Safety
Our goal is to keep all International and domestic Students Safe. Learn about all Safety resources at FGCU.
Campus Safety:
Campus Police:
The University Police Department (UPD) oversees law enforcement, security, disaster planning and emergency response at FGCU. UPD includes 21 sworn law enforcement officers and 8 civilian personnel in two divisions to serve and protect our campus. campus police website.
Guardian Eagle App:
The Guardian Eagle App is a free app that connects you to University Police dispatch, receive alerts directly on your cell, safety timer and call 911 with the touch of a button. More information is available at the rave guardian app website.
Code Blue Poles:
These emergency telephones have a highly visible push button on an illuminated telephone faceplate. A push of the button summons campus officers, allows dispatchers to hear what is going on, pinpoints the exact location of the trouble, and triggers the bright blue police-type strobe light on top of the phone.
Code Blue Poles are located in all parking lots, student housing and in the academic core areas. If you experience an emergency, this is a way to call for assistance. When activated, you are immediately connected with the FGCU Police Department dispatcher.
Scams and Fraud:
While studying in the United States, ensure you understand how to recognize signs of scams that may put you at risk. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security continues to see several scams targeting international students, usually through phone calls or social media messages. These scams occur when strangers, often impersonating government agency personnel, contact students and intimidate them by threatening their immigration status or university standing. Scammers then ask students to provide payment or personal information.
How To Recognize a Phone Scam:
Phone scams come in many forms, but they tend to make similar promises and threats, or ask you to pay certain ways. Here’s how to recognize a phone scam.
- You won’t be arrested - Scammers may pretend to be law enforcement, US Customs & immigration, or some other federal agency claiming you’ll be arrested, fined or deported. Real federal and law enforcement agencies won’t call & threaten you.
- There’s never a good reason to send cash – They will ask you to pay in a way that makes it hard to get your money back (wiring money, loading a gift card, or using an app). Anyone who asks for payment that way is a scammer.
- Government agencies won’t call to confirm sensitive info – Never give out ANY personal information like bank account details, address or social security number, even if they claim to be from the government.
- If you receive a suspicious call or aren’t sure that the caller is legitimate, HANG UP. The government (US Customs & Immigration, Homeland Security, the IRS & Social Security) WILL NEVER CALL YOU! Once you answer a scam call, they will continue to call from other numbers or sell your number to other scammers. Block any numbers you know are from scammers and we recommend that you do not answer calls from numbers you do not know. If it is a legitimate call they will leave a message or text you.
If you want to report a scam call, you can fill out a form at DoNotCall.gov. If you have lost money to a scam, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
