The UTRGV Police Department and the Department of Housing and Residence Life advise students living in dorms to have a safe experience for this upcoming semester.
Rebecca Gadson, associate dean for policy management and director of Residence Life, said what students can expect and gave recommendations that would help them in their experience of living in dorms.
“When students live on campus one of the things that they can expect is to be able to have an opportunity to connect and meet their neighbors, their roommates, their suitemates and be perfectly positioned to be part of a community right here on campus,” Gadson said.
She said there is going to be live-in staff available for students to provide support and outreach for them.
“One student leader role is called a resident assistant and their role is to be a peer, coach, mentor, advisor and general assistant to the individuals who live on campus,” Gadson said.
She said a resident assistant helps students with their campus experience, respond to concerns they have, maintenance issues, monitor the building and explain community standards so everyone has an enjoyable experience.
Gadson said what students can expect by living on campus is the easy convenience in terms of accessing all the services the university has to offer.
“Whether that’s going to a campus event, working out in the gym or University Recreation Center, or just quick access to student services like Student Health, counseling, food pantry, learning center, writing center, etc.,” she said.
Gadson recommends students to reach out, connect, communicate and be able to collectively work with their roommates or suitemates.
She also recommends students to carry their key and card access and when entering the building be aware of their surroundings.
“We don’t allow individuals to come in that they themselves don’t have access to do so,” Gadson said.
She said the residence halls have regular fire drills and other practice opportunities for students to become familiar with the emergency protocols.
Sergeant Fellippe Muñoz from the UTRGV Police Department recommends students to use the CampusShield app because it gives full access to the Police Department.
He said the app has different services that students can request.
“We do something called a safe walk program,” Muñoz said. “If they’re living on a campus and they happen to get out of class late and they need an escort to their room. They can basically request our services through this app and we can provide them an escort to their dorm room.”
He said other services that they provide in the CampusShield app is assistance to unlock a vehicle in the case a student left the keys inside.
Muñoz said if students see something or spot something and they want to notify the Police Department about it, it is also possible via the CampusShield app.
He suggests locking your doors and leaving the lights on from time to time if you are not going to be there.
If you have any type of blinds, [make] sure those windows are closed,” Muñoz said. “The blinds are secure and don’t leave any valuables at access.”
He said the Police Department is available 24/7 for all students to feel safe on their campus.
“We also have, you know, security cameras for the majority of our campus set up,” Muñoz said. “For the most part, all our campuses [are] being monitored at all times.”
He said they do routine patrols through all buildings and dormitories on the Brownsville and Edinburg campuses.
“We’re always doing our patrols and making sure that people feel safe in the area they live in,” Muñoz said.
Kimberly Rivera, a senior nursing student, said that living at the dorms is just like a small community of just college students.
