A New Personal Safety Tool for the UAlbany Community

1:30 p.m. January, 19, 2023

Dear UAlbany Community,

As a part of the University at Albany’s ongoing commitment to campus safety, the University Police at Albany are announcing the launch of Rave Guardian, a free mobile app that turns most smart phones into a personal safety device. By downloading this app, students, faculty, and staff can enhance their personal safety both on and off campus. 

How it works

UAlbany's Rave Guardian allows you to quickly provide information about yourself to the University Police Department during an emergency. If you chose to allow it, the app can also provide UPD with your location, which can help first responders get to you faster. Please know that location information is only shared when you choose to make an emergency call or activate a safety timer.

The Rave Guardian App allows you to

  • Communicate easily with UPD: by calling us directly if you need help.
  • Set a safety timer: Think of this as a virtual escort, notifying people you trust to check on you when you are traveling by setting a timer indicating how long you expect to be traveling. If, for some reason, you don't end the timer, your selected contact will be alerted that you have missed your check-in time.
  • Chat with UPD to ask safety questions, report something suspicious, or report a crime in progress.
  • Easily connect with select non-UPD resources including Residential Life, Student Health Services, and more.

How to set up Rave Guardian

  • Download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, or search Rave Guardian and download it to your mobile device.
  • Verify your phone number and UAlbany email address.
  • Turn on location sharing if you wish to share your location with first responders in case of an emergency.
  • Enter emergency contacts under My Account.

In addition to enhancing your own safety, we would appreciate it if you would encourage our students to take advantage of this new resource.

For more information, please visit UAlbany Guardian App.

Stay safe and healthy,

Paul Burlingame

Chief of Police