety of its campus community and provides fire safety resources to help Shockers stay safe on and off campus.

Learn more and find resources on how to stay safe on the Fire & Safety Office webpage, including information on:

• Working with open flames, heat or sparks
• Proper use of extension cords
• Restrictions for potentially dangerous decorations
• Proper use of fireworks and other pyrotechnics
• WSU’s commitment to a tobacco free campus
• How to use fire extinguishers in the case of an emergency
• Filling out a permit to host a grilling activity
• The prohibition on the use of portable space heaters
• The potential fire hazards of battery powered mobility devices
• General advice on fire safety off campus
• Keeping corridors free of storage and equipment for emergency evacuations

For more information or questions, contact the Office of Environmental Health and Safety.