Cal Poly launched Mustang Safe, on Sept. 19, to replace the existing campus safety app, Rave Guardian. This change comes after Cal Poly introduced Rave Guardian two years ago in January 2022.
According to the Cal Poly Police Department website, the app provides “a more holistic approach to campus safety and wellbeing.” The website’s report also states Cal Poly students, faculty and staff will need to remove the Rave Guardian app before they can download the Mustang Safe app.
Mustang Safe offers similar features to Rave Guardian, with additional campus-specific integrations. It includes the core safety features that Rave Guardian offered, such as directories to call 911 or the Cal Poly Police Department (CPPD), links to student resources and has location sharing options.
The Rave Guardian app, launched at Cal Poly in January 2022, was purchased by Motorola Solutions in December 2022, according to university spokesperson Keegan Koberl. Motorola Solutions also made another product, App Armor, available to Cal Poly. Cal Poly used App Armor, a customizable personal safety application, to develop Mustang Safe.
“App Armor allows us to create a branded application with better functionality and improved user experience,” Koberl said.
With the new Cal Poly-specific app, Mustang Safe now offers additional map visualizations, offline emergency plans, shuttle and transit mapping and property registration tools.
Regarding dispatch and monitoring features, Mustang Safe introduced a feature called “Virtual WalkHome,” which allows Cal Poly Public Safety to monitor a student’s travel home. Additionally, a “Friend Walk” is available for students to temporarily share their location with a friend via the app during their walk home.
There is also a feature to send an “I’m OK!” message to selected contacts and a live chat option with CPPD.
According to Koberl, upcoming plans for Mustang Safe include collaborating with campus partners to share on-campus resources, partnering with additional off-campus resources and integrating with the Cal Poly Maritime Academy campus.
“The safety of campus community members is a priority for the university, and we will continue to assess our tools and resources for campus safety to ensure they are meeting the needs of our students, employees and visitors,” Koberl said.
