CU Safety Alert Updates

CU Safety Alert

CU Advisory: Power outage on northwest area of campus and traffic lights 

[12:30 p.m. | Sept. 24, 2026]

To the CU Boulder community:

This message is being sent pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, a federal law requiring timely warning notification of crimes committed on or near campus.

The University of Colorado Boulder Police Department (CUPD) is investigating two separate reports of hazing involving conduct that could have resulted in serious bodily injury. As both cases are currently under criminal investigation by CUPD, the university cannot release further information about these cases at this time. CU Boulder does not condone acts of hazing and any dangerous activities that threaten a person’s safety or wellbeing. These and all reported incidents of hazing will be rigorously investigated by CUPD and referred to a student conduct process.

Anyone with information regarding hazing at CU Boulder is encouraged to contact CUPD at 303-492-6666. Reports can also be made through the CU Boulder Safe app or with CU Boulder’s Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution. While anonymous reporting is available through the Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution form, it may limit the university's ability to take action. 

If additional information becomes available, updates will be posted on the CU Boulder Alerts website.

Prevention tips

  • Learn to identify hazing activities. To help determine whether an action may be considered hazing, ask yourself:
    • Could this cause embarrassment, humiliation, degradation or other harm?
    • Are people being pressured or coerced into participating because of their membership in a group?
    • Could someone face exclusion, retaliation or harm if they choose not to participate?
  • Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, it probably is. You can seek confidential support through OVA or report concerning behavior to Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution.
  • Intervene when it is safe to do so. If possible, interrupt the behavior or redirect the situation before it escalates.
  • A person’s willingness to participate in or consent to activities does not inherently mean such conduct is not hazing.
  • Ask for help. If you are unsure about behavior you observe, talk with a trusted resource such as a residence life student leader, faculty member, staff member or organizational advisor.
  • In an emergency or whenever someone's health or safety is at risk, call 911 immediately.

What does “hazing” mean?

In accordance with state law and the federal Stop Campus Hazing Act, CU Boulder defines hazing as, “Any action or situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers the health, safety, or welfare of, or causes a risk of bodily injury to, an individual for the purpose of initiation, participation, admission into, or affiliation with any organization or CU Boulder group. Hazing includes but is not limited to: any abuse of a mental or physical nature, forced consumption of any food, liquor, drugs, or substances, any forced physical activity that could adversely affect the health or safety of an individual, any activity that would subject the individual to embarrassment or humiliation, or any forced violation of CU Boulder policy, and/or local, state, or federal law.” 

Campus Safety Information

The CU Boulder Safe App includes resources such as texting dispatch, virtual walk home and more. 

If you have experienced a traumatic incident, you have options for services and assistance. For free and confidential support, contact the Office of Victim Assistance (OVA) at 303-492-8855 for 24/7 phone support. OVA is a resource for those impacted by a traumatic experience, witnesses and those supporting impacted individuals.

The CU Boulder Police Department is committed to ensuring that individuals' identities are not the basis for suspicion; only the reported behaviors and circumstances are taken into consideration when investigating a case.

How to Receive Alerts

Anyone with an @colorado.edu email address is automatically registered to receive emergency and safety alert emails. To improve your situational awareness, it is also recommended to opt in with a mobile number during class registration or onboarding as a new employee.

If you're in Boulder regularly, sign up for city of Boulder alerts to ensure you’re receiving the latest emergency updates as they happen.

The Boulder Office of Disaster Management distributes emergency alerts for significant incidents, including natural disasters, via a system called Everbridge. Community members with Boulder addresses are automatically opted-into the Everbridge system. Those who live outside of Boulder but want to be aware of emergency notifications in the area must sign up for BoCo Alerts. 

Receive Alerts 

How to Find Information in an Emergency

In addition to receiving alerts directly to your cellular phone or email, a number of resources are available to keep you informed.

Find Information 

Alert Levels

 

  
CU Emergency Alert

What it is:
Emergency notification to the campus when there is a confirmed immediate threat to the safety of those on campus, or near campus in areas of high student populations, or if there is a change to the university’s operating status due to weather, etc.

When we do it: 
Emergency threats include natural disasters, active harmers, severe weather, time-sensitive life safety concerns, campus closures, delayed starts and other on-campus emergencies.

 

  
CU Safety Alert

What it is:
Email notification to the community of a crime committed on or near campus (per Clery Act guidelines) that provides increased community awareness of ongoing or dangerous situations.

When we do it: 
CU Safety Alerts include criminal homicide, sex offenses, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson, hate crimes, domestic violence, arrests and referrals for drug, alcohol or weapons violations.

 

  
CU Advisory

What it is:
Notification to the campus that does not rise to the level of an emergency notification or safety alert but is high-profile enough that our campus community benefits from awareness.

When we do it: 
CU advisories are for non-emergency events/incidents on campus or both emergency and non-emergency events off campus that could potentially impact campus, such as extended power failures, building evacuations, sudden road closures or other traffic/construction impacts on or near campus, as well as police activity near campus.

  
Follow @CUBoulderAlerts and @CUBoulderPolice on Twitter and enable push notifications for the latest alerts, warnings and advisory information for CU Boulder.