ODU Public Safety

Ensuring Your Safety at Ohio Dominican

ODU's Public Safety Department is a professional force of security officers whose primary function is to protect the people and property of Ohio Dominican University. Public Safety also issues ODU ID cards, parking permits, oversees campus lost & found and more. See below for an overview of safety and services that we provide.

Safety

We're Available 24/7 — Call (614) 251-4700 anytime.

You can call the Public Safety department 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (614) 251-4700. Our security office, located above Panther Plaza in Erskine Hall, is open only during regular business hours, but we have security officers on duty and on patrol at all times.

To report a crime in progress or emergency please dial 911. 
 

Department Phone Number
Public Safety (614) 251-4700 
Student Affairs (614) 251-4595 
Wellness Center (614) 251-4709 
Residence Life (614) 251-4718 
Columbus Police (614) 645-4545 
Suicide Prevention (614) 221-5445 
Poison Control 1 (800) 222-1222 
Impact Student Life Assistance - 24/7 Hotline 1 (888) 475-2669

Any student, staff member or visitor may request a security escort at any time. This service is encouraged for those walking on campus after dark.

Call 251-4700 to request an escort anywhere on campus. An officer will meet you and walk or drive you to your destination.

The Escort Program is to be utilized for safety purposes, or for those who have temporary or permanent disabilities. 

All crime victims and witnesses are strongly encouraged to immediately report crimes to the Department of Public Safety and the appropriate police agency.

Prompt reporting will assure timely warning notices on campus and timely disclosure of crime statistics. We also invite your suggestions for improving our services. Please feel free to call us or stop by the office anytime you are in need of assistance, emergency or otherwise, or if you have any questions or suggestions.

Campus Public Safety Officers and Campus Security Authorities must report crimes in the annual crime statistics.

Information on the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Police and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and information on how to report is available in the training presentation below and associated forms.

Public Safety works closely with the Maintenance Department in maintaining safe facilities. Officers routinely report on the condition lighting, sidewalks, parking lots, etc. Officers make monthly inspections of fire equipment and emergency lighting in all campus buildings.

The Ohio Dominican University Security Department is not a commissioned law enforcement agency, nor do personnel within the department have arrest authority. Rather, the department is designed to help keep the likelihood of criminal activity to a minimum and to keep the campus community aware of any safety/security issues.

The Public Safety officers have the authority to ask persons for identification and to determine whether individuals have lawful business at Ohio Dominican University. Public Safety officers have the authority to issue parking tickets that are billed to financial accounts of students, faculty and staff. Criminal incidents are referred to the local police who have jurisdiction on campus.

The Public Safety office maintains a highly professional working relationship with the Columbus Police Department as well as other local, state and federal agencies. The Public Safety Department does not have any Memoranda of Understandings with any agency.

ODU's Public Safety staff is trained in the areas of safety, security and law enforcement and assist the community in a variety of safety and security-related areas.

 

Services

All students, faculty, and staff are provided the Panther Card, the official ID card of the University. To obtain a Panther Card, students must be accepted for admission and registered for classes.

Photos for Panther Cards are taken in the Public Safety Office, located on the first floor of Erskine Hall above Panther Plaza.

An ID card is required for access to the residence halls and other facilities, using the meal plan, learning and information services, entry to campus events, and all transactions in the Business Office.

Lost, stolen, or damaged ID cards should be reported to the Public Safety Department (614) 251-4700 immediately. 

Replacement cards are obtained through the Public Safety Office for a replacement fee of $20.00. 

The ID must be carried at all times and presented upon request by a University official.  Any student using a University ID card improperly or loaning his/her ID to anyone is in violation of University policy and subject to disciplinary action.

All motor vehicles, including motorcycles, parked on campus must be registered with Public Safety and display a valid parking permit at all times.

Get Info & Register

If you have previously registered for an ODU permit, you do not need to register again. Annual registration is no longer required.

The Public Safety Department maintains a lost and found in the Public Safety Office. Lost items can be reported by phone or by utilizing the Lost Item Report on our webpage.

Found items can be left at the Public Safety Office in 100D Erskine Hall (in the hallway above Panther Plaza). 

Lost & Found items will remain in storage for 30 days. After that period has elapsed, sensitive items will be destroyed and usable items will be donated to charity.

Report a Lost Item

Public Safety Officers will help with minor vehicle problems such as jumpstarts.

For persons locked out of their vehicle, Public Safety can loan a kit to help them gain access. For liability reasons, officers can not help on vehicle lockouts.

Should you need special parking because of a temporary handicap, notify Accessibility Services for parking arrangements.