Campus safety

Safety and transportation

All of Northeastern University’s campuses are protected by Northeastern Public Safety, which includes a full-service and dedicated police department, emergency management team, and international security division.

Since the Mills and Northeastern merger in 2022, the university has made significant upgrades to the safety and security infrastructure of the Oakland campus, including new technology, enhanced protocols, additional public safety staff, proctored security stations in residence halls, comprehensive training, and safe transportation options.

Oakland Department of Public Safety

Our Oakland campus includes a Department of Public Safety (DPS) staffed by trained safety professionals. These dedicated officers manage a centralized operations system that has helped them foster one of the safest campuses in the Bay Area. Officers monitor the campus 24/7, patrol the grounds, respond to emergencies, secure campus buildings, and provide escorts to cars or residence halls after dark. Northeastern public safety and student affairs teams train students, faculty, and staff on safety resources throughout the academic year.

Learn more about the Oakland Department of Public Safety

Emergency notification system

Northeastern Oakland utilizes a campus-wide notification system in the event of an emergency. All students are automatically signed up to receive email, voicemail, and text message alerts to ensure they receive timely notifications. Faculty and staff opt in to the system so the entire campus community is notified in any emergency situation.

Learn more about our emergency alert system

Emergency management 

Northeastern University has a dedicated emergency management team that works with the Oakland campus to offer ongoing emergency management preparedness trainings for staff and faculty. An Emergency Guidebook outlines all resources available to our community members and instructions on what to do in an emergency.

Learn about our emergency management resources

Transportation

Getting around off campus

You can use our Mills College at Northeastern shuttle to access local stops and Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) locations. The shuttle runs seven days a week during the academic year and connects students with many of the exciting cultural and social events in the Bay Area.

City buses stop right outside the front gate to our campus. The AC Transit EasyPass you get during orientation allows you to take the bus to explore the East Bay, San Francisco, and the Peninsula. It’s easy and convenient, and taking the bus helps you lower your environmental impact.