Safety & Security

Young woman closing and locking her residence unit door

UBC works hard to support student and campus community safety. This effort is strengthened when everyone in the UBC community participates.

Let’s work together to build safe communities in residence. Use these strategies to help keep our residence communities safe—for you and your neighbours.

Residence Safety Strategies

  • Lock it up. Each time you leave and when you are sleeping, lock your unit and room door, plus any accessible windows.
  • Don’t hold the door for strangers. Please don’t let people follow you into a locked residence building. If they have permission to be there, they will have their own key—or a host.
  • Stop before you prop. Never prop open a building door, even if you are stepping outside for just a moment.
  • Theft happens. Don’t leave valuables, like your phone, laptop or wallet unattended in a study room, lounge or classroom—or even your unlocked room. Learn more about protecting your valuables. Have a bike? Follow these bicycle security tips.
  • Trust your instincts. If you feel like you or another resident is in danger, or if you witness suspicious activity, first call 911, then contact Campus Security (604 822 2222) and your residence Front Desk or the Overnight Mobile Team.
Do you know how to respond to an overdose?
The street drug supply in BC is more toxic and unpredictable than ever. Find out how to access emergency naloxone in residence and learn more about substance use, harm reduction, how to recognize the signs of an overdose and how to respond.

Learn more

On Campus After Dark

To stay safe when walking on campus after dark:

  • Walk with a friend or classmate.
  • Ride the Translink Community Shuttle (Route 68), which stops near student residences. Learn more about taking transit on campus.
  • Use the AMS Safewalk program—from 8 pm to 2 am (September–April) or 9 pm to 2 am (May–August). Phone Safewalk and a driving or walking team will accompany you to and from campus destinations after dark.
  • After 2 am, Campus Security can accompany you across campus. Call 604 822 2222 for assistance.

For more information about your safety on campus, visit UBC Campus Security.

For any crime, it is never the fault of the victim. These preventative measures won’t stop every crime from happening. But by working together proactively, we can all ensure a safer community at UBC.

Emergency Contacts

  • Ambulance, Fire and Police: 911
  • Campus Security: 604 822 2222

First aid: For non-emergency first aid, contact Campus Security at 604 822 2222.

UBC Safe App
The UBC Safe app gives you direct access to campus safety resources and security tools. Find important safety information, contacts, maps and procedures all in one place!

Download the UBC Safe app

Additional safety services

Campus Blue Phones

Blue Phones are strategically located throughout campus and offer an immediate connection to Campus Security, if needed.

Campus Security and Police

Both the local police detachment (RCMP) and the UBC Campus Security offices are located on campus—and respond quickly when dispatched.

Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO)

SVPRO is a confidential place and single point of contact for UBC students, staff and faculty who have experienced, or been impacted by, any form of sexual or gender-based violence, harassment or harm, regardless of where or when it took place.

Emergency Naloxone Kits

The street drug supply in BC is more toxic and unpredictable than ever. It’s important to know how to prevent, recognize and respond to an overdose.

Naloxone is a fast-acting medication used to temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. It can be delivered via injection or as a nasal spray for the emergency treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose.

Emergency nasal naloxone kits are currently available in residence commonsblocks, mounted to the wall near your Residence Front Desk.

How to access emergency naloxone

  • In case of emergencies 24/7, immediately call 911.
  • During commonsblock open hours, and if you have access to your commonsblock 24/7, you can access a nasal naloxone kit mounted to the wall near your Residence Front Desk.*

*Between early September and early October 2024, UBC is installing 250 new emergency nasal naloxone cabinets, each containing two doses of nasal naloxone, across campus, including 70 in residence—with one located in each residence building lobby, in addition to the existing commonsblock cabinets. We will update this page with more detailed information once the cabinets are installed.

Learn more

AEDs

Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are critical lifesaving devices that can provide a quick response in the event of a cardiac arrest.

How to access AEDs and emergency naloxone

  • In case of emergencies 24/7, immediately call 911.
  • During commonsblock open hours, and if you have access to your commonsblock 24/7, you can access an AED mounted to the wall near your Residence Front Desk.
  • AEDs are also available in publicly accessible buildings across campus.

Non-emergency support

Residence Life staff

Living on campus means there’s a support system here to help when you need it. Get an idea of some of the people you can approach with questions, concerns or a request for support—if you get locked out of your room, about mail and parcel pickup, for roommate challenges and more.

Meet the team

Tips and Additional Resources

Ways to Protect Your Valuables

Laptops, tablets, smartphones, wallets, purses and personal identification documents can be an easy target for thieves in residence. Keep them safe by securing your room/unit every time you leave, even if it is just for a minute.

  • Keep photocopies of all your identification, credit cards, serial numbers—anything that would have to be replaced if your belongings were taken.
  • Get insurance to protect your belongings from theft or damage due to an unforeseen cause like a fire or flood. UBC is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged property. Some students may already be covered under their family’s plan. BCAA is also an option.
  • Rent a safety deposit box at a nearby bank to secure valuables such as large amounts of cash.

Bicycle Security

Cycling at UBC is a quick and healthy way to get around campus. Consider these tips for keeping your bike safe from thieves:

  • UBC Campus Security recommends using a good quality steel U-lock and heavy cable lock for the front wheel.
  • Don’t bring an expensive bike to campus.
  • If possible, keep your bike in your room, but not in hallways or common areas due to fire safety regulations.
  • Never leave an unlocked bike on a balcony, even if you are above the ground floor.
  • Consider leaving your bike at home and using HOPR, the bike share program at UBC instead.

Vehicle Parking

  • Do not leave valuables in any vehicle parked on campus.
  • All vehicles parked on campus must have insurance.

Online Safety

Your digital identity matters. Digital Tattoo is a great UBC resource for everything from staying safe online and outwitting phishing (and pharming) to understanding how your online activity affects your career or getting tips for effective online research.

Remember that UBC will never send you an email asking for your Campus-Wide Login or password.

More Resources