Women's Resource Center

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Campus Safety Escort Service

Group photo of UCR's Campus Safety Escort Service students

 

The Campus Safety Escort Service (CSES) ensures the safety of UCR’s students, faculty, and staff by accompanying them to their campus destination.

Request a Campus Safety Escort

It’s easy to pair up with a trustworthy, professionally trained campus safety escort (CSE).

  1. Call us during our operating hours at (951) 827-3772.
  2. Visit the Women's Resource Center on the second floor of Costo Hall during our operating hours. 
  3. Use any of the campus-wide “red phones” labeled “Campus Safety Escort Service” to speak directly to a dispatcher during our operating hours.

Find the Nearest “Red Phone”

The map below shows you the exact location of every “red phone” that directly connects you to a CSES dispatcher. They are usually located near exits and lobbies of most campus buildings.

Fall 2024 Service Hours

Days: Monday-Wednesday starting Week 3
Times: 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM
Follow @ucrcses to learn about schedule changes.

For escort service beyond CSES hours, call the UCR Police at (951) 827-5222.

Contact CSES

Office Visit:
260 Costo Hall
safetyescort@ucr.edu

Staff Advisor:
Cynthia Hernandez
cynthia.hernandez002@ucr.edu
(951) 827-3338
 

Volunteers Wanted

Become a CSES dispatcher, cart driver, or safety escort!
  • Undergraduate and graduate UCR students are eligible.
  • No experience needed.
  • Training is provided.

APPLY TODAY

Awards/Accolades

  • Under the direction of WRC, CSES has received the Bayless Leadership Award five times since its operation.
  • CSES has also been voted the “fifth-most-critical campaign organization” by students during a campus survey.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Explore CSES and the service it offers. For additional questions, contact staff advisor Cynthia Hernandez at cynthia.hernandez002@ucr.edu or call (951) 827-3338.

  • How can I be sure that CSES is safe?

    All Campus Safety Escorts go through an interview process and background check. Once hired, they are trained on how to properly escort someone and what to do in dangerous situations. A CSES Student Program Coordinator monitors each shift. 

  • How can I tell the difference between a CSE and a regular UCR student?

    Campus safety escorts are required to wear:

    1. Bright Yellow Uniform Shirt – A UCR seal is on the front, and “UC Riverside Escort Service” is on the back.
    2. Photo Identification Badge – Includes a sticker with the current academic quarter and year.
  • What hours are campus safety escorts available?

    CSES currently operates Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from sundown to 10:00 PM (last escort @ 10:00). After 10:00 PM, students may call UCPD for a walking escort at 951-827-5222. Please refer to the CSES Instagram account (@ucrcses) for the most accurate operation times.  

  • Who can use the CSES program?

    The CSES program is available to all UCR students, staff, and faculty.

  • Can I be escorted to campus?

    Yes, as long as your starting location is on campus-owned property such as apartments, residence halls, and parking lots.

  • Where do you escort to and from?

    Our boundaries only cover university properties, UCR dorms and apartments (including the Plaza and Stonehaven), and all campus parking lots. CSES cannot escort to the International Village or the University Village.  

  • How do I use the red phones on campus?

    Pick up a nearby red phone and wait for the dispatcher to answer (usually after the second ring). View the map on this page for red phone locations.

  • Are CSES Volunteers paid?

    CSES is a volunteer-based organization made up of safety escorts, dispatchers, and cart drivers. They are not paid; however, the WRC hires two part-time Student Coordinators every academic year. 

  • What CSES positions are available?

    Volunteer positions are currently available. You may apply through this link.

  • How many hours are safety escorts required to serve?

    Campus safety escorts are required to serve two and a half hours per week until the end of each quarter, including during finals week. Safety escorts are allowed to serve a maximum of six hours per week. 

History: Established 1974–75

Following a campus assault in the seventies, UCR student and Aberdeen-Inverness Hall resident started walking his friends across campus at night to keep them safe. His gesture sparked a movement by fellow students, which eventually developed into today’s CSES. The team’s simple setup of just one telephone and an answering machine has grown into over ten “red phones” spread across campus and a dedicated, professional, and organized team. However, through its growth, the goal has always been the same: keep the campus community safe.

 

General Safety Tips

Do

  • Be aware and confident when traveling to your destination; establish eye contact with those passing by.
  • If approached by a suspicious individual(s), assert yourself with a loud voice and statement such as, “No, I can't help you!” or “Get away from me!”
  • Travel and/or park in occupied and well-lit areas.
  • Have your keys in-hand, ready to unlock your housing or vehicle.
  • Always check your vehicle before getting in, including the backseat and underneath, as well as the surrounding area.
  • Once inside your home or vehicle, lock the doors.
  • Familiarize yourself with your neighbors.
  • Report any suspicious activity in your neighborhood.
  • Leave lights, TVs, or radios on when nobody is home.
  • Make sure the lights work around all entrances.
  • Close and/or lock windows and doors at all times.

Don't

  • Take shortcuts through dark, isolated areas.
  • Focus on a mobile device or use headphones.
  • Hide keys outside of your home.
  • Put your address on your key ring.
  • Post your location on social media.
  • Leave messages on your door indicating your absence and/or return.
  • Leave valuables in your room.