Northeastern launches in-house safety app for 14 global campuses

Fourteen campuses. That is the number of locations Northeastern University now covers under its new official safety application, Husky Safe. The mobile tool launched to provide a unified resource for the university's global network, addressing the specific needs of a student body that frequently moves between sites in Boston, Oakland, London, and Silicon Valley.

Regina Coppa, the university's associate vice president of security technology and global site security, described the platform as a central repository for all safety resources. The application allows users to toggle between any of the 14 locations to view local weather, time, and specific campus maps. This feature is designed for rising sophomores preparing to move to Boston and for visitors who need quick access to parking information or local emergency numbers.

The app functions through three user profiles: Student, Faculty/Staff, and Guest. Students and staff members must log in using their Northeastern email credentials, while guests can access the tool without an account. The home screen provides one-tap connections to campus security, 911, and 999. It also includes a 24/7 non-emergency chat feature for reporting suspicious activity or receiving guidance from public safety officials.

Husky Safe was built in-house by IT Services and the Division of Global Safety and Policing rather than relying on an existing third-party solution. Zia Anderson, a mobile applications engineer at Northeastern, stated that internal development allowed the team to integrate specific safety tools already used by the university. This approach created an experience tailored to the campus community instead of forcing user needs into a generic, off-the-shelf product.

The project began in November 2024 as part of the university's ongoing security plan development. Coppa noted that the app was created specifically to match the mobility of the student network, allowing for tailored features as the global system evolves. The new tool works alongside SafeZone, a third-party app that automatically notifies campus security when a user requests a response. Northeastern is also expanding access to the Everbridge 360 app for location-based emergency alerts.

All three applications are currently available for download. Users can find Husky Safe, SafeZone, and Everbridge 360 in the Apple App Store and on Google Play. The university requires the organization code Northeastern for those accessing the Everbridge platform with a university email credential.