College life is many things for many people — fun, stressful, exciting, just to name a few — but one thing that’s always important is staying safe. To ensure a safe experience on Grounds, the University has several measures in place to protect the health and wellbeing of its students. In case of emergencies or threatening/suspicious situations, UVA’s Alert System sends emails, texts and notifications to all individuals associated with the University. These alerts are also visible on screens around Grounds and on University websites. The University sends out timely warnings of crime or attempted crime around Grounds so students can be aware.
UVA’s police department conducts regular patrols around UVA and has a substation on the Corner. The substation is also the headquarters of UVA’s Ambassador Program. The Ambassadors, while not law enforcement, assist and escort UVA students who require their assistance. The Ambassadors patrol various areas off-Grounds as well as the Lawn.
UVA has several “Blue Light” emergency phones around Grounds. These phones are linked to the police department and, thanks to their location service, police can respond to calls even if the caller is unable to speak. There are also over 600 security cameras around Grounds.
Numerous transportation options exist for students who need them. University buses normally operate until 12:30 a.m., and when school is in session they operate until 2:30 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. UVA’s “SafeRide” provides free door-to-door transportation for students who would otherwise have to walk alone at night or after bus service ends. Students can also call a cab thanks to UVA’s agreement with Yellow Cab, with the cost of the ride billed to a student’s account. There are also student-run walking buddy groups which will walk with students from one location to another.
Students can also report harassment, bias, violence and suspicious or threatening behavior via UVA’s Just Report It, an online incident reporting system. Another resource is HELP Line, which is a student-run anonymous organization that provides resources and confidential listening.
More information on safety at UVA: