Safety Measures
Security of and Access to Campus Facilities
Academic buildings generally are closed at predetermined times each evening. Opening and closing times are scheduled by the deans of the colleges. University Police Officers routinely check each building between 5:00 P.M. and 5:00 A.M. Campus Residence Halls are locked 24 hours a day and residents gain access with their student identification card. Residence hall rooms are secured by door locks. Safety and Security Checks are made periodically by residence assistances who contact the University Police as needed. Additionally, Resident Assistants are available on all residence hall floors, and a resident director lives in each residence hall on campus. If your ID card does not work, it should be reported to ID Center during their operating hours. After hours, contact the University Police Department. Report all lost or stolen cards immediately.
Blue Light Emergency Telephones
For your safety, there are 40 Emergency Blue Light Telephones located across the campus. These phones only require one button to be pushed and the call will ring directly into the University Police Communication Center. The Blue Light phone system automatically identifies the caller's location so the dispatcher can quickly dispatch an officer to assist the caller. These phones are located at residence hall entrances, in parking lots, and other strategic locations.
Campus Speed Limits
Our officers patrol and monitor traffic on campus and will write state citations to drivers who do not honor the posted speeds and traffic laws. Please remember that pedestrian traffic is always a consideration on our campus and the low speed limits are in place for the protection of both drivers and pedestrians.
Pedestrian Right of Way
VA law states that motor vehicles must slow down or stop to allow pedestrians to cross the street when they are in a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at or near an intersection. For safety reasons we suggest pedestrians be alert and use good judgment when crossing any street on campus. Try to make eye contact with the driver of the vehicle and always look both ways before stepping into the crosswalk. Do not assume that a vehicle can or will stop, even though you are at a designated crosswalk.