Safe at Hofstra

Department of Public Safety
“Protecting with Pride” 

Hofstra’s Department of Public Safety is located in the Mack Public Safety and Information Center on the southeast corner of Hempstead Turnpike and California Avenue. The dedicated members of the department are responsible for ensuring the safety of approximately 13,000 community members and 3,000 residential students, and securing 244 acres of campus property. Public Safety officers are New York state-certified first responders who are trained in first aid, CPR, and other emergency medical care.

Services provided by the Department of Public Safety include the following:

• Patrols of residence halls

• Educational workshops on topics such as campus safety, personal safety, dating violence, and sexual assault.

• 60+ emergency telephones located throughout the campus.

• A Campus Alert Notification Network (CANN) that provides a comprehensive notification structure to alert the campus community via voice message, text message, and email, as well as a public address system. (Students are required to sign up for CANN at my.hofstra.edu and enter their personal telephone contact information.)

• Campus Access and Security Systems (CASS) provides students with either the HofstraCard or Hofpass that is needed to access residence halls, academic spaces general campus locations (Fitness Center, Hammer Lab, Campus Entrances). It also allows students to use their Dining Dollars. The CASS is currently in the process of deploying mobile credentials by which students will be able to use a cellphone application on their phone or watch (Hofpass) instead of a physical ID card (HofstraCard) for easier access to services.

• The Safe Walk program, which is a service available to those who prefer to have someone accompany them to their car, academic building, or residence hall.

• Motorist assistance, including retrieval of keys, jump-starting dead batteries, and/or towing disabled vehicles to a local service station.

• Parking permits, which are available through the Hofstra portal for all students, faculty, and staff. All students, faculty, and staff must have their vehicles registered with Public Safety in order to park their vehicles on campus. All students, including first-year students, are permitted to have cars on campus, as long as they are registered with Public Safety and adhere to all parking and motor vehicle regulations. Students with cars can use a hang tag sleeve to display their permit from their rearview mirror; hang tag sleeves are available at the Department of Public Safety and other locations such as Campus Access and Security Systems.

• All personal motorized vehicles should be registered with Public Safety. Students can do so by visiting the Mack Hofstra Information Center. Personal motorized vehicles are prohibited inside campus buildings including the Residence Halls. 

• Victim assistance, including connecting students with local law enforcement, helping students whose cases involve the court system, and referring students to medical, counseling, and other necessary services.

• HofstraSafe, the official mobile safety app of Hofstra University, is an essential tool to enhance your safety and campus experience. It can be downloaded by any student in both the IOS (iphone) and Android (Google) App stores. 

Hofstra transportation services:

• The Train Shuttle provides members of the Hofstra community with transportation throughout campus, with scheduled stops at both the Mineola and Hempstead Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) stations.

• The Wednesday and Weekend Shopping and Entertainment Shuttle has scheduled stops at local shopping centers and restaurants. 

• The Hofstra Night Shuttle has stops on campus and in the residential areas of Uniondale and Hempstead. Students can also download an app that allows them to track the Night Shuttle.

• To view the full schedule for each of the shuttles visit: hofstra.edu/transportation or on the HofstraSafe App 

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS:

Public Safety 24/7 General Information: 516-463-6606
Emergency: 516-463-6789
Shuttle Information: 516-463-7878

The Department of Public Safety is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to assist students and staff with any issues that may arise. Detailed information about Public Safety, including the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, is available at hofstra.edu/publicsafety.

How Parents Are Notified of a Campus Emergency

Hofstra’s alert page, https://www.hofstra.edu/campus-alerts/, will contain notifications about an emergency. In addition, the Office of Parent and Family Programs will keep parents informed through the Family Link e-newsletter. Please review the emergency FAQ at https://www.hofstra.edu/parent-family/emergency-faq.html. 

Hofstra University’s Emergency Response Plan describes how available resources will be organized, coordinated, and directed during an emergency. The plan includes a chain of command establishing the authority and responsibility of various individuals, and establishes emergency protocol for a variety of situations. You may access the Emergency Response Plan at https://www.hofstra.edu/public-safety/emergency-response-plan.html. 

Are students allowed to have cars on campus?

Yes. Every vehicle parked on the Hofstra campus must have a parking permit, which students can access via the Hofstra portal (click on the Parking Permit icon in My Apps). Students can use a hang tag sleeve to display their permit from their rearview mirror; hang tag sleeves are available at the Department of Public Safety and other locations such as Campus Access and Security Systems. There are no parking fees.

Additionally, Zipcar is available; visit zipcar.com/hofstra for information. 

Campus Access and Security Systems (CASS) 

Campus Access and Security Systems (CASS) provides students with either the HofstraCard (physical ID card) or HofPass (mobile credentials) that is needed to access residence halls, academic spaces, and other campus locations (Fitness Center, Hammer Lab, etc.). Both forms of ID also allow students to access their Dining Dollars. CASS is in the process of deploying mobile credentials (HofPass) that will allow students to use an app on their cellphone or watch for easier access to services.