FAQ

How safe is Harvard's campus compared to other local colleges and open, densely populated campuses in general?

Each year, the HUPD reports three years’ worth of crime statistics to the Department of Education as part of the University’s compliance with the Clery Act (http://www.hupd.harvard.edu/clery-act-statistics).  Instead of comparing Harvard to other campuses, the Department is focused on what is occurring on our campus and what we need to do in partnership with the community to keep our students, faculty, staff, and visitors safe. Reported crime on Harvard’s campus is comparable to other Boston-area schools and the...

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What is the difference between the HUPD and the city police, like Cambridge, Boston Police, etc.? Are there any times when the Cambridge or Boston Police would become involved in a crime occurring on Harvard’s campus?

A major difference between the HUPD and other local law enforcement agencies is jurisdiction, or territory in which the law enforcement agency is able to exercise its law enforcement powers. With the exception of certain crimes, such as homicide, HUPD has primary jurisdiction over all crimes occurring on Harvard property. However, the HUPD maintains a good working relationship with the Cambridge Police and the Boston Police, and will coordinate with them if necessary in order to ensure the most appropriate response and to maintain a safe and secure...

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Can you expand on exactly what is meant by community engagement?

Officers are committed to preventing crime and disorder and focus their efforts on eliminating the underlying causes of those problems. To do this, officers actively engage in partnerships with the community to address and solve problems. Partnerships are the foundation of effective problem solving and crime prevention, and these partnerships go both ways. Through these partnerships and collaborative problem solving with community members and other agencies, officers deal with problems, prevent crime, and help...

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Where is HUPD located?

The HUPD headquarters is located at 1033 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA on the sixth floor. From the Smith Campus Center walk towards Central Square. 1033 Massachusetts Avenue is located just above Domino's Pizza.

The HUPD’s Longwood Campus office space is located at 90 Smith Street in Boston, MA. The office space ...

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Does the University offer any type of roadside assistance?

The University’s Motorist Assistance Program (MAP) provides free on-campus emergency road service to all faculty, staff, students, and visitors to the University on the Allston and Cambridge campus. This service offers assistance to motorists who need help charging a dead battery, changing a tire, or retrieve keys that have been locked inside a vehicle. If a more serious problem occurs, the MAP service will help in securing the appropriate assistance. The MAP service is available between 7:00 a.m. and midnight, Monday through Friday, except on...

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