Campus safety

An MSU police officer engaged in a friendly conversation with a group of students.

Safety is a top priority for Michigan State University, and all members of the campus community — students, faculty and staff — are encouraged to take an active role in preventing and reporting incidents that jeopardize safety on and around campus.

Michigan State has more than 80 sworn police officers certified by the State of Michigan on campus. Additional campus safety and security services include late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks and controlled residence hall access.

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report

MSU, in compliance with a federal law called the Clery Act, publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report that provides MSU students and employees (both current and prospective) with information about the campus, police and public safety resources, reporting crimes, fire and medical emergencies, crime and fire prevention, victim support services, crime statistics, fire statistics, the crime and fire log, the University’s Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct Policy, the MSU Drug and Alcohol Policy and more. A hard copy of this document may be obtained by contacting the Clery Act Compliance Coordinator at (517) 353-2620 or clery@msu.edu.

Our Commitment

MSU is committed to cultivating a safe and inclusive campus community characterized by caring and respect for others. This promise extends to you whether you are a student, faculty or staff member, patient or visitor.

Visit the MSU Police community commitment page for more information, including details about our commitment to equity, Community Engagement Unit, and more.

Emergency alert system

In accordance with the Clery Act, the MSU Police Department operates an emergency notification system through email, text message or voice message sent to phones with campus safety warnings and information. Parents and guardians are welcome to subscribe to MSU Alerts to receive the same messages.

The MSU campus also is equipped with a mass notification outdoor speaker system to launch severe weather warning sirens and/or an audible message detailing actions to take.

Residence hall safety

MSU residence halls include built-in safety features for both fire protection and everyday security. Rooms have hard-wired smoke detectors, and room and wing doors are fire-rated. Residents also take part in regular fire drills so people know what to do if there’s ever an emergency.

For day-to-day security, room doors include peepholes so you can check who’s outside before opening. Living wings stay locked 24/7, and if you’re entering the building outside of regular hours—or using elevators and accessing living wings—you’ll need a valid MSU ID card. Guests are allowed, but they must stay with the resident hosting them for the duration of their visit. Cameras are used in more public areas of residence halls, such as entrances, exits, and common areas, to help monitor building activity.

Late night safety

In addition to MSU’s extensive campus bus system, the Night Owl service provides late night transportation on campus after the buses stop running at 2 a.m.