Public Safety evolves at Oregon State

The safety of all students, faculty, staff and visitors is a top university priority. We invite all members of the OSU community to participate in dialogue sessions and community meetings as we collaborate to design public safety programs, including Corvallis campus law enforcement services, that provide for safety, serve the university community’s values and principles, and emphasize oversight, accountability, transparency, comprehensive training and ongoing community engagement. Oregon State is committed to advancing inclusivity, diversity and justice while working to end bias in law enforcement.

Public Safety Principles

As an institution of learning, we believe that interactions involving members of the Oregon State University community, the general public and public safety personnel should strive to follow an educational model, be responsive and non-escalatory, and be restorative, not punitive, whenever possible. 

Members of the university community should value and feel a strong sense of safety. Yet, each person’s experience with law enforcement differs. We seek to advance and support an environment within Oregon State University that is welcoming, compassionate and caring, understanding, trusting and diverse. View other principles (PDF) that the Public Safety Advisory Committee is observing in its work.

Corvallis Campus Public Safety Background

The provision of public safety on OSU’s Corvallis campus will undergo a transition when the Oregon State Police contract for licensed law enforcement services ends December 31, 2020.

While OSP has provided licensed law enforcement services at OSU for approximately 35 years, public safety within the university is advanced by many university departments, including the Department of Public Safety and contractors at major OSU athletics events. Other community well-being, public safety services and student support are provided by Student Health Services, the Survivor Advocacy & Resource Center, Counseling & Psychological Services and other OSU departments.

The university also collaborates with the Corvallis Police Department, the Corvallis Fire Department and other local public safety agencies.