If you feel physically or emotionally threatened in any way, follow these steps to help ensure your safety. Incidents could include mugging, assault, sexual assault, theft, injury, fire, overdose, or suicidal threat.
1 – If you feel that you are in immediate danger or in need of medical/emergency services, call 911. In the case of a mental health emergency, you may call the W&M counselor on call 757-221-1101 (M-F, 8a-5p), 757-221-3620 (evenings and weekends) who can help you coordinate your care and find the appropriate resource available to you in the emergency situation.
2 – Get to a safe place.
3 – Contact your W&M Washington Center staff designee (your Program Coordinator/Manager).
If you cannot reach a D.C .staff member, and you or a fellow student may have caused harm to him/herself or is talking about harming him/herself…
And after completing steps #1-2 above:
A – Washington Center staff can help you consider options and resources (see http://www.wm.edu/offices/compliance/_documents/response_resources.pdf )
B – Services available in the D.C. area for victims of sexual assault include:
- D.C. Rape Crisis Center: 202-333-RAPE (7273)
4 – If a crime was committed, file a report with the police.
5– Consider taking advantage of counseling services available through your current mental health service provider or the W&M Counseling Center (757-221-3620). If you would like in-person services in Washington, D.C., you can use:
Parkhurst Associates Mental Health Services
202-234-7738
info@parkhurstassociates.com
7 – If you do not feel safe going back to housing, staff will work with you to find a hotel room. (In the case of sexual assault when the perpetrator is also enrolled in the program, you will automatically be given a hotel room.)
8 – To report a violation any of the policies/codes in The W&M Student Handbook or that a classmate has broken the law submit an incident report here: https://www.wm.edu/report/student/index.php.
Emergency Protocol for All Students
If you are made aware of either a current or impending political crisis or
natural disaster in the D.C. area, please follow these steps.
1 – Contact your W&M D.C. staff designee.
If you cannot reach a staff member (because cell phones are out, for example)…
A – Call the Emergency Voicemail Box at 757-301-1693 for further instructions.
2 – Gather at a “Safe Location” if instructed
- Your primary meeting location is the Meridian Apartments (415 L Street NW).
3 – Communicate with designee to keep them posted on your status.
Sign up online at: alert.dc.gov to receive messages through your phone and email in case of an emergency.
Travel Plans
It is your responsibility to let your designee know at least one day in advance of any overnight travel plans. We have implemented this requirement so that we know how and where to contact you, should an emergency arise.
Voluntary Check-in Program
Please consider letting D.C. Center staff (or a classmate) know if at any time your schedule forces you to do anything out of the ordinary. While we respect your privacy, we are a small group in a big metropolitan area and want to make sure that you are as safe as you can be. Checking in prevents us from worrying unnecessarily… and we will!
Missing Student
If one of your classmates seems to be missing, contact your designee immediately.