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FAQs

Review these commonly asked questions to find answers concerning UPD services and procedures. Still have questions? Contact us.

The department is open 24/7 and provides services year-round.

The department is located at 992 Elmer Prince Drive. The building’s lobby is open 24/7, where visitors can access the medication disposal kiosk and a phone to contact the department’s dispatch center.

The department operates with up to 49 state-certified and sworn police officers at any given time and a small group of campus safety officers.

According to WV State Code §18B-4-5 (a, c):

(a) The governing boards may appoint qualified individuals to serve as campus police officers upon any premises owned or leased by the State of West Virginia and under the jurisdiction of the governing boards, subject to the conditions and restrictions established in this section.
...
(c) It is the duty of a campus police officer to preserve law and order:
(1) On the premises under the jurisdiction of the governing board; and
(2) On any street, road, or thoroughfare, except controlled access and open country highways, immediately adjacent to or passing through premises, to which the officer is assigned by the president of the institution.

According to WV State Code §18B-4-5 (c):

(c) It is the duty of a campus police officer to preserve law and order:
...
(B) The officer has and may exercise all the powers and authority of a law-enforcement officer as to offenses committed within the area assigned;
(C) The officer is subject to all the requirements and responsibilities of a law-enforcement officer;
(D) Authority assigned pursuant to this subdivision does not supersede in any way the authority or duty of other law-enforcement officers to preserve law and order on such premises;
(E) Campus police officers may assist a local law-enforcement agency on public highways. The assistance may be provided to control traffic in and around premises owned by the state when:
(i) Traffic is generated as a result of athletic or other activities conducted or sponsored by the institution; and
(ii) The assistance has been requested by the local law-enforcement agency; and
(F) Campus police officers may assist a local law-enforcement agency in any location under the agency’s jurisdiction at the request of the agency.”

Officers receive training on a regular basis to keep their skills refined and sharpen their responses in case of emergency. Trainings focus on de-escalation tactics, crime prevention and response, active shooter response, eliminating biases and diversity, equity and inclusion.

The University Police Department enforces West Virginia State Code on University-owned property. The Morgantown Police Department enforces both West Virginia State Code and City of Morgantown municipal codes within the city limits of Morgantown.

Campus safety officers serve as additional resources and are not designed to replace existing police officers. Campus safety officers are non-sworn civilian officers who assist with non-emergency needs, including patrolling, tracking activity and monitoring buildings. Campus police officers continue to serve and protect campus by responding to emergency calls and performing traditional police officer duties.

  • In an emergency, please call 911. You can also report emergencies to our 24/7 dispatch center by calling 304-293-3136.
  • Use the LiveSafe app’s messaging feature to report non-emergency incidents through text, photo, video and audio.
  • For all other inquiries:
    • Call 304-293-2677 to be connected with our office for administrative questions.
    • Submit a message through our general contact form.
    • Submit suggestions, commendations or complaints through our feedback form.

Stay calm and be prepared to answer basic questions about the incident, including:

  • Your name and phone number
  • The type of emergency
  • Details about the emergency, such as number of people involved and their conditions, physical descriptions of those people or descriptions of vehicles
  • The location of the emergency and any identifying information, such as street address, road intersections or nearby landmarks

Do not hang up at any point during the call. Continue to talk with the dispatcher and answer their questions until the dispatcher tells you to hang up.

While you may not directly speak with University Police when calling 911, your call will reach University Police dispatchers and officers if the incident is occurring on WVU’s campus.

When you call 911, you will be connected with a nearby Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) dispatcher. The dispatcher will collect the appropriate information and will direct your call to the appropriate agencies, including University Police.

If the incident you are reporting occurred on campus property, contact our 24/7 dispatch center by calling 304-293-3136. If the incident occurred off campus, please use MECCA’s non-emergency line by calling 304-599-6382.

Please dial 911 immediately to get assistance.

The WVU Alert system is a three-tiered notification system that utilizes text, email, social media and other communications channels to notify our University community about emergencies and incidents on or near campus.

The system’s three tiers – WVU Alert, Campus Warning and Community Notice – help differentiate between incidents with varying levels of urgency. WVU Alert notifications are sent when campus is in immediate danger and will be broadcasted through as many communication channels as possible. Campus Warnings notify our community of less pressing incidents that may still pose a threat, and Community Notices share information on recent incidents that don’t pose immediate danger.

Students are automatically registered to receive emails through the WVU Alert system, and they will receive text messages if they have provided a cell phone number to the University. Students are encouraged to add their phone number to their account if it has not already been provided.

Students can also add their parents’ contact information so they may receive alerts. Only students can add this information through their account.

Faculty and staff are not automatically registered for the system and should add their contact information to receive these messages.

All students, faculty and staff should check their account annually to ensure their contact information is updated and correct.

The University Police Department and WVU crisis communications team follow a set of criteria to determine what communications channels are necessary to use depending on the level of urgency of the incident. In addition to email and text messages sent through the WVU Alert system, communications channels include:

Please call our 24/7 dispatch center at 304-293-3136 during regular administrative hours (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

Under the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (“Clery Act”), WVU reports campus crime data annually. By Oct. 1 each year, this data is made public and can be viewed online.

You can also view the Crime and Fire Log, which provides information on incidents within the past 90 days.

WVU and the state of West Virginia have a medical amnesty policy to encourage others to call for help when someone is in danger of a drug or alcohol overdose. Bystanders and those affected by drug or alcohol overdose may be safe from prosecution and may not face charges under the Campus Student Conduct Code if they seek medical assistance in an emergency.

Even if you or the person overdosing have committed a drug or alcohol violation, you may not be prosecuted for that violation if you report it during a medical emergency. In any situation, do your part to save someone’s life. Please always dial 911 for help.

WVU takes sexual assault reports very seriously and is committed to maintaining a safe environment for our campus community. Resources are available through WVU’s Title IX office to discuss reporting options.

To report to the University Police Department, call our 24/7 dispatch center at 304-293-3136.

To report to the Office of Equity Assurance, contact James Goins Jr. at 304-293-5600 or james.goins@mail.wvu.edu or file a report online.

Fingerprinting services are available to the public every Tuesday and Thursday from noon to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The cost is $5.00. We accept cash only, and it must be exact change. If you are sending more than 10 people for fingerprinting, please contact our department ahead of time by calling 204-293-3136.

The University Police Department offers a free safety escort service to all students, faculty and staff. Police officers and campus safety officers are available to walk with you until you reach your destination. To request a safety escort, please call our 24/7 dispatch center at 304-293-3136.

University Police officers routinely patrol campus to ensure your safety, including residence halls and all three areas of the Morgantown campus. We patrol 24/7, 365 days per year.

We offer welfare checks if you are concerned about your student’s wellbeing. Please contact our 24/7 dispatch center by calling 304-293-3136.

We’re happy to help. To request a motor assist, please contact our 24/7 dispatch center by calling 304-293-3136.

For questions about WVU parking tickets, please contact the Parking Management Office at 304-293-5502 or pay online via the Parking Portal. For questions about City of Morgantown parking tickets, please contact the Morgantown Parking Authority at 304-284-7435 or pay online at parkmpa.com.

Individuals are responsible for compliance with all local and state laws governing alcohol consumption. Beverage kegs, excessive alcohol and games involving the consumption of alcohol are not permitted in or around the stadium. For additional information, please refer to WVU Sports tailgating policies.

WVU is committed to fostering a safe, inclusive environment for all. If you are in immediate danger, please dial 911 or contact our 24/7 dispatch center by calling 304-293-3136. Additional resources are available through the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

To view available positions within the University Police Department, visit careers.wvu.edu. For more information about officer requirements and the hiring process, visit the Join Our Team page.