What is Rave Guardian?
Rave Guardian is a free, personal safety app and service available to UAB students, faculty, and staff: anyone who has a UAB email address.

How does Rave Guardian work?
Once you download the app, register, and create a user profile, you may request a virtual safety escort on your smartphone from a "guardian" - a friend or family member (confirm that your guardians also download the Rave Guardian app) or UAB Police.

Input the amount of time you believe it will take for you to arrive at your destination and select a guardian to virtually escort you. Upon your safe arrival, deactivate the timer/check in. If you do not deactivate the timer before it expires, your selected guardian will be alerted and have access to your location.

You can use the emergency feature that turns your smartphone into a personal panic button that can call 911 or the UAB Police Department, depending on your location and proximity to campus. This feature is connected directly to the police and shares your location with UABPD.

You can also use the app to send tips or suspicious activity to UABPD.

How can I send an eyewitness tip?
Select the Emergency icon on your Rave Guardian home screen and select “Send a Tip.” UABPD will receive your message - which can include text and photos.

Who can use Rave Guardian virtual safety escort?
Anyone can access the generic Rave Guardian app, but only those with a UAB email address (@uab.edu or @uabmc.edu) can use the UAB-specific features, such as connecting directly to UABPD.

Note: Non-UAB contacts you wish to serve as your guardian can do so by downloading and creating a profile in the Rave Guardian app.

All UAB students, faculty, and staff should register in the app using their UAB email address in order to make use of all features.

How do I choose my guardian?
Choose a guardian based on who is available for each use and in a place/situation that will allow them to help if help is needed. Make sure your guardian recognizes and accepts your request to be a guardian each time you set your safety timer. If your guardian does not confirm his or her ability to help at that time, select another guardian, which can be UABPD.

Is it available by downloadable app?
Rave Guardian supports the Android and Apple platforms. Go to your “App store” on your mobile device and download it there. Create a full profile, and invite guardians and encourage them to download the app.

Does it require GPS?
No. GPS will allow for increased tracking capabilities but is not necessary to activate the timer.

Is Rave Guardian always tracking me?
No, your privacy is of utmost importance. You can be located only if you have asked for help, and Rave Guardian is enabled only when you choose to activate an alarm on your phone.

Will Rave Guardian let other people like my family or friends track me?
Guardians will know where you are only when you invite them to escort you (i.e., they will see a map with your location if your safety timer expires and you haven’t deactivated it or checked in), and UABPD will have access to your information only when you allow it. People cannot access your location during times when you have not invited them for a specific safety escort.

How does my profile information get collected and sent to UABPD?
You will opt in to this service and provide as much as you would like as part of the registration process. To maximize the full benefit of this service, your user profile should contain a current photo and accurate self-description. The more information you provide in your profile, the easier it will be for UABPD to locate you, if necessary. You can change your profile picture at any time.

What other college campuses use Rave Guardian?
American University, Howard University, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, University of Pennsylvania and others. For more info, visit raveguardian.com.

If I didn’t enter my phone number during registration, can I go back and enter it at a later time?
You can add/update profile information using the app. Click on your user name and enter your PIN to access the Basic Info page. Click on Smart911 Profile to access the My Account tab. You can edit/update profile information there.

Do I have to have a smartphone to make it work?
Yes. Rave Guardian supports the Android and Apple platforms.

Can I dial the Rave Guardian number from a land line?
No. It only works with Android and Apple smartphones.