Safety & Work

Please review these Safety Tips:

It is important that you remain viligant at all times when traveling to a Community-Based Federal Work-Study position. We encourage you to keep the below saefty tips in mind during your commute.

On the street

Tell someone you trust where you are going & when you will return.
Walk with a friend whenever possible: research indicates that two people walking together are 70% less likely to be the victims of a street crime.
Stay alert and tuned-in to your surroundings.
Walk in well-lighted areas, avoiding alleys.
Do not listen to earphones or “walk & text” while out alone, this minimizes your ability to notice an approaching threat, and also advertises to a would-be thief that you have a desirable item to attempt to steal.
Carry a whistle or a body alarm. This can serve as a reminder to exercise caution, and can alert someone in the area that you need help.
Be wary of unsolicited strangers. If someone approaches you on the street, keep moving and try to avoid additional contact.

On your bike

Avoid chains or cables as your sole means of securing your bicycle. These are easily defeated and are usually responsible for the majority of bicycle thefts.
Always wear a helmet, even when going for short rides.
Consult this guide, published by the City of Chicago, for tips on securing your bike.
Do not place your bike lock close to the ground (or other hard object) where a thief can easily smash it with a hammer.
Wear light colored clothing when biking at night. Consider purchasing LED style lights that can be affixed to your bicycle to make you more visible.
The City of Chicago has designated bike lanes on many major streets. Use them!
While riding, don’t assume that you are safer than pedestrians because you are faster than they are. Stick to well-lighted, well-populated areas, avoiding alleys and other unsafe shortcuts.
You are responsible for knowing the laws concerning bicyclists in the City of Chicago. Visit this site for more information.
Always ride with the direction of traffic.

In your car

Always lock your car and take your keys.
Close windows and lock storage compartments.
Do not leave packages and valuables visible.
Drive carefully! Neither the university nor your volunteer agency is liable for risks involved in students getting to and from their service sites.
Do not park in isolated locations or behind obstructions that block you from the view of others, and make a note of where you parked.
Consider your return time when choosing a parking location; it may be dark when you return. Be alert to strangers hanging around the parking area.
When returning to you car, check all sides before entering. Have your keys in your hand and ready before arriving at your car.
Once inside your car, lock all doors.
Trust your instincts, leave at the first sign of danger. Once you are safe, call Campus Safety at 4-4911 or use a yellow campus emergency phone (on/near campus) or call the Chicago Police Department at 911 (off-campus).

On public transit

When riding a bus, use a stop that's well lit and near a coffee shop or store that's open.
Travel with a friend or co-worker whenever possible.
Know the bus or train schedule ahead of time, so you aren't forced to wait longer than necessary. (The CTA offers numerous pre-planning resources on their website, www.transitchicago.com, and real-time bus schedules are available at www.ctabustracker.com.)
Don't sleep on the bus or train.
Sit near the bus driver.
Have your money or CTA card (U-Pass) in hand when entering the bus or train.
Don't engage in unnecessary conversation with strangers, and never give out any personal information. The person you're talking to may be fine, but others can overhear. Be similarly attuned to what you say during cell phone conversations while using public transit!
Don't get too involved with reading/texting/chatting on your phone while you wait OR while you ride.
Move away from people who appear intoxicated, even if this means going to another stop or changing cars on the train.
Don't share a cab or a rideshare with a stranger.
Sit near the aisle so you can get up quickly if someone bothers you.
Don't sit near the exit door on busses or trains. At stops, when the door opens, someone can reach in and snatch your purse or backpack.
Hold on firmly to your purse or backpack. Don't put it on the seat beside you. Keep it in your lap or wedge it between your feet.
Tuck necklaces inside your clothing and turn rings around so that valuable stones aren't showing. Better yet, remove jewelry before using public transportation.

Please review these Safety Tips:

It is important that you remain viligant at all times when traveling to a Community-Based Federal Work-Study position. We encourage you to keep the below saefty tips in mind during your commute.

On the street

Tell someone you trust where you are going & when you will return.
Walk with a friend whenever possible: research indicates that two people walking together are 70% less likely to be the victims of a street crime.
Stay alert and tuned-in to your surroundings.
Walk in well-lighted areas, avoiding alleys.
Do not listen to earphones or “walk & text” while out alone, this minimizes your ability to notice an approaching threat, and also advertises to a would-be thief that you have a desirable item to attempt to steal.
Carry a whistle or a body alarm. This can serve as a reminder to exercise caution, and can alert someone in the area that you need help.
Be wary of unsolicited strangers. If someone approaches you on the street, keep moving and try to avoid additional contact.

On your bike

Avoid chains or cables as your sole means of securing your bicycle. These are easily defeated and are usually responsible for the majority of bicycle thefts.
Always wear a helmet, even when going for short rides.
Consult this guide, published by the City of Chicago, for tips on securing your bike.
Do not place your bike lock close to the ground (or other hard object) where a thief can easily smash it with a hammer.
Wear light colored clothing when biking at night. Consider purchasing LED style lights that can be affixed to your bicycle to make you more visible.
The City of Chicago has designated bike lanes on many major streets. Use them!
While riding, don’t assume that you are safer than pedestrians because you are faster than they are. Stick to well-lighted, well-populated areas, avoiding alleys and other unsafe shortcuts.
You are responsible for knowing the laws concerning bicyclists in the City of Chicago. Visit this site for more information.
Always ride with the direction of traffic.

In your car

Always lock your car and take your keys.
Close windows and lock storage compartments.
Do not leave packages and valuables visible.
Drive carefully! Neither the university nor your volunteer agency is liable for risks involved in students getting to and from their service sites.
Do not park in isolated locations or behind obstructions that block you from the view of others, and make a note of where you parked.
Consider your return time when choosing a parking location; it may be dark when you return. Be alert to strangers hanging around the parking area.
When returning to you car, check all sides before entering. Have your keys in your hand and ready before arriving at your car.
Once inside your car, lock all doors.
Trust your instincts, leave at the first sign of danger. Once you are safe, call Campus Safety at 4-4911 or use a yellow campus emergency phone (on/near campus) or call the Chicago Police Department at 911 (off-campus).

On public transit

When riding a bus, use a stop that's well lit and near a coffee shop or store that's open.
Travel with a friend or co-worker whenever possible.
Know the bus or train schedule ahead of time, so you aren't forced to wait longer than necessary. (The CTA offers numerous pre-planning resources on their website, www.transitchicago.com, and real-time bus schedules are available at www.ctabustracker.com.)
Don't sleep on the bus or train.
Sit near the bus driver.
Have your money or CTA card (U-Pass) in hand when entering the bus or train.
Don't engage in unnecessary conversation with strangers, and never give out any personal information. The person you're talking to may be fine, but others can overhear. Be similarly attuned to what you say during cell phone conversations while using public transit!
Don't get too involved with reading/texting/chatting on your phone while you wait OR while you ride.
Move away from people who appear intoxicated, even if this means going to another stop or changing cars on the train.
Don't share a cab or a rideshare with a stranger.
Sit near the aisle so you can get up quickly if someone bothers you.
Don't sit near the exit door on busses or trains. At stops, when the door opens, someone can reach in and snatch your purse or backpack.
Hold on firmly to your purse or backpack. Don't put it on the seat beside you. Keep it in your lap or wedge it between your feet.
Tuck necklaces inside your clothing and turn rings around so that valuable stones aren't showing. Better yet, remove jewelry before using public transportation.