Cache Valley Tops Safest in Nation List

The USU campus is a safe place for students, faculty, staff and visitors. In fact, the Cache Valley metropolitan area was ranked first in the nation as the "Safest Metropolitan Areas" in the 14th edition of the City Crime Rankings published by Morgan Quitno Press in Lawrence, Kansas, October 2008. The book is an annual reference of crime statistics and rankings which analyzes FBI data in six crime categories: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft.

According to the "Third Annual Most Secure U.S. Place to Live" rankings from Farmers Insurance Group of Companies, USU ranks as the seventh most secure place to live in the small town category. The rankings, compiled by database experts at Best Places, take into consideration crime statistics, extreme weather, risk of natural disasters, environmental hazards, terrorism threats and job loss numbers in 379 U.S. municipalities.

On campus, the USU Police Department is dedicated to keeping USU a safe and peaceful place to work, study and play. The USUPD was organized in 1981 for the safety and protection of the people and property associated with the university. Today, the department includes eight divisions: Patrol, Investigations, Dispatch, Security, Emergency Management, Fire Marshal and Parking and Transportation.

The USU Sexual Assault and Anti-Violence Office was established to create violence-free environments and healthy relationships at USU. This is done, in part, by developing strategies and initiatives aimed at preventing sexual assault and other forms of interpersonal violence for the well-being of both female and male students, faculty and staff.

SAAVI places major emphasis on educational programs for students, faculty and staff that bring attention to the reality of interpersonal violence. The program invites the USU community to take an active role in creating solutions for campus and community.

Equally as important, SAAVI provides help to anyone at USU who experiences violence (women and men, students, faculty, and staff). SAAVI advocates offer support to victims of sexual assault, rape, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking. USU is the only college or university in Utah with a full-time position devoted to sexual assault prevention.