Campus Safety and Awareness
The WVU Police Department is dedicated to maintaining a safe and secure learning environment for all students, faculty, and staff. A key part of this mission is helping our campus community understand how to respond to potential safety concerns, including active shooter situations and other suspicious behaviors.
WVU Police offer both online and in-person training on how to handle various campus safety scenarios.
Visit police.wvu.edu to learn more about available programs.
Explore the Active Shooter Training section for guidance on how to stay safe during critical incidents.
Report any suspicious activity through the Report a Threat page.
Additional materials on campus safety prepared by WVU Police, including specific safety tips and training, will also be provided on our class eCampus page.
Safety and Emergency Review
While WVU is considered a reasonably safe campus, it’s important to remember that emergencies—such as acts of violence or natural disasters—can occur anywhere and at any time. The following information outlines how we will respond to an emergency situation during class.
Receiving Alerts
Make sure you are signed up to receive WVU Alerts on your phone.
During class, phones should remain on vibrate unless you are designated to keep yours on to receive emergency notifications.
If an emergency occurs, call 304-293-2677 or 911 and remain on the line until instructed otherwise.
Evacuation Preparedness
In the event of a fire alarm or evacuation, we will exit through (insert route here) and gather at (insert designated location).
If a member of our class has mobility limitations and a direct exit to the outside is not available, that individual should proceed to the Emergency Assistance Area (EAA) as outlined in the Building Emergency Plan (BEP).
Trained rescue personnel (Morgantown Fire Department) will assist with evacuation from the EAA.
Those in Buildings with Labs (Only)
Chemical/Biological/Radiation Spill-Small
Employ departmental containment/spill procedures in the event of a release that does not pose a serious threat to people or to the environment.
Chemical/Biological/Radiation Spill-Large
If release cannot be abated with on-site containment procedures, evacuate the building and call 911. Calmly state:
Your name
Nature of the emergency
Building and exact location of the release
Quantity and type of hazard released (Chemical/Biological/Radiation).
Your phone number
Chemical Emergency First Aid
If someone has been splashed with the chemical, immediately flush the contaminated area with water. Assume the person needs medical assistance unless told otherwise by someone knowledgeable about the chemical.
Quickly try to determine what was spilled; however, do not come into contact with the substance or inhale fumes.
Violence/ Active Shooter
If possible, call 911. Remain calm and answer the dispatcher’s questions.
If safe to do so, give a good description of the violent individual: height, weight, sex, race, approximate age, clothing, name if known, location or direction of travel.
An individual must use his/her own discretion during a violent/active shooter event whether to run to safety or shelter in place; however, best practices for an active shooter situation are listed below:
If Suspect is Outside Your Classroom/Office
Stay inside the classroom/office.
Close and lock the inside door to the room; barricade the door with furniture.
Do not huddle together – separate.
Close the blinds, turn off the lights, remain quiet and move behind available cover.
Stay on the floor, away from doors or windows, and do not peek out to see what may be happening.
If you have an outside window and see red and green cards in the room, put the appropriate color (green for okay and red for in danger) in the window to alert responders to an active threat in your area.
If Suspect is in Close Proximity
Lie motionless and pretend to be unconscious.
Do not attempt to apprehend or interfere with the suspect except for self-protection.
An individual must use his/her own discretion about when he/she must engage a shooter for survival.
Remember:
Run
Hide
Fight
For other emergency and safety information go to the WVU Police website.