When students open UP Mobile, the University of Portland’s all-in-one campus app, they usually see things like lost ID cards, furniture sales and dining hall menus. While the app is useful for everyday tasks, finding important campus safety resources can take multiple clicks, making it harder to use in emergencies.
To make safety resources easier to access, the Office of Student Affairs and Campus Safety teamed up to create Pilots Safe, a new app launched on Sept. 3. The app, which features a Virtual Walkhome, a Friend Walk, Mobile BlueLight and a tab for Emergency Contacts, provides students quicker and simpler access to services they may need in urgent situations.
According to Vice President of Student Affairs Fr. John Donato, brainstorming for the app began in 2022 after UP noticed similar apps utilized at other universities.
App features aimed to boost campus safety
Donato worked closely with Campus Safety to develop several new features on the app.
“Obviously the most important thing we can do is be aware of our surroundings,” Donato said, “But the other thing we can do is let people know where we are, and so I thought [the app] was a great way to do that.”
Features such as the Virtual Walkhome provide Campus Safety with instant data to monitor the user's location after they permit access.
Once a student presses “start,” the app prompts a timer for the user to set, and if they fail to arrive at their destination within the designated time frame, Campus Safety knows to investigate the situation.
According to a 2023 Gallup poll addressing personal safety, 40% of Americans say they would be afraid to walk alone at night within a mile of their home.
For some students, the app could provide a sense of security as they travel on and around campus at night, knowing that they have Campus Safety and other emergency resources in their pocket.
Michael McNerney, the director of campus safety and emergency management, recognizes not all students feel comfortable allowing Campus Safety to access their location. So, for those uncomfortable sharing their location with Campus Safety, the app’s “Friend Walk” feature enables users to share their route with a friend instead.
“Totally valid, right? I get it,” said McNerney. “We also have this Friend Walk option in the app, which I love, because now, if I don't want Campus Safety to know where I am, fine, but I can share it with a friend, and my friend knows, if something goes wrong, call Campus Safety.”
The app also includes access to the Mobile BlueLight, which sends the user’s location to Campus Safety and initiates a call to dispatch. This feature complements the physical blue light stations throughout campus, which students can access anytime regardless of their device's condition.
Additionally, Pilots Safe includes a Safety Toolbox that prompts multiple communication channels for students to utilize. One feature allows users to contact Campus Safety via direct messaging to report safety concerns. Other features include the “I’m OK!” button for users to notify Campus Safety or a recipient of their choosing that they’ve arrived safely to their destination.
Extra support resources
Beyond emergency features, Pilots Safe provides easy access to various support services, such as Residence Life, the Student Health and Counseling Center as well as Multnomah County Mental Health, whose call center is available at all times to assist students in distress.
McNerney also urges students to call Campus Safety if they need assistance during a crisis.
“If [a student] doesn't want to go to the Health and Counseling Center, doesn't want to talk to somebody, or is in such an acute crisis that they're not capable of doing those sorts of things, then absolutely, call us,” McNerney said. “We train all of our officers on de-escalation techniques, but also on mental health response.”
Since the app's release, McNerney reports high engagement with Pilots Safe, and he prompts more students to test and explore its features.
“I really encourage folks to give us a call, even if it's like, ‘I don't know if Campus Safety can help us with this.’ Why not?” McNerney said. “If we can't solve it for you, we can typically get you in touch with who can.”
Kaylee Monahan is a news/sports reporter at The Beacon. She can be reached at monahan26@up.edu.
