Campus Safety & Security

Campus Safety & Security

The annual Campus Safety & Security Report summarizes crime statistics in our area, both on-campus and off-campus, covering the past three years.

View or print the Campus Safety & Security Report here.

Sentara College of Health Science’s Annual Security Report is available online at the link above. The report contains information regarding campus safety and security including topics such as: crime reporting policies; law enforcement information, campus alerts (timely warnings and emergency notifications); programs to prevent dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking; the procedures the college will follow when one of these crimes is reported; and other matters of importance related to security on campus. The report also contains information about crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus; in non-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by the college or a recognized student organization; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and
accessible from, the campus. To request a paper copy, which will be provided upon request, call 757-388-2900.

What’s in the Report?

Sentara College publishes crime statistics from our area obtained through local and state law enforcement agencies. Sentara College also makes information available regarding sex offenders in our area. We disclose these facts in compliance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act.

Learn more about sex offenders in our area on the Virginia State Police website.

Read about the Clery Act here.

Campus Community Notifications

It’s easy to stay informed about safety or security issues that can threaten our campus or the surrounding area. Campus community notifications can alert students, faculty, and staff of safety disturbances in two ways:

1) For low-level or informative notifications, an email will be sent to all people with a Sentara.edu email address. The email will describe the issue and appropriate actions to take.

2) In case of an emergency, all staff, faculty, and students who have signed up for the Blackboard Connect Notification System will be sent an alert message via phone, email, text, TTY, or fax to their designated contact number. The message will state the emergency and any actions to be taken.

Mass Emergency Notifications

Campus Operations administers the College’s mass emergency notification system. These messages are only transmitted during emergencies and are an additional avenue of communication. The decision to issue a campus safety, crime, or emergency notification is determined on a case-by-case basis with consideration of the facts surrounding the incident, nature of the incident, continuing danger to the campus community, and the possible risk of compromising law enforcement efforts.

Students, faculty, and staff can register to receive emergency notifications here.

For additional information regarding crime reporting, drug and alcohol policies, and crime prevention on campus, please refer to the College Catalog and the Student and Faculty Handbooks. 

Emergency Preparedness Plan

Sentara College of Health Sciences is committed to ensuring the safety and security of its students, faculty, staff, and visitors. The Emergency Preparedness Plan provides guidelines for responding to emergencies, minimizing risks, and ensuring a swift recovery in the event of a crisis. This plan applies to all individuals on campus during standard business hours.

Read the plan here.

Hazing

Hazing is defined by Sentara College of Health Sciences policy and Virginia law as any action or situation, with or without consent, that recklessly or intentionally endangers the health, safety, or well-being of a student as a condition of initiation, admission, affiliation, or continued membership in a group or organization.

Examples may include, but are not limited to:

• Physical harm or threats of harm

• Forced consumption of alcohol, drugs, or other substances

• Degrading, humiliating, or abusive acts

• Activities that interfere with academic performance or sleep

For the full institutional definition and policy, please see the college’s Hazing Policy

*No student organizations have been found in violation of the College’s Hazing Policy since July 1, 2025.
Last review date 12/12/2025