Darden - University Safety

Charlottesville is a beautiful small city (population 40,000) nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in central Virginia. It is frequently at the top of popular rankings for the “best places to live.” The presence of the University of Virginia’s vibrant community of students, faculty and staff is one of the primary reasons that this area thrives. Of the many back-to-school safety tips articles you will read, tips for moving to college are often forgotten. Check out our top 10 college safety tips.  

The safety and well-being of our students is among our highest priorities at the University of Virginia. We are committed to assisting all members of our community in providing for their own safety and security. Our safety program includes:

• The University Police Department (UPD), a professional police department that provides the same level of service offered by a municipal police department along with other services unique to an academic institution. UPD participates in a mutual aid agreement with other local departments and a cooperative patrol agreement with the City of Charlottesville. 
• Ambassadors Program, a service that provides extra eyes and ears on the streets and assistance including walking escorts in neighborhoods frequented by students
• University Transit Service (UTS) bus system that has an annual ridership greater than 3 million
• SafeRide shuttle program during hours when UTS buses are not operating
• Yellow Cab Charge-a-Ride program available with student ID
• Educational seminars, bystander training, and self-defense classes
• More than 500 blue light emergency phones
• Lighted pathways and ongoing inspection of buildings and the Grounds
• Security cameras strategically placed around the Grounds
• Card key system for access to residence halls at all times and other buildings during designated hours
• UVA Alerts emergency notification system, sirens and public address system
• Fire alarm and suppression systems
• Security and General Safety Committee, an advisory group made up of students, faculty, staff, and parents

Federal law requires the University to publish an  Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. The report includes information on crime prevention, fire safety, University Police law enforcement authority, crime reporting policies, and statistics about crimes that occurred during the previous three years on Grounds or in designated areas near the Grounds as well as in other locations specified by law. The document is available on the  University Police Department web site. You may request a hard copy of the report from the University Police Department headquarters at 2304 Ivy Road by calling +1-434-924-7166 or writing to police@virginia.edu.