5.2

Safety & Wellness

The University of Virginia strives to maintain a safe and secure environment.

University Police Department 

The University Police Department (UPD) is a nationally accredited, full-service department offering all the services of local municipal police, as well as many other services unique to an academic institution. By statute, the department has jurisdiction over University property, adjacent streets, and sidewalks. In addition, through an agreement with the Charlottesville Police, UPD has concurrent jurisdiction in the community surrounding the University. The department also has responsibility for enforcing University rules and regulations and work cooperatively with local, state, and federal law enforcement officials. UPD produces a range of crime prevention materials and offers crime prevention personnel to provide seminars and programs by request. Any criminal or suspicious activity should be reported to police by calling 911.

Fire Safety and Security

The University publishes an annual Fire Safety and Security report providing information on crime prevention, fire safety, the law enforcement authority of the University Police Department, and crime reporting policies. The report also provides statistics about crimes that occurred during the previous three years on Grounds, in designated areas near Grounds, and in other locations specified by law. The report is available online at the University’s Clery Act web site. Copies are available by request from the University Police Department by phone (434-924-7166) or email (police@virginia.edu).

Office of Emergency Management

The Office of Emergency Management helps the institution plan, mitigate, respond, and recover from emergencies, large and small. Emergency Management develops and communicates the University’s key emergency policies, strategies, procedures, and plans (including the Critical Incident Management Plan). The office champions personal readiness and resiliency and is responsible for preparedness training at UVA. Emergency Management collaborates with the City of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and other local, regional, state, and federal agencies on emergency planning.

During an emergency, Emergency Management provides timely and accurate information through many channels including:

  • UVA Alerts – SMS and email notifications of critical incidents that pose an imminent threat to the health or safety of the University community. Registration is available at UVA Alerts. You may also register for desktop alerts in case of emergency.
  • Note: Students, faculty, staff and UVA Health team members with a valid @virginia.edu account automatically receive email alerts. Such individuals who have registered their mobile phone number with the University during orientation or onboarding will also automatically receive text alerts.
  • In classrooms and public spaces, alert notices appear on LED and LCD screens.
  • Alert notices appear on the UVA homepage and the emergency homepage. The emergency homepage also displays the most current official information and instructions on how to respond. 
  • The Operations Status Board displays changes to the operating schedule caused by emergent events.

Threat Assessment Team

The Threat Assessment Team (TAT) helps preserve the safety and security of the University community in collaboration with other University and community services. It provides consultation in any circumstance in which there is concern that someone poses a danger in any situation that involves students, staff members, visitors, or others in the vicinity of the University community. TAT’s philosophy is to identify concerns in the early stages and to work constructively and collaboratively with all parties before problems escalate into violent outcomes.

Everyone in the University community is encouraged to seek help for themselves or others when there are safety concerns. Employees can contact the human resources office or the University Police. Students may discuss concerns with the Deans on Call or University Police. If for any reason these channels are not available, members should contact the Threat Assessment Team at (434) 924-8745.

Faculty Well-Being

The University prides itself on being a warm and caring community whose members look out for one another. The University’s goal is to foster an atmosphere of actively encouraging persons who appear to be troubled or distressed to seek help.

The Faculty and Employee Assistance Program (FEAP), a free, confidential resource for faculty, staff, and family members, helps address a wide variety of personal and work life issues. FEAP offers consultation, training, critical incident debriefings, workplace interventions, substance abuse education, and mediation services. Faculty can contact FEAP at (434) 243-2643. For mental health emergencies, a regional crisis line is available at (434) 230-9704, while 988 is a national service.

FEAP has been providing comprehensive, onsite employee assistance services to employees and their families since its inception in 1991. What began as a program for the University of Virginia in Charlottesville has expanded to include all of UVA plus many of the area’s employers as well. The program’s mission is to assist organizations to maximize employee productivity and to help employees identify and resolve personal concerns that may affect job performance. The program offers individualized, confidential assessments based on clinically sound standards, brief counseling, and appropriate community referrals as necessary. In addition, the program provides consultation to supervisors and managers to assist in addressing employee/team challenges.

Human Resources also offers the Hoo’s Well program. Created in partnership with the University’s health insurance provider, Aetna, this voluntary program is designed to help faculty members get healthy and stay healthy by improving their general fitness and reducing their risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other debilitating illnesses. Hoo’s Well includes programs to help individuals lose weight, improve their diet and nutrition, quit smoking, manage stress, and enhance their general health. Employees and spouses enrolled in the UVA Health Plan or UPG Anthem Health Plan are eligible to participate in Hoo’s Well.