Pitt rolls out new safety app as students return to campus next week

PITTSBURGH — As University of Pittsburgh students return to campus for the start of classes Monday, the university is rolling out a new app designed to make it easier to access safety resources and report concerns.

PittSAFE replaces the university’s former Rave Guardian application and is described as a hub for campus safety information, emergency communications, support services and notifications.

The app allows users to call Pitt police, quickly access 911, view emergency alerts and preparedness information, and report safety concerns. Users also can start a live chat with Pitt police.

“It’s a very smart idea,” Pitt student Jake Artman said. “I thought the layout of it was very intuitive, easy to use. So if you’re ever in an emergency, it would be very easy to report something.”

One feature allows users to activate campus Blue Light emergency assistance from their phones, alerting police.

The app also includes personal safety tools, including a safety timer for check-ins, a Friend Walk feature that allows users to share their location with trusted contacts and a virtual walk-home feature. Users can also send an “I’m OK!” notification to friends and family.

Pitt already sends emergency notifications by text, but some students said those messages can get lost among other texts.

“I feel like students are more likely to look at an app than random text messages,” said student Blessings Gantt.

PittSAFE also includes campus maps, navigation resources, student support services, Panther Central information, gameday resources, and campus-specific information.

Pitt officials emphasize that downloading PittSAFE does not automatically subscribe users to the university’s Emergency Notification Service or Crime Alerts.

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