College Safety

police officer on campus

Safety is a Priority

The safety of students, faculty, staff and visitors at NOVA is a top priority. We want to create and maintain a safe, secure environment where learning can flourish. Each campus is staffed with police and public safety officials, emergency preparedness plans and a system for notifying students of campus closures due to inclement weather or other safety issues.

Call 911 in life-threatening emergencies.

Phone: For non-emergency concerns or request for service call NOVA Police at  703.764.5000
Online: Contact NOVA Police with concerns, to provide compliments or complaints.

Stay Informed

NOVA Alert is an alert broadcast system that allows the College to contact you during an emergency (school closings, weather, crime, etc.) by sending text messages to your cell phone and email (school, personal, other).

LiveSafe allows you to report tips to or request emergency services anonymously from NOVA Police; send your location to NOVA Police; let friends or family monitor your movements; share your concerns and suggestions with NOVA Police and have critical safety information at your fingertips.

Getting the app is fast, easy and FREE!

  1. Visit the iTunes or Google Play Store and download the LiveSafe app (blue shield icon).
  2. Choose NOVA from the list of schools.
  3. Fill in your name and contact info, so we can reach you in the event of an emergency.

If you have any questions about LiveSafe, check out   www.LiveSafeMobile.com  or call NOVA Dispatch at   703.764.5000.

The Office of Wellness and Mental Health helps to address concerning behavior by providing support to students, faculty, and staff in need of intervention. It meets the requirements of federal, state and VCCS policy to help prevent campus-based violence. To find out more or to submit an online report about concerning behavior Make a Report.

The Office of Title IX offers support to members of the NOVA community who have been impacted by sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating/partner violence, domestic violence and/or stalking. To learn more about these services or make a report, visit Office of Title IX.

Consult the resources below for more information on College policies on drug and alcohol use, weapons on campus, disciplinary procedures, and other safety and security information:

Emergency Preparedness

An emergency can occur at any time without warning. The Office of Emergency Management and Safety (OEMS) provides guidance, direction and training to the College and its faculty, staff, students and visitors in the prevention, protection, response and recovery from all incidents or events. OEMS also provides information of campus emergencies and what you should do.

Emergencies on Campus

Know how your campus will respond in the event of an emergency and find out what you should do.

For fire or life-threatening emergencies, call 911. Otherwise, call 703.764.5000.

These reports include information about crime, safety policies and helpful community resources.

Call boxes are in some campus locations. Call boxes are marked by a blue light. Upon call box activation, a NOVA officer will be promptly dispatched to your location. Remember to push the button to talk and then release the button to listen.

If you have safety concerns, police escorts are available at any time during business hours (7:00 am – 11:00 pm) to help you to or from your car parked on controlled NOVA property. Call 703.764.5000 for a police escort.

The following are some external resources to assist you:

The Federal Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act of 2000 requires all colleges to issue a statement advising the campus community where information on registered sex offenders can be obtained. The State Police website www.vsp.state.va.us provides information about registered sex offenders. Once you are on their website, click on Sex Offender Registry.

If the College is closed or delayed in response to inclement weather or other circumstances, a notice will be sent via NOVA Alert and will also appear on the NOVA home page. Other status information is located at the Emergency Preparedness page.

Contact your local campus police office for lost and found services.