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Housing Safety and Student Support

At CMU, we're dedicated to creating a safe and supportive environment where every student feels secure in their living space and community. We encourage you to explore the range of support resources available to you and get familiar with the safety features across campus.

Navigate to a specific section using the links or scroll down the page.

Gender inclusive housing

The Office of Residence Life, the Office of LGBTQ Services and Gender Equity Programs, and the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive and supportive community for all students. They focus on providing a comfortable environment for all students, including those whose gender identity and/or expression differs from the sex assigned to them at birth.

If you would like more information on housing for transgender and non-binary students and mixed-gender housing options at CMU, please contact:

  • Office of Residence Life: 989-774-3111
  • Office of LGBTQ Services and Gender Equity Programs: 989-774-3637

Care Advocate program

Care advocates are licensed mental health professionals located in each residence hall. For more than 25 years, the program has provided mental health support and programming to students lives on campus. Care advocates support a variety of mental health and emotional distress topics including; depression, anxiety, financial issues, academic concerns, alcohol use, grief and loss, roommate issues, sexual assault, suicide, eating concerns and more. Care advocates can help students transition to Central Michigan University successfully.

Tips for resolving conflict

Sharing a living space with others can be stressful and conflicts may arise. We know that roommate conflict can be uncomfortable to deal with. However, these types of situations provide us with opportunities to strengthen our communication skills, better understand our values and learn to compromise - all necessary, real-world skills.

Here are some tips for resolving conflict peacefully and successfully. 

Make time for an honest and open discussion

Conflict resolution always starts with communication. Ask your roommate(s) to set aside time to talk honestly and openly. Failing to address concerns head-on will only prolong the issue and build feelings of resentment and anger. Have all parties agree on a date and time to discuss any conflict, so you can each be prepared. This conversation is best had in person, not through text or social media. 

Focus on 'I' statements

During your discussion, focus on using 'I' statements rather than 'you' statements.

For example:

  • Use "I was disappointed and angry to see that I didn't have any food left in the fridge" over "You are inconsiderate and rude for eating my food." 
  • Try "It is difficult for me to sleep with loud noise" instead of "You are really rude when you have friends over late, you don't care that I'm trying to sleep."

By focusing on how you are feeling, rather than blaming or accusing others, you're focusing on the real issue. You also have a better chance of working together to solve the issue, rather than attacking each other.

Practice active listening

Active listening is the practice of listening to others with the intent to understand, not just the intent to respond. In practice, this looks like asking follow-up questions, attuning to the speaker's emotional state and keeping the focus on them, rather than making it all about you. Practicing active listening will help all parties keep a calm attitude and work to understand each other's position.

Take a break

You don't have to resolve all your issues in one sitting. Agree to take a break if things are getting emotional, heated or if discussions are not productive. You can always set aside a future time to continue the discussions.

Work with Residence Life staff to facilitate conflict resolution

Your residence assistant (RA) or inclusion assistant can help mediate conversations between roommates to keep conversations calm and productive. Work with your RA to set aside time to sit down with all parties and work together toward a solution.

Room changes are a last resort in dealing with roommate conflict, except in emergency situations. Review the room change policy for full details.

Report serious issue

If there is an emergency, first call 911.

The Office for Institutional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (OIDEI) and Sexual Aggression Peer Advocates (SAPA) provides resources for students to address concerns such as; crime, discrimination, harassment and other misconduct. These offices provides official reporting processes as well as support for victims. 

Safety and security

Campus safety

Our commitment to maintaining a secure and nurturing environment for students includes many campus safety resources and measures, like:

Community policing officers

The Central Michigan University Police Department Community Policing Program partners with students, faculty and staff to educate and inform about crime prevention measures, personal safety and issues that may affect safety on campus. We encourage students to take a proactive approach to safety and participate in available safety workshops.

Resident safety regulations

Each resident must be aware of and abide by safety and security regulations to protect themselves and their community.

  1. Keep your door locked: This is especially important when you are asleep or when you are leaving your living unit for a couple of minutes.
  2. Carry your CentralCard: Residents must use their CentralCard to tap/swipe into residential buildings.
  3. Never prop open an outside door: Propping doors allows people who aren't supposed to be in the hall access to the hall.
  4. Don't keep your ID with your keys: Those key chains with ID holders are a convenient way to carry your things, but if you lose your keys, you lose your ID. Whoever finds them knows where you live.
  5. Report missing keys immediately: Residents should immediately inform a front desk staff member or a paraprofessional staff member if their keys are missing.
  6. Immediately leave when a fire alarm sounds: When you hear the fire alarm, leave the building. It's a good idea and it's the law.
  7. Don't tamper with fire equipment: Tampering with smoke detectors, fire extinguishers or fire alarm pull stations puts everyone in the community in great danger and will result in disciplinary action.
  8. Report suspicious activity: Immediately report any suspicious persons or unescorted guests to the front desk or to the CMU Police.

Emergency preparedness

The unthinkable — fire, severe weather, violence, bomb threat — can strike at any time. It takes all of us working together to prepare for and take action during an emergency situation. You are your own best first responder. Emergency Management will help you PREPARE for and TAKE ACTION during an emergency.

Learn more about Emergency Management

Central alert

CMU is committed to ensuring timely communication in the event of an emergency. 

Get instant alerts and updates in case of campus emergencies through Central Alert and the Rave Guardian app. You can sign up along with parents/guardians to receive updates, ensuring peace of mind is just a click away.

Sign up for central Alert

Additional student support services