Public Safety
Police – Safety and Security:
The campus is protected by its own police officers, 24 hours a day all year, including holidays and breaks. The UMW PD is a full-service law enforcement agency with a range of programs from Adopt-A-Hall, which offers crime prevention tips and personal security seminars, to free licensed RAD (Rape Aggression Defense) courses. The PD also operates an on-campus safety escort in the evenings, and students may request a ride from outlying parking areas or an escort to their residence hall.
Fire Safety:
UMW has fire detection and alarm systems in all buildings. Smoke detectors are in the hallways, stairwells, and rooms of residence halls. Each hall has three fire drills each semester to ensure that everyone knows how to be safe during a fire emergency. Fire safety violations such as false alarms or tampering with fire extinguishers are taken very seriously and may result in severe disciplinary action such as suspension or loss of housing privileges in addition to responsibility for the cost of damages.
Personal Safety
Rave Guardian:
Turn your phone into a personal safety device. Download the free Rave Guardian safety app to check in with family, friends, campus safety or others you trust to help you stay safe both on and off campus.
With this app you can:
- Set a Safety Timer: Notify people you trust to check in on you if you are alone or in an unfamiliar place.
- Manage and Message Your Guardians: Invite family, friends or others to be your Guardian, and communicate with them within the app, as needed.
- Send Emergency Communication: Call safety officials directly for help if you are in trouble and send text tips – including photos – if you see something suspicious.
Rave Guardian is available for download for iPhone and Android devices.
Further information on Rave Guardian is available at
UMW Alerts:
Sign-up to receive emergency notifications by phone, text, and/or email.
Blue Lights:
Emergency telephones are provided throughout campus. The exterior emergency telephones are on posts with blue lights; the indoor devices are red phones without dials that are mounted to the wall. All calls are automatically forwarded to the Emergency Communications Office.
Campus Emergency:
Call 4444 from any campus telephone or (540)654-4444 from cell phones. If off campus, it is best to dial 911.
Safety Escort:
The Safety Escort Service provides transportation for any University of Mary Washington student or staff member from one point on campus to another during hours of darkness. To request a safety escort, contact the University Police by using one of the emergency Blue Light phones on campus or call at (540)654-1025. Students are encouraged to pre-program this phone number into their cell phones. This service also operates from the campus parking deck as well as off-campus parking lots by calling from the parking lot/parking deck emergency phones. During evening hours call x1129; or call x1025 at other times.