Mercer UniversityHealth & Safety Summary

Written by Janelle Richardson

Janelle Richardson

Hometown

Seattle, Wash.

Major

English

View all previous student authors

Mercer has a relatively small and compact campus, so campus police have a fairly tight rein on its security. Mercer police—also known as MERPO—patrol campus 24/7, and there are a few blue-light emergency stations in the more secluded areas of campus (like the apartment parking lots) that students can access at any time. Many students are comfortable walking through campus at night, though it is prudent to be conscientious and even better to be accompanied by a friend if possible. MERPO will give students rides across campus if they are concerned with their safety. There are occasional incidents of car break-ins, robberies, or suspicious characters cutting through campus grounds, but they are usually promptly reported by MERPO through mass student e-mails.

Mercer’s Student Health Center is the primary provider of health services for all Mercer students, regardless of insurance coverage. It is staffed Monday through Friday by two RNs and a physician who sees patients by appointment. The Health Center is convenient but only provides basic care for colds, minor injuries, and the like. The physician can write prescriptions, but the Health Center cannot administer them. For other, more drastic health matters, the Health Center will generally refer patients to seek treatment elsewhere.