Residing in a foreign country presents a set of new safety precautions and emergency procedures. The International Student Handbook contains detailed information regarding everyday life in the United States. For more information on campus safety, visit the campus police page.

Emergency Contacts:

Major Emergencies - Call 911

Incidents such as fires, health emergencies, crime, or sexual assault should be reported by calling 911, whether you are on or off campus.

Campus Police - Call 972-578-5555

If an emergency occurs on campus, call 972-578-5555 to reach the campus police from a cell phone or 5555 when calling from a campus phone. There should also be an emergency button on the campus phone to reach Collin College Police Department (CCPD).

Common Emergency Procedures:

Lost Wallet or Purse

• Preparation: Create photocopies of your wallet contents, and keep the copies in a memorable and secure location at your residence.

• Procedure: 

  • Cancel Credit Cards: The photocopies of your credit cards will have the toll-free numbers and necessary account information to call the credit card company. Use the toll-free number to call the company and cancel your credit card.

  • Report: Immediately file a police report in the jurisdiction where your wallet or purse was lost. 

  • Place an Alert: Immediately call the three national credit reporting organizations to place a fraud security alert on your credit cards. If you have a social security number, also immediately call the Social Security Administration to place an alert on your name and social security number.

    • Equifax: 1-800-525-6285

    • Experian: 1-888-397-3742

    • Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289

    • Social Security Administration Fraud Line: 1-800-269-0271

Tornadoes

• Tornado Watch: Current weather conditions are perfect to create a tornado.

• Tornado Warning: A tornado has formed and been sighted.

• Preparation: Learn the tornado shelter locations at your school, work, and residence. Be aware of current weather conditions and forecasts. The information regarding tornado alerts is broadcasted on television and radio, and can also be found on the internet.

• Procedure: Emergency sirens will usually sound in the event of a tornado warning.

  • Seek Shelter: Do not evacuate the building. Seek shelter indoors.

  • Driving: If you are driving when the sirens are sounding, get to the nearest shelter. If the nearest shelter is far away, pull over to the side of the road, get down in your car and cover your head. You may also abandon your car and seek shelter in a ditch or ravine.

  • Indoors: The safest place to shelter indoors is at the bottom floor or basement, in a room without an exterior-facing wall such as a bathroom, hallway, or closet. Avoid windows and glass enclosures.  

Severe Weather Warning

• Preparation: Monitor current weather conditions. Learn the evacuation routes for your location.

• Procedure: College or city warning sirens may activate.

  • Indoors: Move to interior areas away from windows and glass enclosures.

  • Evacuation: Evacuate the building if instructed to do so by campus police.

Fire

• Preparation: Learn the evacuation routes for your location, and follow Collin College’s fire safety tips.

• Procedure: 

  • Contain: If you discover a fire, isolate the fire by closing doors and windows.

  • Sound the Alarm: Pull the fire alarm immediately.

  • Report: Call 911 and report the location of the fire. Stay on the phone until instructed to end the call. Then call campus police at 972-578-5555 and tell them your name and the location of the fire.

  • Evacuate: Follow Collin College’s evacuation procedures and evacuate the building.

Active Shooter

• Preparation: Learn procedures for an active assailant/shooter event. Collin College has information on life-saving actions, and has also recommended viewing the “RUN. HIDE. FIGHT.” video.

• Procedure: 

  • Report: Call campus police at 972-578-5555. Give your name, location, and the type of incident. Follow all instructions. They may ask you to provide a phone number to provide further information, and to call 911.

  • Get to Safety: Do not interact with the assailant unless it is necessary for self-defense or self-preservation.

  • Lockdown: Follow Collin College’s lockdown procedure: Avoid, Deny, or Defend.

  • Aid Arrival: When police arrive, remain calm and follow instructions. Do not make any frantic movements or yell. For more information, view the Active Assailant/Shooter information page.

Criminal Activity

• Procedure:

  • Report: Call campus police at 972-578-5555. Give your name, location, and the type of incident. Follow all instructions. They may ask you to provide a phone number to provide further information, and to call 911.

  • Get to Safety: Do not interfere with the incident unless it is necessary for self-defense or self-preservation.

Threats

• Procedure: If you receive a threatening phone call, stay on the line.

  • Gather Information: Obtain as much information as possible from the caller, such as time, location, and type of threatened incident.

  • Report: Call campus police at 972-578-5555. Give your name, phone number to be contacted, and all available information. Officials will contact you for further information. 

Evacuation

View the evacuation procedures for Collin College on the Office of Emergency Management Evacuation Response page.

Medical Emergencies

View the medical emergency procedures for Collin College on the Office of Emergency Management Medical Response page.

Scams:

Phone Solicitation:

• Do not provide any personal information to anyone who calls you. If you have called the bank, business, or agency, you may be asked for identifying information that you can provide.

• Contact the International Students Office if you receive a call that is potentially a scam. 

Common Characteristics:

• Caller ID claiming to be a government agency or police

• A claim that you owe money

• A claim that you have committed fraud

• Requires immediate action

• Punishment for not acting immediately, such as arrest or deportation

• Unwilling to hang up and call back later

• Lots of legal-sounding phrases to sound legitimate

• Unexpected checks in the mail

• Asking you to wire money

• Asking you to purchase gift cards

Examples:

• Collecting a tax refund in your name

• Misrepresentation of a purchased product

• “International Student Tax” or “visa fee”

• A website charging “fees” to enter the Green Card Lottery

• Calls from the “IRS”

  • Note: The IRS will not call you, but they will send letters.

• Verifying an account

Reporting:

Report any potential scams to ISO, and ISO can warn all international students. You can also contact the campus police for assistance.

• Concerning or suspicious calls

• Letters with threats for inaction

• An employer requiring payment to provide a job offer

• An employment agency offering fake credentials

Additional Resources:

• Federal Trade Commission pamphlets

• USCIS Scam Avoidance

• USCIS Scam Reporting

Healthcare Resources:

View the Healthcare Awareness and Resources section of the International Student Handbook for more information, or the CougarCare Frequently Asked Questions page.