Campus Safety Lighting Walk

Campus Safety Lighting Walk

For over 15 years, the Campus Safety Lighting Walk has been a proactive community tradition at UC Davis. A collaborative effort between Facilities Management and the UC Davis Police Department, the lighting walk invites faculty, staff and students to walk through campus to identify areas with insufficient light, non-functional lighting, or obstructed light sources. The lighting team uses this feedback to direct their efforts and make continued improvements across campus.

Join us for the next lighting walk

The next lighting walk will be in early 2027. The date will be finalized and shared in late November.

Why attend?

  • Make a Difference: Your observations will contribute to safety upgrades and future planning.
  • Free Food & Swag: Enjoy complimentary pizza (while supplies last) and snag free swag if you’re among the first 100 participants.
  • Volunteer Hours: Earn volunteer credit—perfect if you’re looking to meet service requirements.
  • Community Spirit: Join fellow Aggies in a fun and purposeful evening outdoors.

Investing in Safety

Outdoor lighting is a main component in the five-year, $20-million investment in campus security infrastructure made in 2023. The plan from this investment used feedback from lighting walks to help identify seven key areas for major pathway and exterior lighting upgrades. As of February 2026, all of these areas have been addressed and improved

Read more about the $20 million investment in outdoor lights, cameras, call boxes and building security upgrades

Lighting Walk News

A large group photo of staff and students in the quad with a cardboard cutout of the lightbulb mascot Larry.

Spotlight on 2026 Campus Safety Lighting Walk

  • by Judith Norkin
Students, staff, and community members headed out across campus on Jan. 21, 2026, for the annual UC Davis Campus Safety Lighting Walk, an evening event focused on identifying areas where lighting could be brighter or better maintained.
View all news articles

Safety Through Engagement

 The Facilities Management lighting team makes dozens of repairs and improvements to outdoor lighting every year. Many of these improvements are identified and prioritized through lighting walks. Feedback from the 2025 alone lighting walk event directly resulted in 115 repairs on campus.

Clare Shinnerl
FOA Vice Chancellor Clare Shinnerl

The lighting walk is an important chance for our teams to hear directly from the campus community about campus locations that need improvements

 

Group photograph at dusk: about 70 people on grass holding mascot banner, dog at right
Derek Benson, an electrician with UC Davis Facilities Management, leads a group of people walking together on a lighted pathway at night.
UC Davis staff pointing to an area on a campus map.
Night on a UC Davis campus walkway under lamplight with people walking and riding bikes.
Three people, including a UC Davis police officer participate in a lighting walk
UC Davis students and staff gathered in front of the Memorial Union for the UC Davis Campus Safety Lighting Walk.
Students and staff on campus after dark standing by a light pole.
Group walking on campus during Safety Lighting Walk
Volunteers participating in the 2023 Safety Lighting Walk

See a broken outdoor light? Report it!

If you notice an outdoor light that isn’t working:

  • Text (530) 574-4100 to report the broken light. 
  • Include the pole number (found on the light pole) and the location. 
    • For example: “Pole #123, north side of Shields Avenue near Lot 25.” 
  • If possible, attach a photo of the light. This helps Facilities Management quickly identify and fix the problem.