Campus Safety
Dominican University defines a safe and secure campus by staffing engaged, committed campus safety officers who are dedicated to the well-being of our students and the campus community.
What is Campus Safety?
Dominican University is served by the Dominican University Department of Campus Safety, a division of Campus Operations, which is responsible for the reporting of all campus crimes and our compliance with the Student Right-To-Know Act and the Campus Security Act. Campus Safety, located in the north end of the first floor of the parking garage, is staffed by full-time professional security personnel and is augmented by student personnel. The officers patrol the campus 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and have a central dispatch center that coordinates all emergency and non-emergency requests for service. The Campus Safety dispatch phone number is (708) 524-5999.
Campus Safety regularly partners with both national and local agencies for disaster planning, emergency response and awareness campaigns. Our students and community members also play a key role in a safe and secure campus. Keep yourself and your belongings safe. If you “See Something, Say Something."
Rights and Privileges of Security Officers
Security officers are an unarmed informational force and have jurisdiction in all areas of campus. They are in direct communication with the police and fire departments of River Forest, Illinois and call upon their assistance when needed. Campus Safety may enter all public buildings including the residence halls at any time while on duty and may call for the detainment of trespassers or persons involved in criminal activities. Our officers are a friendly, visible presence 24/7 whose role is to help guide our students as they navigate university life, to act as first responders in emergencies and to help protect people and property while maintaining excellent, genuine customer service.
Resources
Clery Act Summary
Schools must publish an annual report disclosing campus security policies and three years’ worth of selected crime statistics. Schools must make timely warnings to the campus community about crimes that pose an ongoing threat to students and employees. Each institution with a police or security department must have a public crime log.
The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) centrally collects and disseminates the crime statistics. Campus sexual assault victims are assured of certain basic rights. Schools that fail to comply can be fined by the DOE.
2025 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report
Dominican University’s Office of Campus Safety publishes this report in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. The 2025 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains 3 years’ worth of campus crime and fire statistics that were reported to Campus Safety. It also includes certain Dominican policies concerning sexual misconduct, campus safety, alcohol and other drugs, access to campus, and where students should go to report crimes. This report is also designed as a tool used by the University to provide information about fire safety and emergency procedures to the Dominican Community.
Included in this report is Dominican University’s Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program. It contains a list of the University’s policies regarding drug and alcohol use, and prevention assistance offered by the University.
This report is available to all current students and employees while prospective students and employees are to be notified of its existence and afforded an opportunity to request a copy. Contact the Campus Safety Director at (708) 524-6750 Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. (excluding holidays) to request a paper copy of this report.
Please click on or copy/paste into a browser, the URL to view the report as an online pdf file:
https://www.dom.edu/sites/default/files/2025-09/2025_Annual_Security_Report_Final_with_Link.pdf (opens in a new window)
A copy of these statistics is also provided to the U.S. Department of Education.
IMAT is comprised of senior members of various departments within Dominican University who meet at the onset of an emergency to discuss how to respond and actions to be taken. The team also meets regularly to develop and implement emergency plans through tabletop and university wide trainings.
Members of IMAT include (but not limited to):
- Vice President of Student Success and Engagement, Chair
- Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
- Vice President for Information Technology and Operations
- Director of Campus Safety & Risk
- Dean of Students Director of Public Information
- Chief Diversity Officer
Others as needed such as the Vice President of People and Culture, Campus Safety Operations Officer and Campus Safety Compliance Officer. The IMAT is the previous Emergency Planning Team and Emergency Response Teams combined. The IMAT is the umbrella over the ACT (formerly Behavioral Concern Team) and the Threat Assessment Team.
General Visitor Policy
We ask that visitors to specific offices and departments at the River Forest campus check in with the Welcome and Information Desk (WID) at the south entrance to Lewis Hall. External visitor parking is available for two hours just inside the Main Gate on the circle off of Division. Guests and visitors planning to stay longer than two hours should get a temporary parking permit from the WID or from Campus Safety on the first floor of the garage.
Any and all visitors to the residence halls must check in at the Coughlin Commons Welcome and Information Desk.
Campus Safety has an interest in ensuring that the privacy of its students, faculty and staff is respected, and that no activities interfere with education, research or residential life.
The university is private property; however, some areas of the campus typically are open to visitors. These areas include the Crown Library, the West Campus Soccer Field and the Performing Arts Center (Fine Arts). Even in these locations, visitors must not interfere with the privacy of students, faculty and staff, or with educational, research and residential activities. The university may revoke at any time permission to be present in these, or any other areas. Visitors should not be in academic or residential areas unless they have been invited for appropriate business or social purposes by the responsible faculty member, student or staff member.
Parking Policy and Parking Map
Download the 2025-2026 Dominican University-River Forest Parking Policy (pdf opens in a new window)
Download the 2025-2026 Parking Map
Campus Safety works to ensure a safe and positive experience for not only its community members, but also all of our external guests. The following services may be requested by dialing extension 5999 from any on campus phone or (708) 524-5999 from any personal phone 24/7/365. We will accommodate any and all requests as efficiently and as quickly as possible.
- Vehicle Battery Jumps. May be requested if the vehicle is on campus property. Dispatch will ask that the individual open the hood of their car and will ask for a description of the vehicle. The requestor must be present at the vehicle when Campus Safety arrives.
- Safety Escorts. May be provided from any two points on campus property. The Campus Safety Officer will meet the requester at the specified location and will walk them to their destination.
- Crime Reporting. Can be facilitated to the River Forest Police Department (RFPD) if necessary. Campus Safety officers will work as liaisons between RFPD and our guests should an event occur requiring RFPD assistance.
- Extended Visitor Passes. Available in Campus Safety Dispatch. Any visitor staying for more than two hours and are not parking in the Visitor Circle will be required to retrieve a temporary pass. Please provide your plate number, make, model and vehicle color information. Overnight guests should visit for a pass with their host present.
- Campus Navigation. Need help navigating campus? Call Campus Safety and one of our officers or student patrol members will gladly assist you in getting to your destination.
- Lost and Found. Campus Safety Dispatch houses all lost items that are found on campus. If you find yourself without an item, come visit us to see if we have it. Identification may be required to prove ownership.
The university operates a shuttle service to and from the River Forest and Chicago campuses. See Shuttle Schedule.