Residential Living

Living Guide—Safety

Campus Safety and Police Services

The Department of Public Safety and Police Services (DPSPS) responds to all emergency situations in the residence halls. You can reach Public Safety by calling (906) 487-2216. You may use the blue emergency phones located by sidewalks around campus to reach DPSPS. For non-life-threatening emergencies inside the residence halls, you can contact our DUTY Phone at (906) 487-3889. 

Michigan Tech Tip Line

The Michigan Tech Tip Line allows for anonymous reporting of any concerning or unsafe behavior. To report anonymously, call 906-487-TIPS or go to www.mtu.edu/tips. 

Michigan Tech Report a Concern

Michigan Tech is committed to providing an environment that is respectful and supportive. If you have a concern that you believe impedes these efforts for you personally, or for a friend or colleague, visit the Report a Concern page. Visit this page if you're worried about a friend, witness an incident of discrimination, see an access barrier, witness a safety concern, or need to report an incident of sexual misconduct. 

Safety First Alert

Students are encouraged to sign up for Safety First Alert when they arrive on campus. Safety First Alert is a communication system that can send text and voice messages, post to social media and send emails in the event of an emergency. 

Explosives, Chemicals and Flammables

For the safety of all residents, the following items are not permitted in the residence halls or immediate living vicinity:

  • Harmful chemicals
  • Flammable liquids/lighter fluid
  • Firecrackers
  • Explosives
  • Incense
  • Candles 
  • Candle warmers (with hot plate or lamp-style with bulb)
  • Ozone machines
  • Oil lamps
  • Propane or oil for cooking stoves
  • Other open-flame objects
  • Electric heaters
  • Air conditioners
  • Halogen lights
  • Laboratory chemicals
  • Soldering irons
  • Wood laser cutters
  • Black powder / gun powder
  • Uninterruptible power supply units
  • Cooking appliances with exposed heating elements (toaster, toaster oven, coffee pot with a hot plate to keep coffee warm, candle warmers with a hot plate or halogen bulb, etc.)
  • Cooking appliances that produce grease or require oil such as deep fryers or George Foreman Grills.
  • Any motorized personal vehicles including, but not limited to gas/electric powered (E-Bike) bicycles,  gas/electric powered (E-scooter), and hoverboards. These devices, and the associated batteries, are prohibited from being stored, charged, or used in the residence halls. 
  • Due to fumes and hazardous waste concerns, 3D printers using resin are prohibited. 3D printers using filament are permitted in on-campus housing facilities and must be used according to owners manual instructions.

Students are permitted to use Keurig-style coffee makers, microwaves, and fridges in their rooms. All other cooking appliances (air fryers, panini makers, rice cookers, etc.) must be used in the kitchenette where proper fire equipment is located.

Lithium batteries for personal electronics such as cameras, cell phones, laptop computers, tablets, watches, calculators, etc. are allowed in residential buildings. Charging and storage of these device batteries must follow the manufacturer's operating instructions and ALWAYS use the charging cord supplied with the device (or only use a replacement charging cord that is specified by the device manufacturer). Additional Lithium Battery Safety Guidelines can be found here.

Students who bring harmful chemicals, explosives, and flammables into the residence halls will be held responsible by the Office of Academic and Community Conduct and may be subject to sanctioning or restitution for damage caused by these items. If there is a spill of a hazardous substance, evacuate the room in which it was spilled. If the substance is unknown, evacuate. Dial 911 and describe the substance and its location. 

Fire Evacuation and Equipment

Fire-fighting equipment and evacuation route postings are located throughout each residence hall.  Fire drills are held regularly to help residents to learn fire evacuation procedures. Residents will be given information regarding the fire alarm and evacuation procedures for the hall during their first house meeting. ALL RESIDENTS AND STAFF OF EACH BUILDING MUST EVACUATE THE BUILDING DURING FIRE ALARMS. Once safely out of the building, move away to allow for emergency personnel. Failure to evacuate during fire alarms will result in disciplinary action. Fire drills are conducted in accordance with state law. Residents are required to cooperate with staff and participate in fire, tornado and other emergency drills. Residents should tour their building to become familiar with the location of all fire exits, alarm boxes and areas of refuge.

It is against state law to use fire equipment for a purpose other than its intended use. Individuals tampering with life support, fire alarms, smoke detectors, or fire-fighting equipment are subject to immediate dismissal from the University.

Nothing is permitted to obstruct or be hung on the residence hall fire sprinkler system or plumbing at any time. This includes piping, sprinkler heads, and valves. Hanging decorations or items from the fire sprinkler system may cause the system to malfunction. Also, nothing can block the residence hall room windows at any time. Placing items that block windows can prevent emergency responders from assessing a fire, or rescuing a resident from a residence hall room.

Fire Evacuation Instructions

Students with concerns that they may have difficulty leaving their hall during an emergency evacuation, please identify yourself to your RA, so that the RA can make professional staff aware of your need for assistance.

It is important that the following instructions are followed to ensure that emergency responders are able to assess the fire from the outside of the building and rescue any trapped residents from the buildings. If possible, please do the following things:

  • Turn on the ceiling light and open the blinds
  • Close windows
  • Touch the inside of the door to test for heat
    • If it is warm, do NOT open the door
  • Exit immediately. Wear shoes; take your coat, room key, and Michigan Tech ID. Close and lock the door and walk away from the building by your assigned route. Do not talk. Listen for directions. Do NOT use elevators as an emergency exit. Stay low to the ground.
  • When you leave the building, move to your assigned meeting area which will be at least 100 feet away from the building.
  • Do not return to your room or re-enter the building. Wait for instructions. You may not enter the building when the alarm is silenced unless the all clear has been given by the fire department.

Mobility Limitations

If danger is imminent and you are located in a building on a floor above or below ground level at the time of the emergency, you should proceed to the area adjacent to the nearest exit stairway. The stairways are considered an area of refuge and are protected by fire doors. Contact emergency personnel immediately. While staying in place, keep in direct contact with emergency dispatch from a cell phone and report pertinent information including the location.

If there is no obvious threat to life or safety, remain in the area adjacent to the EXIT stairway until emergency personnel arrive. Fire Department personnel, who are trained in emergency rescue, can then enter the building and assist you in exiting the building.

If you are trapped in your room by fire:

  • Keep your door and window closed tightly and stand in full view in the window until help arrives.
  • Brace yourself against the door and crack it slightly open to check the incoming air at the top of the door with your hand.

Fire Prevention

  • Please keep posters and other combustible decorations to a minimum.
  • Do not cover your desk or floor lamps with any cloth-like materials.
  • Check electrical cords and appliances to ensure they are in proper working order. Do not run extension cords under rugs, mattresses, etc.
  • Each hall provides kitchenettes for extensive cooking. Possessing or using hazardous electrical appliances such as those with exposed heating elements (toaster, coffee pot with a hot plate to keep coffee warm, candle warmers with a hot plate or halogen bulb, etc.) are not permitted in residence hall rooms.
  • Residents may not alter the electrical systems or equipment in their rooms. This includes covering or removing the smoke detectors. 

Leaking Water or Flood

In the event of a flood, call DUTY Phone at (906) 487-3889 or Public Safety and Police Services at (906) 487-2216. Please let them know of the location of the leak or flood. Do not walk or stand in standing water. 

Tornado

When severe weather happens, students are encouraged to watch TV or listen to the radio for important weather alerts and warnings. In addition, residents are advised to:

  • Stay away from windows and glass as much as possible.
  • Move to the severe weather shelter or an interior hall free of windows.
  • Shut the room door.
  • Do not use elevators. Do not pull the fire alarm.
  • Crouch with your knees on the floor, cover your head with your hands, and bend forward until your chin touches your knees.
  • Remain in shelter until the warning has been canceled or the tornado has passed.

The following are Tornado Severe Weather Locations for Residence Halls:

East McNair

  • Ground, 1, 2 – Remain in the hallway with the doors shut.
  • Floor 3 evacuate to the ground floor hallway.
  • Floor 4 evacuate to the first-floor hallway.
  • Floor 5 evacuate to the second-floor hallway.

East Hall

  • Floor 1 & 2 - Remain in the hallway, away from lounges, and shut doors.
  • Floor 3 - Evacuate to the second floor away from the lounges.
  • Floor 4 - Evacuate to the first floor away from the lounges.

West McNair

  • 1 & 2 - Go to first floor interior hallways.

East and North Wads

  • Ground, 1, & 2 – Remain in the hallway, away from lounges, and shut doors.
  • Floor 3 – Evacuate to the ground floor hallway away from lounges.
  • Floor 4 – Evacuate to the first-floor hallway away from the lounges.
  • Floor 5 – Evacuate to the second-floor hallway away from the lounges.

West Wads

  • Ground, 1, & 2 – Remain in the hallway away from lounges and windows, and shut doors.
  • Floors 3 & 4 – Evacuate to the first floor near guest rooms.
  • Floor 5 – Evacuate to the second floor away from the lounges.

DHH

  • Floor 1- Remain in the hallway with doors shut.
  • Floors 2 & 3 – Evacuate to ground floor laundry and game room.

Hillside

  • Floors 1, 2, & 3- Remain in the hallway with doors shut.
  • Floors 4, 5, & 6 – Evacuation to floors 1, 2, or 3.

Weapons and Firearms

The possession or storage of any firearm, bow, other dangerous weapon, replica or facsimile firearms, ammunition, ammunition reloading equipment and supplies, black powder, paintball, and airsoft equipment is expressly prohibited in the Residence Halls and Michigan Tech Apartments.

Weapons, firearms, and live ammunition are not permitted in the residence halls (this includes paintball and airsoft equipment). Public Safety and Police Services offer weapons storage within their facility. Weapons must be unloaded when transported into the Public Safety and Police Services building or other designated weapons storage areas. Registration in a physical education course in archery carries automatic registration of the bow and arrows for the purpose of this policy.

If you are utilizing weapon storage at Public Safety and Police Services, they should be the last campus location you visit on your way out, and the first place you visit when you return. Specific information about the check-in and check-out process can be found on the Public Safety website.

Knives under three inches are permitted to be on your person and in the residence halls. Residents are also permitted to possess kitchen knives for preparing food as long as these utensils are used in the kitchenette and are stored in your room (we recommend you store them in a lockbox). Knives designed primarily for purposes other than kitchen use (such as switchblades, box cutters, or hunting knives) are prohibited from all buildings if they are over three inches.

Students living in Hillside Place may store their kitchen knives in their kitchen area.

For more information please visit the Department of Public Safety and Police Services.

For the complete Board of Trustees Policy, please see the following link:  Board of Trustees Policy 12.7. Weapons Registration

Missing Persons

The Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) and its accompanying regulations require that colleges must provide all on-campus resident students with the opportunity to confidentially register a name and contact information of an individual whom the campus should contact if the student is reported to be missing for longer than 24 hours. This information is maintained confidentially and will not be disclosed except in furtherance of a missing person investigation.

Please take a moment and register a confidential contact online at this form.

If you are interested in reading further about the Higher Education Opportunity Act, click here. 

Propping Exterior Doors

To ensure that the building is secure, it is vital that residents refrain from propping exterior doors. If you see a door that has been propped open because of damage or malfunction, please call DUTY Phone at (906) 487-3889.