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Division of Finance and Support Services
University Police Department

Bobcat Guardian

Bobcat Guardian is a free mobile app that creates a virtual safety network of friends and family.

The app works by allowing your trusted contacts to check in on you during periods when you’ve set a safety timer (such as walking across campus after dark or going on a first date). If the timer runs out before you deactivate it, the app will notify UPD and your “guardians” using information that you’ve already chosen to provide, along with your GPS location. You can also instantly call UPD directly from the app.

a student demonstrates how to use the Bobcat Guardian App as she walks across campus at night

Bobcat Guardian App Demonstration

Download the App

Instructions

Search for “Rave Guardian.”

Once you register with a @txstate.edu email account, the app will automatically use Texas State University Police Department as the default campus safety provider.

Features

  • Call button: direct connection to UPD with GPS location and safety profile information.
  • Safety profile: user-provided information such as address, medical conditions and other critical data. When a user requires assistance — on or off campus — their safety profile is displayed to UPD and to Smart911-enabled 911 centers nationwide.
  • Personal guardians and safety timer: users can identify UPD, friends, roommates and family as “guardians” when setting a Bobcat Guardian safety timer session. During a timer session, guardians and UPD can check the user’s status.
  • Tip texting: anonymous, two-way crime tip reporting through text and images.

Note: GPS-enabled devices such as smartphones and tablets are required for the full functionality of this app. You may need to adjust the GPS settings on your device, as the app may run down your battery.

Frequently Asked Questions about Bobcat Guardian

Expand FAQ List

  • Bobcat Guardian can allow police to determine your approximate location when your timer expires or you place a 911 call. However, it cannot be used to locate you without your knowledge. Your profile and location (if you have enabled the location service) are only available to police when your timer expires or you call 911.

  • The safety features of the app will work off campus; however, if you have an emergency at an off-campus location, you should dial 911. The tip reporting feature is for on-campus locations only.

  • You decide what you provide. The more information you put into the app, the more UPD officers will know if they need to assist you in an emergency. Good things to include are your address (home and school), your physical description and a recent photo. If you have a particular health issue or other personal safety concern, you can include that information as well.

  • Yes. The app defaults to sending anonymous tips. If you want to send a tip through Bobcat Guardian that will display your name, phone number and profile to police, you can uncheck the box at the top of the “Send a Tip” page.

  • Absolutely! This app is simply an additional resource.

    When in doubt, call 911 for emergencies. Texas State University Police Department is a primary public safety answering point (PSAP), meaning that we answer 911 calls from cellphones and traditional landlines on campus. We process emergency and nonemergency calls 24 hours per day, every day.

    For emergencies, dial 911. Our nonemergency number is 512.245.2805.

Acknowledgment and Release

I acknowledge that I am voluntarily supplying information in order to register for the Bobcat (Rave) Guardian service and agree to have this information transmitted to Rave Guardian for the purpose of registration. I understand that I do not have to provide all or any part of the requested information. However, if certain requested information is not provided, registration may not be possible. I understand the risks of providing this information. In addition, I release the Texas State University System, Texas State University, their administrators and employees from any liability for my voluntary submission of this information and assume all risk for any unintended release of information to third parties not associated as Rave Guardian member institutions.