Campus Safety
Campus Safety Alert
The Department of Public Safety is asking the Jaguar community to be aware of safety at all times as a number of vehicle break-ins has been reported recently.
If your vehicle has been impacted or you suspect a break-in has occurred, here are the steps you should take:
Ensure Your Safety: First and foremost, make sure you are safe. If you see anyone suspicious around your vehicle, do not confront them.
Check for Damage: Inspect your vehicle for any signs of forced entry or damage. Look for broken windows, locks, or other alterations.
Report to Authorities: Contact local law enforcement to report the break-in. Provide them with all relevant details, including your vehicle’s make, model, and any belongings that were stolen.
Document the Incident: Take photos of the damage and any items that were stolen, if applicable. This documentation can be helpful for both the police report and insurance claims.
Notify Your Insurance Company: If you have comprehensive or collision coverage, report the incident to your insurance provider. They can guide you on the next steps.
Secure Your Vehicle: If possible, secure your vehicle to prevent further incidents. You may need to replace locks or windows, or consider additional security measures such as an alarm system.
Monitor for Identity Theft: If personal items were stolen (like a wallet or documents), keep an eye out for potential identity theft.
Please contact the Department of Public Safety at 708.534.4900 with questions and/or concerns.
Governors State ranks as one of the safest public university campuses in Illinois. Safety is a big priority here. And it shows.
Visit Campus Safety and Security and compare us to any college or university in the region.
To ensure your safety, the campus is patrolled 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by a team of State of Illinois certified police officers. You’ll see them in their marked cars, on bicycles, and on T3 motion devices. If you find yourself on campus after dark or late at night, a campus police officer can escort you to your car.
Across the campus, you’ll find emergency phones – either red or yellow – that automatically call the campus police department 24 hours a day. All you have to do is pick up the receiver.
GovState also maintains an Emergency Response Team that reviews emergency preparedness plans and procedures, and implements new procedures to ensure a safe and secure campus.
In the case of emergencies such as severe weather, an automated system calls students, faculty, and staff – both campus phones and cell phones – as well as text messages.
Campus Safety Resources
- Campus Map
- File
- Emergency Management
- Environmental Health and Safety
- Report an Incident
Hours of Operation
- Monday–Friday, 6 a.m.–10:30 p.m.
- Saturday*: 7:30 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Sunday**: Noon–9 p.m.
*Unless a prior request is made in writing to the Police Department from staff or faculty, the Faculty Office Center will be secured on the weekends.
**On Sunday, entry to the university can be made from A, B, C, and D main entrances only.
Holiday Closings
- New Year's Day
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- Presidents Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Thanksgiving Day Holiday
- Christmas Eve
- Christmas Day
- New Year’s Eve
Campus Emergency Alert Procedures and Protocols
Should the university experience an emergency or need to close, the campus
community will be notified via the following methods:
GovState Website
Regroup System
Notification by phone, text, and/or e-mail per your directory information on file with the university.
Emergency Closing Center
The Emergency Closing Center reports closings to major radio/TV stations.
University Campus Status Hotline
Additional details about each of the notification methods are available at www.govst.edu/emergency.
Procedures for reviewing and updating your contact information on file with the university are described at the Emergency Notification Regroup.
Stay informed and stay safe. Make sure your contact information is up to date so you never miss a critical alert.
October 1, 2025, Edition—Reporting years 2022, 2023, and 2024 Campus Security Act of 1990 (The Clery Act)
In 1991, the U.S. Congress passed the Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act, which requires colleges to report the three previous years of statistics on murder, sex offenses, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and motor vehicle theft, and statistics on arrests for drug and alcohol violations and weapons violations.
On October 1998, President Clinton signed an amendment renaming the act the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and requiring that all crimes motivated by hate or bias be included in the statistics.
Specifically, the Clery Act requires the following criminal offenses to be reported and tallied.
- File
"Thank you for taking the time to visit our webpage. The men and women of the Governors State University Police Department are true professionals committed to providing police services at a higher level. We are devoted to excellence in customer service and view every contact as an opportunity to build positive relationships. Our goal is to exceed community expectations by taking the extra steps and going above and beyond what is expected."
Sincerely,
- James R. McGee Director & Chief of Police
Mission and Values of the Campus Police Department
The Campus Police Department proudly serves Governors State University. Our mission is: To protect life and property; to identify and prevent any criminal activity that may occur; to apprehend and assist in the prosecution of any person who commits a crime on our campus; and to seek to identify community problems and solutions to those problems, to improve the overall quality of life in this community. The department values to accomplish our mission are: to provide a safe environment in which the community can work and live; to provide service to all in a manner that demonstrates respect and dignity for each person; to recognize that we serve a diverse community; to treat all persons fairly and equally; and to provide a strong commitment for the development of our employee's knowledge, training, abilities, and professionalism.
The Campus Police Department
The Department is located at C1375 in the main building. The department provides a full range of police services 24 hours a day, throughout the year. All Campus Police Officers are certified by the State of Illinois following Illinois Compiled Statutes, 110 ILCS 67-/15-45 (11). General services provided include mobile and foot patrol, criminal investigation of all misdemeanors and felony crimes committed on campus, traffic enforcement, crash investigation, emergency response for all types of emergencies, and crime prevention programs.
The Department has an excellent working relationship with all federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, which assures the delivery of professional police services. The Department has Combined Voluntary Cooperation and Operational Mutual Aid Agreements with the Will County Sheriff's Department, and local law enforcement agencies. All agencies are available to assist upon request. Communications and coordination with all agencies are maintained via computer, radio, and telephonic communication capabilities.
Governors State University's priority is keeping students safe. This page provides two resources to help you stay informed and proactive about campus safety. Click on the links below:
Additional information regarding emergency services and awareness are below. Governors State University is not responsible for the content presented on these third-party websites.
- Chicagoland Expressway Congestion Map
- Chicagoland Area Weather
- Extreme Cold Weather Guide Chicagoland
- Illinois Secretary of State
- State of Illinois Government Agencies
- D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse, Resistance and Education)
- Illinois State Crime Stoppers
- Will County State's Attorney's Office
- Identity Theft Information
- Victim/Witness Services
- Will County Sheriff
- Active Arrest Warrants
- Order of Protection Information
- Will County Circuit Court
- Online Ticket Payments
- Traffic Court Information
- Ticket Processing Information
- Illinois Department of Corrections
- Illinois Sex Offender Information
- Will County Circuit Court: circuit_clerk@willcountyillinois.com
To make sure the GovState campus is safe and easy to navigate, we have parking and traffic regulations. They provide clear and consistent procedures and enforcement guidelines to keep you safe, whether you're walking or driving. These regulations are in effect and enforced throughout the year. The Police Department reserves the right to amend the regulations as deemed necessary by the Chief of Police. During special events, certain areas may be designated as reserved parking zones. Reserved parking is approved by the Chief of Police on a case-by-case basis. Violators will be ticketed.
Overnight Parking
Overnight parking is available for students, staff, faculty, and Prairie Place visitors. Advise the Police Department if your vehicle will be parked overnight. You will need to provide the vehicle description, license plate, time of arrival, time of departure, and contact information. For all overnight parking use West Lot 2 Parking Lot.
Visitors and Guest Parking
All GovState parking lots are available to visitors and guests except Prairie Place and other designated parking areas. All university parking and traffic regulations are enforced by the GovState Police Department.
Disabled Parking
GovState is compliant with all Americans with Disabilities Act regulations. Parking spaces are reserved in all parking lots for disabled students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Use is restricted to vehicles that:
- Display the current official disabled State license plate.
- Display the current official State disabled parking window placard.
- Display the current university’s temporary disabled pass issued by the GovState Police Department.
If you need a temporary disabled pass for GovState parking only, contact the Police Department and have documentation from a physician stating the reasons for the request. The pass is good for up to 14 days after issuance. If a temporary disabled parking pass is required longer than 14 days, it is recommended that you apply for a temporary handicap placard through the Secretary of State's Office.
Violation of Disabled Parking Regulations results in a state-mandated $250 fine per occurrence.
- Unauthorized use of parking places reserved for persons with disabilities: ILCS 11-1301.3
- Unlawful use of disability plate or placard: ILCS 11-1301.3 (a-1)
Hybrid / Fuel-Efficient Vehicle Preferred Parking Program
At GovState we support the use of fuel-efficient vehicles with specially designated parking spaces:
- To see if your vehicle qualifies as a fuel-efficient vehicle please visit GreenerCars Ratings. Be sure to check this site frequently, as the list changes.
- To park in these spaces your vehicle must be on the list.
- Please note that parking in the fuel-efficient spaces is based on a first come first serve basis and there is no guarantee of a preferred space.
- Any vehicle parked in the Hybrid/Fuel Efficient parking space that is not on the list will be issued a parking citation.
Location of Fuel-Efficient Vehicle Parking
- West Lot 1 has 6 spaces
- East Lot 1 has 6 spaces
- F wing entrance has 3 spaces
If you have any questions, please contact The Department of Public Safety at 708.534.4900
Our number one goal is to ensure that our campus is a safe place to study and work. We strive for this ideal via a "Community Oriented Policing" philosophy, meaning our community always comes first.
Fingerprinting
The Police Department offers fingerprinting services to GovState community members on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m.–9 p.m. The cost of the service is $20 with a check made payable to Illinois State Police. Applicants must present a valid picture ID. Results take approximately four to six weeks.
Lost & Found
Lost or found items of value (e.g., checkbook, credit card, cell phone, jewelry, cash, or license plates) are held in the Police Department. Lost and found items are also kept at the Welcome Center. Contact them at 708.534.4363. Neither the Police Department nor the university is responsible for lost and found items. Items turned in to an academic department must be forwarded immediately to the Welcome Center or Police Department.
Safety Escort Service
If requested, the GovState Police Department provides a visual or walking escort to and from any location on campus. To request an escort, contact the Department of Public Safety at 708.534.4900, or use any red emergency phone located inside the university or blue-light phone located throughout the campus.
Shuttle Service
During the academic year, the GovState Police Department provides shuttle-bus services for the students, staff, and faculty. The shuttle schedule is reviewed each semester to provide the best services to the GovState community.
At Governors State University you'll find the regulations, rules, streets, and parking lots well marked. The following regulations are in effect at all times.
Abandoned Vehicles
Abandoned vehicles will receive a warning notice on the windshield. After three days, the unclaimed vehicle will be towed, ticketed, and stored at the owner’s expense. To retrieve a towed vehicle, the owner must pick up a tow release form from the Police Department. If a vehicle must be left on campus, please let the Police Department know at 708.534.4900.
Accidents
If you are involved in an accident on GovState property, call the Police Department immediately at 708.534.4900. Failure to report an accident to police authority is a criminal act.
Parking Citations and Appeals
Parking citations on campus are issued by GovState Police Department under the Illinois Vehicle Code 625.
Fines and Payments
Will County Court House
Office of the Circuit Clerk
14 W. Jefferson Street
Joliet, IL 60432
815.727.8592
Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
For speeding, no insurance or expired registration citations, the court location is 712 West Street, Peotone, IL 60468. For a suspended license, suspended registration plate or driving under the influence citations, the court location is 14 West Jefferson Street, Joliet, IL 60432.
Fire Lanes and Handicapped Parking Zones
Parking is not permitted at any time in fire lanes or designated handicapped parking zones. When unloading a passenger and/or packages, use loading-zone parking spaces with hazard lights flashing for a maximum of 15 minutes. Citations will be issued for any unattended vehicles parked in these areas.
Notify the Police Department at 708.534.4900 when unloading in an unauthorized parking zone. In the event of an emergency, vehicles will be towed at the owner's expense.
Repairing of Vehicles on Campus
Performing major repairs and oil changes is prohibited on campus. Minor repairs, such as fixing a flat tire, replacing a battery or replacing light bulbs are permitted.
Speed Limit
Campus speed zones are clearly posted and strictly enforced.
Theft and Damage
GovState does not assume responsibility for theft and/or damage to vehicles or their contents while on campus. Vehicles should be locked at all times and valuables stored out of plain view.
Driver Responsibility
Rules and regulations are enforced 24 hours a day. Vehicles must be operated and parked in a manner that assures the safety of other vehicles and pedestrians. Parking is permitted in marked stalls only. The entire vehicle must be within the boundary lines of the parking space. You are responsible for finding a legal parking space. Snow or other severe weather conditions are not valid reasons to disobey the regulations. Also, it is unlawful (ILCS 6-304) to permit an unauthorized person to drive while on GovState property.
Liquor and Drugs
Any person who operates a vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, narcotic drugs, prescribed medicine with restrictions or opiates is subject to arrest.
GSUXpress Shuttle Schedule
The GovState Police Department provides shuttle bus services for the students, staff, and faculty. The shuttle schedule is reviewed each semester. Please note, the shuttle service may be delayed during inclement weather.
Departs GSU Shuttle Stop | Arrives at Metra | Arrives GSU Shuttle Stop | Arrives Prairie Place | Arrives GSU Shuttle Stop |
7:15 AM |
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| 7:20 AM | 7:25 AM |
7:30 AM | 7:40 AM | 7:55 AM |
|
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8:00 AM |
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| 8:05 AM | 8:10 AM |
8:40 AM | 8:50 AM | 9:00 AM |
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9:10 AM |
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| 9:15 AM | 9:25 AM |
9:30 AM | 9:40 AM | 9:50 AM |
|
|
10:20 AM | 10:30 AM | 10:40 AM | 10:45AM | 10:55 AM |
11:10 AM |
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| 11:15AM | 11:25 AM |
11:30 AM | 11:40 AM | 11:50 AM |
|
|
11:55 AM |
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| 12:00 PM | 12:10 PM |
12:30 PM | 12:40 PM | 12:50 PM |
|
|
12:55 PM |
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| 1:00 PM | 1:10 PM |
1:20 PM | 1:30 PM | 1:40 PM |
|
|
1:40 PM |
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| 1:45 PM | 1:50 PM |
2:15 PM |
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| 2:20 PM | 2:30 PM |
3:15 PM | 3:30 PM | 3:40 PM |
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3:45 PM |
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| 3:50 PM | 4:00 PM |
4:15 PM | 4:30 PM | 4:40 PM | 4:20 PM |
|
4:45 PM |
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| 4:50 PM | 4:55 PM |
5:20 PM | 5:30 PM | 5:40 PM |
|
|
6:00 PM |
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| 6:05 PM | 6:10 PM |
6:30 PM |
|
| 6:35 PM | 6:40 PM |
6:50 PM | 7:05 PM | 7:15 PM |
|
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7:20 PM | 7:30 PM | 7:40 PM |
|
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7:45 PM |
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| 7:50 PM | 7:55 PM |
8:20 PM | 8:30 PM | 8:40 PM |
|
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8:45 PM |
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| 9:00 PM | 9:05 PM |
9:20 PM | 9:30 PM | 9:45 PM |
|
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9:50 PM |
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| 9:55 PM | 10:05 PM |
10:25 PM | 10:30 PM | 10:40 PM |
|
|
Departs GSU Shuttle Stop | Arrives Prairie Place | Arrives Metra | Arrives GSU Shuttle Stop | Arrives Prairie Place | Arrive Super WalMart (Richton Park) | Arrive GSU |
8:15 AM | 8:20 AM | 8:30 AM | 9:00 AM |
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10:00 AM | 10:05 AM |
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| 10:25 AM | 10:45 AM |
11:15 AM | 11:20 AM | 11:30 AM | 12:00 PM |
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|
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12:10 PM | 12:15 PM |
|
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| 12:35 PM | 12:55 PM |
2:00 PM | 2:05 PM* |
|
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| 2:25 PM | 2:45 PM |
3:20 PM | 3:25 PM |
|
|
| 3:45 PM | 4:05 PM |
4:10 PM | 4:15 PM | 4:25 PM |
| 4:35 PM |
|
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* Last pick up for Prairie Place for Walmart will be at 2:05 PM
Departs GSU Shuttle Stop | Arrives Prairie Place | Arrives Metra | Arrives GSU Shuttle Stop | Arrives Prairie Place | Arrive Super WalMart (Richton Park) | Arrive GSU |
9:15 AM | 9:20 AM | 9:30 AM | 9:50 AM |
|
| |
12:00 PM | 12:05 PM |
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| 12:25 PM | 12:45 PM |
1:15 PM | 1:20 PM* | 1:30 PM |
| 1:50 PM | 2:10 PM | 2:30 PM |
4:00 PM | 4:05 PM |
|
|
| 4:25 PM | 4:45 PM |
5:15 PM | 5:20 PM | 5:30 PM |
| 5:50 PM |
|
* Last pick up for Prairie Place for Walmart will be at 1:30 PM
Shuttle Rider Rules and Expectations
- Treat your driver with respect.
- Profanity is unacceptable.
- Upon request, you must show a valid GovState myONE Card to ride the shuttle.
- No stops will be made other than those listed on the current schedule.
- Disruptive individuals may be refused service and referred to the Office of the Dean of Students.
- During busy times, drivers are only able to wait two minutes for passenger pick-up.
Transportation Links of Interest
- GovState–University Park Metra Station Information
- Metra Electric District Line
- PACE Suburban Bus District
For more information, contact:
GovState Department of Public Safety
C Building 1375
708.534.4900
Frequently Asked Questions
GovState is equipped with emergency telephones that automatically ring the Police Department 24 hours a day. The emergency telephones are either yellow or red. Push and release the red button to activate a two-way emergency response call to a Public Safety Telecommunicator. Press the black button to release (terminate) the call.
Indoor Ivory Phone and Red Emergency Phone Dialing 4900 on any ivory-colored phone inside the university automatically connects you to the department without dialing or going to room C1375 24 hours a day.
If requested, the GovState Police Department can provide a safety escort to and from your vehicle or class. To request an escort, contact the Police Department at 708.534.4900, or use any red emergency phone located inside the university or the blue-light phones located in each parking lot.
Vehicle assistance includes jumping a dead battery, lockouts, and contacting a local service station for additional assistance. The police cannot assist with changing flat tires or opening locked vehicle doors equipped with side-curtain airbags. Lockout assistance requires a standard waiver form completed and signed by the owner of the locked vehicle before any service.
Follow this link: Directions and Campus Maps.
Apply online at the Department of Human Resources.