Wildcat Ready: Safety resources and tips for students, faculty and staff
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 11, 2025) — At the University of Kentucky, your safety and well-being are our top priorities. Being Wildcat Ready means staying alert, looking out for one another and knowing the resources available to you.
As the semester moves forward, the UK Police Department wants to remind students, faculty and staff of some important steps you can take to stay safe and connected.
Walk safe
- Walk with confidence, stay alert and trust your instincts.
- Always look both ways, use well-lit walkways at night and consider traveling with friends.
- If you’re walking alone, use the SafeZone app’s Check-In feature to request a virtual police escort.
Consent and respect
- Consent must be clear, mutual and ongoing. Silence or lack of resistance does not equal consent.
- If someone is unable to say “yes” because they are under the influence, they cannot give consent.
- Look out for your friends — step in if you see someone in a risky situation.
Sexual assault prevention and support
If you or someone you know experiences sexual assault, UK has confidential resources and reporting options to ensure you are supported every step of the way.
- VIP Center — Support, advocacy and healing. A 24/7 crisis line is available at 859-257-8573.
- UKPD Special Victims Unit — Provides compassionate response and assistance for survivors navigating the criminal justice system. Call 859-257-UKPD (8573).
Remember: It is never the survivor’s fault.
Resources to stay connected
- SafeZone app: Direct connection to UK Police and safety features.
- Wildcab Voucher Program: Provides eligible students, each semester, with up to 10 Wildcab vouchers worth $10 each. Vouchers are valid Thursday-Sunday, 9 p.m.-5 a.m., within Fayette County.
- UK Alert: Our campus emergency notification system. Update your preferences in myUK and download the SafeZone app today.
- Emergency Response Guide: Provides guidance for responding to any type of emergency.
Being Wildcat Ready means preparing today so you’re confident tomorrow. Together, we can make the University of Kentucky a safer and stronger community for all Wildcats.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.