The most important campus safety resources at BYU are the SafeWalk feature in the BYU app, the Y-Alert emergency notification system, BYU Police dispatch at 801-422-0911, and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) for mental health support. Pair those with everyday habits like locking your doors and staying aware of your surroundings, and you'll be ready for most situations before they come up.
The Omni sits at 701 N 500 W in Provo's North Park neighborhood, about a mile west of campus. Each fully furnished apartment has four private bedrooms, two bathrooms, and its own washer and dryer, so residents come home to a space built around their own routines.
The Omni Guide to Campus Safety at BYU
BYU has a lot of safety infrastructure, from 24/7 dispatchers who monitor campus cameras to emergency phones placed along campus walkways. Most students only learn about these resources after they need one, so a few minutes of setup at the start of the semester goes a long way.
What Numbers Should I Save in My Phone?
Knowing who to call, and when, saves valuable time in a stressful moment. These are the numbers worth adding to your contacts before you need them.
| Resource | Number | When to Call |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Services | 911 | Any life-threatening emergency or crime in progress, on or off campus |
| BYU Police Dispatch | 801-422-0911 | Police, fire, or medical help on campus, available 24/7 |
| BYU Security | 801-422-2222 | Non-emergency campus safety questions and general assistance |
| BYU Police Victim Advocate | 801-669-6557 | Support after a crime, including assault or abuse |
| BYU Counseling and Psychological Services | 801-422-3035 | Counseling appointments and after-hours crisis support |
| Provo Police Non-Emergency Dispatch | 801-852-6210 | Non-urgent reports off campus, like a theft you discover later |
| 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline | 988 | A mental health crisis, any time of day |
Save them now, and you won't have to search for the right number when every second counts.
How Do I Use SafeWalk to Get Across Campus at Night?
SafeWalk is a feature in the BYU app that lets BYU Security virtually follow your route while you walk, and it can also be used to request an in-person escort. It's one of the most useful tools on campus, and one of the most underused.
Here's how a virtual SafeWalk works:
- Open the SafeWalk feature in the BYU app and choose to start a virtual SafeWalk, request an in-person SafeWalk, or call for immediate emergency help.
- Confirm your phone number and select your destination on the map.
- Wait for a text confirming your SafeWalk has started, then begin walking while a security dispatcher monitors your progress.
- Tap "I've Arrived" once you safely reach your destination to end the session.
- If you stop unexpectedly, leave your route, or forget to end the session, a dispatcher will call and text you, and if you don't answer, a police officer will be sent to your last known location.
A red emergency button on the screen also calls dispatch directly, so help is one tap away the entire time. Make sure your phone is charged before a late walk, since the feature only works while your phone does.
How Do I Make Sure I Get BYU's Emergency Alerts?
Y-Alert is BYU's official emergency notification system, and it's the first place accurate information will come from during a campus emergency. Enrollment is mandatory for students, but it only works if your contact information is current.
Y-Alert Sends Texts, Emails, and Calls
Y-Alert messages arrive as texts from the number 89361, voice calls from 801-422-0911, and emails from BYU Police dispatch. Saving that short code in your phone makes it easy to recognize an alert the moment it comes in. BYU also runs test alerts from time to time, so a drill message isn't cause for alarm.
Update Your Contact Information on MyBYU
You can check or update how you receive Y-Alerts on cas.BYU.edu by opening your personal information and selecting the contact tab. The same page lets you add emergency contacts, which is worth doing if you've changed phone numbers or want someone back home listed.
Once your details are current, you'll know about any serious campus threat as quickly as the university can send it out.
Where Can I Get Help With Mental Health or After a Crisis?
Safety isn't only physical. BYU offers several confidential resources for students dealing with stress, a mental health crisis, or the aftermath of a traumatic experience.
CAPS Offers Walk-In Crisis Support
Counseling and Psychological Services, located at 1500 Wilkinson Student Center, provides individual counseling, group therapy, and crisis support for eligible students. Students in crisis can walk in during business hours and usually meet with a therapist within about an hour, and an after-hours counselor is available by calling 801-422-3035 and following the recorded prompts.
The BYU Police Victim Advocate Helps After a Crime
BYU Police has a victim advocate who supports students affected by crimes like assault, stalking, or dating violence, reachable at 801-669-6557. Officers who take reports of these incidents also share the advocate's contact information and other campus resources.
Title IX and Sexual Assault Survivor Services Provide Confidential Support
BYU's Title IX Office, at 801-422-8692, handles reports of sexual misconduct and discrimination and can help with academic accommodations. Sexual Assault Survivor Services, at 801-422-8028, offers free, confidential advocacy for students.
You never have to navigate a hard situation alone, and reaching out early often makes the next steps much easier.
What Everyday Habits Keep Me Safer Around Campus?
Most campus incidents are preventable with a few simple habits. BYU Police regularly points to theft and awareness as the areas where students can make the biggest difference.
- Lock your apartment and your car every time. Even a quick run to a friend's place is enough time for an unlocked door to become a problem.
- Invest in a strong bike lock. A cheap cable lock is easy to cut, so a sturdy U-lock is worth the extra few dollars.
- Stay aware of your surroundings. Keep headphones at a lower volume at night so you can hear what's around you.
- Meet new people in public places. Getting to know someone in a group setting first is a smart habit for dates, roommates, and marketplace sales.
- Know where the emergency phones are. Emergency phones around campus, including along the south campus trail near the Botany Pond and near the Cannon Center, connect directly to a dispatcher.
- Take advantage of free training. BYU Police offers crime prevention lectures and Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) classes, along with an online personal safety guide.
- Check the crime log. BYU publishes a crime and fire log, along with an annual security and fire safety report each fall, so you can stay informed about what's happening on campus.
None of these take much effort, but together they cover the situations students run into most often.
Who Do I Call If Something Happens Off Campus?
BYU Police patrols campus and the streets immediately surrounding it, but neighborhoods farther out, including North Park, fall under the Provo Police Department. Knowing the difference helps you reach the right people faster.
For any emergency off campus, call 911. For something non-urgent, like reporting a stolen bike or a car break-in you discover the next morning, call Provo Police non-emergency dispatch at 801-852-6210. If you ever need an emergency room, Utah Valley Hospital sits at 1034 N 500 W, just a few blocks north of The Omni on the same street.
A quick look at which agency covers where you are means you'll never have to guess in the moment.
Feeling Prepared Makes Campus Life Easier at The Omni
Between SafeWalk, Y-Alert, BYU Police dispatch, CAPS, and a handful of smart daily habits, BYU students have a strong safety net once they know where to find it. Setting everything up at the start of the semester means you can focus on classes, friends, and everything else Provo has to offer.
Back at The Omni, your apartment is set up for low-hassle living, with a private bedroom of your own, an in-unit washer and dryer so laundry never means a late-night trip to a shared room, a private balcony, and free off-street parking. Every four-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment comes fully furnished, so settling in is simple from day one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does BYU have a safety escort service?
Yes. SafeWalk, a feature in the BYU app, lets BYU Security virtually monitor your walk to a destination you choose, and it can also be used to request an in-person escort.
How do I sign up for BYU emergency alerts?
Y-Alert enrollment is required for all BYU students. You can update how you receive alerts on my.BYU.edu under your personal information and contact settings.
What number should I call for BYU Police?
Call 911 for any emergency. BYU Police dispatch is available 24/7 at 801-422-0911 for police, fire, or medical help on campus.
Where can BYU students get mental health support?
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), at 1500 Wilkinson Student Center, offers counseling and walk-in crisis support during business hours, plus an after-hours crisis counselor at 801-422-3035.
Who should I call if something happens near The Omni?
Call 911 for emergencies. For non-urgent issues off campus, contact Provo Police non-emergency dispatch at 801-852-6210, since the North Park neighborhood is outside BYU Police's regular patrol area.
What is the closest hospital to The Omni?
Utah Valley Hospital, at 1034 N 500 W, is just a few blocks north of The Omni and has a full emergency room.