CU Boulder Bolsters Safety with Locks, App Amid Campus Concerns

BOULDER, Colo. — The University of Colorado Boulder has launched a series of campus safety upgrades, including emergency locking devices in 39 large classrooms across 23 buildings, as announced by the Division of Public Safety on March 27, 2026. The devices, installed by the Security Services team and Infrastructure & Resilience, activate to lock classroom and exterior building doors during imminent threats like an active attacker. When an instructor presses the button, CU Boulder Police dispatch is instantly notified, dispatching officers who are the only ones able to unlock the space, while allowing anyone inside to exit.

The rollout begins this spring, with 17 classrooms in 10 buildings activated through summer 2026. These measures respond to broader campus security needs, building on the October 8, 2025, launch of the CU Boulder Safe app, available free to students, faculty and staff on iOS and Android. The app centralizes emergency alerts, push notifications and tools like Virtual Walkhome, where dispatchers monitor solo walkers at night, and Friend Walk to share locations with trusted contacts.

Additional app features include text-to-dispatch for non-emergencies and quick links to CU Boulder Police, @CUBoulderAlerts, @CUBoulderPolice, BoCoAlert and Boulder Police Department resources. CU Boulder emphasizes the locking buttons are strictly for life-threatening situations, urging 911 calls for medical emergencies. These enhancements reflect ongoing efforts to foster a resilient community on the flagship Boulder campus, home to over 37,000 students amid Colorado's growing Front Range population pressures.