The ODU Safe app is the university’s official safety app that offers critical emergency information and resources. Download the free ODU Safe app today from the or .
With ODU Safe, you can access the following features:
With the tap of a button, you can directly connect to ODU Police for on-campus emergencies or Norfolk Police for off-campus emergencies. Utilize the chat feature to quickly communicate with ODU Police dispatch at any time.
While you are on campus, tap the button to simultaneously send your location to and call ODU Police. ODU Police will receive your location in real-time and talk with you on the phone.
Prevent dangerous situations by submitting a tip—anonymously or associated with your profile—and have real-time chat interactions with a member of the ODU Police dispatch team.
Send your location in real-time to a friend or ODU Police so they can watch you as you travel to your destination. They’ll watch you and can trigger a call to emergency services if necessary. It is as simple as sending a text message to a family or friend and they will be sent a link used to follow you. Once you reach your destination, you can simply disconnect.
This feature includes links to important safety-related resources as well as the “I’m OK!” tool which will send your location and message indicating that you are okay to a recipient of your choosing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The app is available for use by all current ODU students, faculty, and staff who have a MIDAS ID and password. A guest login is also available for members of the greater community with many of the same features as the main app.
No. Your device is never tracked unless you reach out to request emergency assistance.
No, ODU Police does not have the ability to track or monitor the location of the app users. Any voluntary location that is shared will only be available during that specific call or chat session.
Yes, the Safety Companion/Friend Walk feature in ODU Safe allows you to send your location in real-time to a friend so they can watch you as you travel to your destination. They will watch you and can trigger a call to emergency services if necessary. They do not need the ODU Safe app to watch you. You will be able to send them a link via text.
Yes, when you submit an In-App Crime Tip, you are not required to enter any of your personal information, just the details of the tip you are submitting. Additionally, when you enter a “Real-Time Chat Tip Report to ODU Police" your conversation is anonymous. When you do so, you will not be able to submit photos or videos like you can when you submit an In-App Crime Tip.
Tips submitted are monitored 24/7 by ODU Police dispatchers. In case ODU Police requires further information on any tips, dispatchers will follow-up and live chat with the user. Please do not submit emergency requests through the app, please call us at 757-683-4000.
We recommend that you allow notifications from the ODU Safe app. This will alert you about important safety information.
Yes, you can Report a Tip whether you are on or off campus; however, if you have an emergency at an off-campus location, you should dial 9-1-1. If you send a tip that is not on campus, the information will be forwarded to the off campus law enforcement agency.
ODU Public Safety and AppArmor (the app's developer) take user privacy extremely seriously. By default, at no time will this app collect your personal data. However some features may have been modified to collect personal information to better ensure your safety. These features are clearly marked in-app; if it doesn't say so, the feature won't collect personal information. If you don't feel comfortable sending specific information to ODU Police, avoid using that feature.
If collected, at no time will your information be shared with any third parties.
Have a question about the ODU Safe app? Contact ODU Emergency Management for assistance.