Safety & Security
Allied Security
NYU Washington, DC partners with Allied Security to ensure that there are security officers on duty in the building 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These officers will ensure that the proper procedures and protocols are followed with those who attempt to enter and exit the NYU Washington, DC center as well as notify the NYU Washington, DC staff of any safety, security, wellness, or community concerns.
Building Access
All NYU Washington, DC residents are expected to show their NYU photo IDs to the security officers on duty every time they enter the building.
Use of NYU Photo ID
Your NYU ID will provide you with elevator, stairwell, printing, etc. access in the NYU Washington, DC center. Not everyone in the NYU Washington, DC center has the same access, so it’s imperative that you never share or lend your NYU ID for use to anyone else in the building, whether they are a resident, staff member, faculty, security, or guest. Ultimately, you are responsible for how your NYU ID is used in the NYU Washington, DC center. If your NYU ID becomes misplaced, lost, or no longer functions, please contact the Residential Life Coordinator as soon as possible. Replacement ID cards will result in a charge of $25.
Keys and Personal Property
If you lose your keys at any time, please notify the Residential Life Coordinator as soon as possible. Replacement keys cost $75/key.
Please do not leave the door to your suite unlocked when neither you nor any of your suite mates are present or leave any personal items unattended in the building. While every measure is taken to ensure safety and security, it is your responsibility to ensure the safety of your possessions. Students are advised to take out personal insurance on their expensive personal possessions, such as laptops, smart phones, and cameras.
Evacuation Procedures
Please familiarize yourself with the fire evacuation procedures, which are posted on each of the floors in the building. You will learn more about fire safety and evacuations during orientation and there will also be a fire drill early in the semester.
In an emergency in which it’s safer for you to remain inside the building, such as an earthquake or hurricane, please relocate to an interior room above the ground floor, such as the student lounges on floors 4-9.
You may also receive direction from NYU Washington, DC staff regarding how to respond to an emergency on a case by case basis. In any case, you should have a ‘go bag’ prepared in case you are required to evacuate the NYU Washington, DC center immediately.
Recommended 'Go Bag' Items
Change(s) of clothes
Medications
Essential hygiene items - toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.
Wallet
Photo ID
Sufficient amount of cash
Keys
Cell phone, cell phone charger
Flashlight
Batteries
Snacks
Water
Pillow and blanket, if necessary
Safety in Washington, DC
General Safety Tips
Throughout the semester, whether you spend your time in the Washington, DC area, outside of Washington, DC or both, following these safety tips may be helpful:
Utilize the ‘buddy system’ and go places with friends rather than by yourself, especially at night.
If you see suspicious people ahead of you while walking down the street, cross the street or enter a nearby store. If you cross the street and the suspicious people cross the street as well, you have identified a potentially dangerous situation with time to seek help.
If you are robbed, dial 911 immediately and report the robbery to the police. Then contact the duty phone so an NYU Washington, DC staff member can advise or assist you further.
Be vigilant in the NYU Washington, DC center. If you see a suspicious person, contact the duty phone and/or notify the security staff. Ensure that you lock the doors to your suites and bedrooms to protect yourself, your suitemates, and all of your belongings.
Make photocopies of your important documents, such as your photo ID, passport, debit/credit card, etc. in case they become misplaced, lost, or stolen at any point.
Emergency Communication
In the event of an emergency, communication is critical. With this in mind you are asked to be aware of the following points and to follow them thoroughly:
In an emergency situation, contact NYU Washington, DC immediately if you are able to. If mobile phones are not working, send us an email at nyu.washington.dc@nyu.edu to confirm you are okay and inform us of your location. Our first objective would be to ensure that all NYU Washington, DC students were okay and we would use various methods to verify this, but you must be ready to help us achieve this.
Sign up for Alert DC. The Alert DC system provides rapid text notification and update information during a major crisis or emergency. This system delivers important emergency alerts, notifications and updates on a range of devices including your e-mail account, cell phone, pager, BlackBerry, and/or wireless PDA.
When an incident or emergency occurs, authorized DC Homeland Security & Emergency Management personnel can rapidly notify you using this community alert system. Alert DC is your personal connection to real-time updates, instructions on where to go, what to do, or what not to do, who to contact and other important information.
NOTE: Subscribers may be charged, as set forth in their wireless provider's contract, for messages delivered to their wireless devices.
Traveling While Studying Away
ALWAYS LEAVE A TRAVEL ITINERARY IF YOU ARE SPENDING TIME OUTSIDE OF WASHINGTON DC, OR PLAN TO STAY WITH FRIENDS OR RELATIVES
Please complete your “side trip” details online using NYU Traveler before you depart housing for planned travel/overnight stays elsewhere in DC, or out of state.
The NYU Washington, DC staff would like to hear from you even if something happens in your ‘home’ city and you are not in it. If you are traveling while you study away, make sure your family or primary contact knows when you are travelling as well. You should contact them if an incident happens regardless of where you are.
If the NYU Washington, DC staff makes any requests regarding safety and security, whether via email, phone, or in person, you are responsible for responding to such requests. This means you are still responsible for checking your email daily even if you are traveling while studying away.
If you have a mobile phone, the NYU Washington, DC staff must have a record of that number. We will make efforts to obtain this from you at the start of the program.