As part of its campuswide safety initiatives, The University of New Mexico has made the RAVE Guardian, branded Lobo Guardian, available to students, faculty and staff more than three years ago. This mobile app increases user safety by creating a virtual safety network of family and friends essentially turning one’s smartphone into a virtual blue light phone.

The Lobo Guardian app, which was updated twice this summer, gives the user the ability to contact UNM PD with the touch of a button in the event of an emergency. It also allows a user to have a two-way text communication with UNM PD. This can be done anonymously, or the user can let UNM PD know who they are. They can also use the camera to take and forward photos to the police through the app.

RAVE Guardian Timer

With this app you can:

  • Set a Safety Timer and Status -- Designate friends, family, and others as personal “Guardians” and establish Safety Timer Sessions with your Guardians. During the timer session, Guardians can check your status and location. If the timer is not deactivated before it expires, your Guardians will be notified and your phone’s last location and status will be displayed.
  • Easy Emergency Communication -- Make a direct emergency call to the UNM Police Department in Albuquerque that automatically delivers your Smart911 profile to the police response team. You can also call 911.
  • Report a Tip -- Send a tip anonymously to the UNM Police Department in Albuquerque.  

“The timer allows a user to have a friend or co-worker watch over them as they travel or engage in an activity for a period of time, said Byron Piatt, UNM’s emergency communication manager. "The update makes the app much more user-friendly, and provides notification to the user when their guardian accepts the charge of watching out for them. Users must update their apps to take advantage of the most recent updates.”

Here’s how it works

  • The user sets the timer, chooses their guardian and goes on their way. 
  • The guardian is notified that the user wants them to watch over them for a period of time. 
  • The user is notified when the guardian accepts the task. 
  • As time comes to an end, the user is asked if they’d like to extend the time, reduce the time, cancel the timer, or notify UNM PD. 
  • If time expires, the guardian is notified so that they can try to get back in touch with the user.

LoboGuardian is a joint effort between the Office of the President, the Dean of Students, Campus Safety, the UNM Police Department, and Information Technologies. This mobile phone safety app is a first generation technology and your feedback is valuable to us as RAVE continues to work to improve it. To provide feedback, send comments and suggestions about LoboGuardian, email Piatt at BPiatt@salud.unm.edu or LoboAlerts, loboalrt@unm.edu.

The RAVE or LoboGuardian app is available through Apple’s App Store and on Google Play for Android users.

For more information on campus safety initiatives see UNM Campus Safety.