WVU students walk across the pedestrian bridge near the College of Business and Economics on the downtown campus in Morgantown, W.Va. in September 2016.
West Virginia University is among the top 40 safest campuses in the United States, according to the National Council for Home Safety and Security. Ranked 34th among 2,000 colleges assessed on campus safety, University Police protects more than 30,000 students and 6,000 employees.
“This recognition is a reflection on our campus community and the city of Morgantown,” said Bob Roberts, chief of University Police. He added the department is committed to keeping WVU safe and secure through community policing and prevention.
The WVU Alert system sends texts and emails to students during emergencies or closings due to inclement weather. University Police also engages with students and the rest of the campus community through social media updates.
In 2014, University Police partnered with WVU’s Student Government Association to bring a new smart phone app to campus as part of the WVU Alert system. The LiveSafe app has been used to increase the quality of life to prevent and solve incidents on campus and the surrounding communities. Through the app, users can contact University Police via text message, provides a Safe Walk feature and has an emergency feature that contacts UPD or 911.
"It takes the entire campus community to keep our students safe,” said Corey Farris, dean of students. “We will continue to encourage our students to take care of one another on and off campus and seek help where needed. We're fortunate to live in a community where students can feel safe and thrive."
Earlier this year, University Police received its highest ranking – 13th – in The Security 500 Benchmarking Survey, a validation of the department’s commitment to keeping WVU safe and secure through community policing and prevention. The department has finished in the top 20 in the rankings for four consecutive years.
“I certainly acknowledge the great contributions by our UPD staff, but the campus community really deserves the ‘pat on the back,’” said Roberts. “I can’t image a better community to serve or live in.”
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