Safety and Security

Our Department of Public Safety provides 24/7 campus coverage.

The small community atmosphere both within the university and the town of Waynesburg provide a pleasant and peaceful place to live. Even so, we remain cognizant of current challenges and wide-ranging safety concerns.

When you begin your journey here, be sure to add the Department of Public Safety (DOPS) phone number (724-852-3303) to your phone contacts so you’re always connected. Our campus security personnel are available at all times on Waynesburg’s campus.

Sign up for Emergency Alerts

Waynesburg University utilizes Everbridge Emergency Alert System to send alerts to our entire campus community within minutes through various platforms such as email, cell phone calls and text message. 

Follow these simple steps to update your profile:

1. Log into MyConnect
2. Click on the “Everbridge” Icon 
3. Click “edit” where it says “my profile”
4. Add your cell number in the appropriate place and any other contact information you’d like to provide
5. All University community members should update their Everbridge contact information each year following these steps

The safety and wellness of our campus community is our highest priority. Information about critical events or issues on campus need to be communicated to you in a timely and seamless fashion. In the event of an emergency, cell phones are the best way to reach you. Please include your cell phone number in your profile so that we may reach you instantly with text messages or calls as needed.

Contact Campus Safety & Security

For emergency assistance, public safety personnel can always be reached by calling 724-852-3303 at their campus extension (23303). 

If a campus-wide emergency situation arises, we’re available to parents, community members, and students who want more information. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the public safety office with questions or concerns.

Emergency Telephone Numbers

About Waynesburg

Waynesburg University is located in a small Greene County community located in rural southwestern Pennsylvania. On average Waynesburg University's enrollment is approximately 2,400 students. Approximately 1,000 students live in residence halls or in campus houses. Approximately 430 non-student employees work for the university in various faculty, administrative, and service positions. All employees are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the mission and goals of Waynesburg University.

Safety & Security Personnel

Waynesburg University utilizes the service of a private full-service security cooperation. The public safety personnel are uniformed officers present on campus and at site events. Public safety personnel receive initial training in criminal law, traffic and crowd control, and the use of fire-fighting equipment. 

While employed at Waynesburg University, they receive continuing education in C.P.R./First Aid, University Policies and Procedures, Emergency Procedures for maintenance, fire, police, and medical assistance. They also receive training on issues related to problems typical of university campuses. The Director of Public Safety supervises all public safety personnel and is available at any time when needed, serving as the liaison between the university and the state and local police departments.

Residence Hall Safety & Security

In each residence hall, all individual rooms have individual locks with keys/cards only given to residents of that room. Rooms are only opened for those students who live in that room or by permission of those who live there.

All residence halls are locked at all times. Residents receive a key/card for their individual room and a key/card for the outside door to their halls. Any attempt to force open locked doors or to keep locked doors ajar will be considered a university violation and will result in disciplinary action.

During the regular breaks in the academic year, residence halls are locked by the outside doors. Students are encouraged to take any particularly valuable items home with them. During that time, public safety officers continue to check and patrol the residence halls regularly. Entrance to the residence halls during that time occurs only by permission of the director of housing or dean of students.

General Security Procedures

Any victim of a campus violation or crime may report the incident to on duty public safety personnel or to the director of public safety. Victims of a crime occurring on campus are notified of their rights and responsibilities in reporting the violation to the local authorities. Although public safety personnel are available to investigate incidents and follow up on possible violations, it is not intended to be a substitute for the local police.

Public safety personnel make regular rounds of the campus throughout each evening. In their normal foot/motor patrol of the campus, all buildings, residence halls and academic buildings are checked to ensure that all buildings are locked at the proper times and that they remain closed throughout the evening. Public safety personnel may request identification of any unknown person they notice on the campus. Students are required to supply public safety personnel with their student identification card upon request. All other visitors are required to verify the student with whom they are visiting.

For emergency assistance, public safety personnel may always be reached by calling their campus extension (23303). In addition, the on-duty resident director has immediate access to all public safety personnel by phone. When needed, transportation to Washington Health System Greene is provided.

In the event of an emergency requiring the cancellation of classes or closure of the campus, public radio stations will be notified and electronic messages will be distributed by E2Campus.

All safety reports are filed with both the Director of Public Safety and the Senior Vice President of Student Services. In addition, crime statistics are maintained and reported in the format required by the Pennsylvania State Police.

The Director of Public Safety reports to the Senior Vice President for Student Services within the University structure. They also works closely with the Waynesburg Borough Police Department and the Pennsylvania State Police Department. The Public Safety Office and personnel always cooperate with any state police agency and maintain an excellent working relationship with the Waynesburg Borough Police. If a situation requires assistance, local or state police may be called to campus.

Missing Persons Procedures

Students are encouraged to provide the institution with contact information for a person to be notified in the event that the student is officially reported as missing. The information provided to Waynesburg University by the student is strictly confidential.

If the university administration determines that a student, for whom a missing person report has been filed, has been missing for more than 24 hours, the university will move forward with the following procedures:

1. Notify the individual identified by the student to be contacted in this circumstance
2. If the student is under 18 years old, notify a parent or guardian
3. Notify appropriate law enforcement, in cases where the student is over 18 and has not identified a person to be contacted