The Graduate School
Graduate Student Safety
The Graduate School is firmly committed to providing a secure environment for its graduate and professional students while they work, study and live in our community.
The Graduate School promotes an academic environment that is free from violent, criminal, and unsafe behavior. Personal safety is important for all students: it is particularly important for the graduate and professional student populations whose needs may differ from the larger undergraduate population. Programs have been implemented to inform students about campus security procedures and practices, crime prevention, awareness of rape and other forcible and non-forcible sex offenses, and to encourage students to be responsible for their own security.
These programs are offered through the following university agencies:
- University
of Texas Police Department (UTPD) offers information on
crime prevention, sexual assault, tips for safely navigating campus,
tips for reporting crimes, and much more. In addition, for your individual
safety UTPD provides a network of outdoor emergency phones around campus
which are mounted in yellow call boxes, have a blue light on top and
are clearly marked. Pushing the call button activates a direct phone
line with UTPD that automatically pinpoints the caller's location.
- The
Division of Student Affairs provides updated information on campus
security and crime awareness, as well as information on specific campus
security programs designed to promote crime prevention, awareness,
and responsibility.
- The
Office of Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) offers services
to assist the university community in meeting health and safety responsibilities,
and to prevent or reduce harmful and dangerous accidents. EH&S offers
training sessions on occupational safety, chemical, biological and
laboratory safety.
- Human Resource
Services (HRS) provides information for graduate employees
on conflict resolution and employee relations, in addition to orientation
information for new employees and graduate students. HRS also offers
the Employee Assistance Program which serves to support the mental,
emotional, and physical well-being of employees in order to promote
the organizational health and effectiveness of the university community.
- Student
Government serves as the official student voice to the university
administration, the Board of Regents, and the Texas Legislature. Student
Government's mission is to represent the interest of students and increase
student decision-making power. Agencies of the university's Student
Government concerned with student safety include Students Acting Against
Sexual Assault (SAASA), Students United for Rape Elimination (SURE
Walk) and the Women's Resource Center.
- Voices Against Violence (VAV), a division of the Counseling and Mental Health Center, addresses the issues of relationship violence, stalking, and sexual violence at The University of Texas. VAV's programs are designed to serve the needs of the university population with information, education, training, advocacy, and counseling and referral services.
Graduate students also face rigorous and stressful routines that may contribute to a decrease in their well-being. The pressures of academic and personal life may put students at higher risk for depression, drug and alcohol abuse, and suicide. The University of Texas has programs and departments designed specifically to help students maintain a healthy lifestyle while pursuing their degrees.
The following programs offer services and resources for graduate students:
- The
Counseling and Mental Health Center helps students with their
personal concerns so that they can meet the daily challenges of student
life. Staffed by psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and
other licensed mental health professionals, the Center is open to all
registered university students.
- The
Office of the Dean of Students (DOS) offers peer counseling,
academic help, leadership training, and services for students with
disabilities. DOS also sponsors Student Judicial Services (SJS), a
program responsible for investigating alleged violations of institutional
rules including student harassment and sexual harassment, sexual assault,
and academic integrity.
- The
International Office (IO) provides advisers for international
students and their families to help in matters related to their immigration
status, employment, housing, health insurance, medical care, financial
aid, and personal concerns. In addition, IO offers advice and programming
for the families of international students with an emphasis on interacting
with the community.
- University Health Services (UHS) provides information and other educational services for university students to assist them in making lifestyle decisions that will keep them healthy now and in the future. Programs offered by UHS and Health Promotion and Educational Services (HPRC) focus on stress management, nutrition, quitting smoking, weight management, birth control, sexual health, alcohol and other drug use, and staying healthy while traveling abroad.
This concludes the section on Graduate Student Safety. To continue to the next section of the Graduate Student Orientation, click on the button labeled "Next".
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