At Simmons, we take safety very seriously. In addition to our first-rate health services, with 24-hour access to student health professionals, Simmons offers an excellent public-safety operation, an emergency preparedness plan that serves as a model for other universities, and CareCall, a free emergency notification service.
Simmons Escort Program
Walking escorts are available on Simmons property.
CareCall
To promote safety on and off campus, Simmons offers CareCall, a free emergency notification service for all students. CareCall is operated by a private, independent provider, and is available at no cost. If you elect to participate in this national program, CareCall will notify your designated contacts and school officials in case of emergency, and will provide critical medical information to attending physicians. CareCall operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Visit the CareCall Student Program website ».
Emergency Preparedness
Simmons's Emergency Preparedness Plan serves as a model for other colleges and universities. In the event of an emergency, the Simmons Emergency Response Team is equipped to work other neighboring institutions through our participation with the Medical Academic and Scientific Community (MASCO), local municipal authorities, and the Boston Emergency Management Agency (BEMA).
In addition to training Simmons staff for an emergency response, an important element of the plan is informing the community and, when appropriate, parents and families. We ask students to participate in general emergency preparedness in the following ways:
- Review safety information in the Student Handbook
- Comply with safety drills and evacuations
- Maintain an awareness of one's surroundings, including the available means of emergency assistance, and the College's communication venues: Simmons email; voicemail; the INFO line (617-521-3463); and the Simmons website.
- Share current contact information with family and friends (please note that to protect the safety and security of our students, Simmons does not share local telephone numbers)
- Notify family members that they can visit the Parent and Families website for updated information
Residence Hall Security
All residence halls are locked 24 hours a day. The campus is equipped with a computerized card key access system, which allows resident students unlimited access to their own residence hall and access to other residence halls from 700 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. Additionally, the Residence Campus is enclosed by a wrought iron fencing that is secured between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. During that time, students and visitors may gain access to the residence campus via the card key access system located in Simmons Hall. Visitors must be escorted by a Simmons resident in accordance with escort policy.
There is a Resident Advisor on duty for each hall every night from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. and a Residence Director on duty for the campus every night. A professional staff member from the Student Life Division is on-call every night, as well. Public Safety Officers are also available in case of emergency.
Public Safety
Simmons Department of Public Safety employs both Simmons College police officers as well as contract security guards. Public Safety officers are on duty at all campus locations 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Public Safety officers carry two-way radios and are trained to respond to emergencies, take reports, and provide assistance and information. All Public Safety officers are appointed as special Massachusetts State police offers with full police powers on college property. Campus security includes 24-hour patrols and electronic security in all residence halls. In addition to implementing and supervising safety programs, such as the escort-on-request service, Public Safety provides safety awareness, education, and training for the Simmons community.
Simmons complies with federal regulations that all crime statistics and policies be made available to students, faculty, and staff on an annual basis. These crime statistics are available from the Department of Public Safety.
