Charlottesville - a small, sophisticated city nestled in the beautiful foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains - frequently ranks among the "best places to live" - a moniker it earns at least in part because of UVA's vibrant community of students, faculty, and staff.

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

• University Police Department (UPD)
• Ambassadors Program, a program implemented to enhance safety options and assistance, including walking escorts in neighborhoods frequented by students
• University Transit Service (UTS) bus system with an annual ridership of 3 million
• SafeRide shuttle during hours when UTS buses are not operating
• City and Regional Transit
• CavPool is the University's rideshare program
• 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 Fire Safety and Security 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 and other locations specified by law. The document is available on the University Police Department website. You may request a hard copy of the report from the University Police Department headquarters at 2304 Ivy Road by calling (434) 924-7166 or writing to police@virginia.edu.