Campus Safety Services

We strive to provide comprehensive resources to meet the diverse needs of students, faculty, and staff. Whether you’re looking to register your possessions or find transportation assistance, our range of campus safety services is designed to support and keep you safe during your time at Vanderbilt. Explore the various offerings detailed below to learn more about how we have prepared to assist you during your time on campus.

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Enhance Your Personal Safety with Our Educational Programs

The Community Relations Division of our Police Department offers a diverse array of educational programs to the Vanderbilt community covering various crucial topics that will enhance your personal safety. They include:

  • Rape and Sexual Assault Risk Reduction
  • Domestic Violence Education
  • Workplace Violence Education
  • Personal Safety
  • Rape Aggression Defense Systems (R.A.D.)
  • Victim Services 
  • Sexual Assault
  • Alcohol and Drug Awareness
  • Travel Safety
  • Property Protection (this includes information on fraud, personal property and university property)

All of the above programs are available to you as a member of the Vanderbilt University community. If you are looking for a topic not listed above, please contact us—programs can be tailored to meet the needs of individual groups.

For additional information about any of the programs, to personally sign up for a class, or to schedule a class for a group, please reach out to the following contacts:

R.A.D. Self-Defense

The Rape Aggression Defense System for Women is an on-campus program designed to teach practical self-defense tactics and techniques. The R.A.D. System offers comprehensive courses that start with awareness, prevention, risk reduction, and avoidance, before moving on to hands-on defense training.

Dedicated to teaching defensive concepts and techniques against various types of assault, the R.A.D. System utilizes easy, effective, and proven self-defense/martial arts tactics to help women feel more safe and confident in confrontations.

Why R.A.D. is one of our most popular on-campus safety services:

  • The practicality, simplicity, and effectiveness of the tactics is tailored to gender physiology and mindset
  • It provides a range of strategies to counter assaults by strangers and acquaintances
  • It is taught by certified instructors who provide reliable, professional training
  • The program provides a lifetime guarantee for education and practice—a graduate of any R.A.D. courses taught by any instructor can return and practice anywhere in the country where the same course is being offered, absolutely free of charge
  • It is offered free of charge to the greater VU community

Space is limited. Reservations are required. If you would like to participate, please follow the links below for more information and register in advance.

Free Fingerprinting Service

Fingerprinting services are available to Vanderbilt community members (current faculty, staff, and students only) who require fingerprints for licensing, citizenship, internship applications, and similar purposes.

If you have been provided with fingerprint cards, please bring them along with a state-issued driver’s license and your Vanderbilt ID. Alternatively, if you do not possess fingerprint cards, standard FD-258 Fingerprint cards are available at our location.

Appointments are scheduled between Monday and Wednesday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can find us at 115 28th Avenue South. Please do not arrive without an appointment.

To arrange an appointment, please email CSO III Eugene Kessler.

Operation ID: Register Your Possessions to Keep Them Safe

Did you know that even if a stolen bike, laptop, or cell phone is recovered by police, the owner doesn’t often get it back? That’s because owners cannot be located or legally reclaim their property unless they know their possessions’ serial number.

Theft of unsecured property is unfortunately one of the most prevalent crimes on college campuses. Our Operation ID program involves keeping records of your personal properties’ serial number and a detailed description of the item, as well as applying a theft deterrent sticker to bicycles and laptops to keep them safe.

Operation ID is a theft prevention program offered free of charge by the Vanderbilt University Police Department. Knowing and registering your bike, laptop, and cell phone’s serial numbers is the easiest way to increase your chances of recovering stolen items.

Registering your possession is a simple, fully online process that takes only a few minutes. Please take the time to fill in the form:

Register your property here
Questions? Email vupd@vanderbilt.edu

Further Bike Safety at VU

Here are our official bike safety guidelines:

  • Wear safety equipment as advised by VUPD
  • Lock your bike when not in use, preferably with a U-lock—cable locks are easily cut
  • Always secure your bike in an area that is well-lit, visible, and where there is plenty of pedestrian traffic
  • Secure as much as possible to the bike rack, especially the frame
  • Always secure your components and accessories, especially those which can be easily removed (quick release wheels or seats, etc.)
  • Don't leave valuables on the bike
  • Follow the same laws as automobiles when on roadways
  • Ride defensively, as others may not always be aware of cyclists
  • More policies concerning bikes on campus can be found in the student handbook

Get a Discounted U-lock

Don’t have a U-lock? U-locks, compared to chain or cable locks, are harder for thieves to break, reducing your risk for bike theft.

Cumberland Transit and Vanderbilt University Police Department have partnered to help you protect your bike. Show your Vanderbilt Commodore Card at Cumberland Transit (at 2807 West End Avenue) and get 20 percent off your purchase of a U-lock. U-Locks are also now available at the Vanderbilt Book Store.

Weapon Safekeeping: Keeping Yourself & Our Community Safe

University Policy strictly prohibits anyone other than on-duty police officers from possessing firearms on campus. Additionally, recreational sporting/hunting equipment such as archery gear is not allowed inside residential facilities. However, Vanderbilt University Police Department (VUPD) offers students a lawful means of storing firearms and other sporting/hunting equipment on campus.

Storage Duration and Renewal

Vanderbilt University Police Department offers firearm and sporting/hunting equipment storage for currently enrolled students for the duration of the semester in which it is checked-in. Equipment must be picked up at the end of each semester, but the storage agreement may be renewed if the student is enrolled in the next consecutive semester.

Restrictions and Regulation

VUPD does not store ammunition, and storing ammunition on campus is a violation of university policy. Firearms must be transported in a carrying case from the vehicle to the inside of the Vanderbilt University Police building, and back to the vehicle.

Archery equipment must be stored in a protective case, with arrow tips removed from the arrows before storage. Federal law mandates a computerized query to verify that stored firearms are not stolen or wanted in connection with a crime. Criminal charges or convictions arising while the firearm is in police storage may prevent its return.

How to Utilize Weapon Safekeeping

For students residing on campus who possess weapons for personal or sporting purposes such as hunting, Vanderbilt University Police Department (VUPD) offers a secure "safekeeping" service.

Please note the steps and conditions of the weapon check in process and follow them carefully:

  • Before you can store an item with Vanderbilt University Police Department, a storage form should be filled out and presented in person to the Records Unit (Download the safekeeping storage form here)
  • Bring your firearm or sporting equipment, unloaded and inside a carrying case, to the lobby of the Vanderbilt University Police Department building at 2800 Vanderbilt Place
  • It is crucial to transport the weapons by car directly to the office upon arrival on campus to avoid causing alarm to others
  • Present your Vanderbilt photo ID and a valid driver’s license
  • Students are allowed to check in more than one weapon, and they can check in their weapon(s) as needed
  • If you need to check in a weapon after business hours, the communications office will arrange for an officer to assist you with the check-in process

Retrieving your weapon:

  • Students have access to retrieve weapons left with VUPD for safekeeping at any time, 24 hours a day
  • An appointment is required to retrieve stored items, which must be made at least 24 business hours in advance
  • Firearms undergo a computerized stolen/wanted records check on the serial number before release
  • Please bring your Vanderbilt photo ID and driver’s license when picking up your equipment
  • Only the individual or a designated person listed on the safekeeping form will be permitted to retrieve the weapon

For more information or to schedule an appointment, individuals can contact VUPD at (615) 322-2745.

 

Get Around Easily with Transportation Support

Our team is dedicated to fostering a hospitable atmosphere through outstanding transportation support. As such, Vanderbilt offers a variety of convenient options for travel around campus or your commute.

MoveVU is Vanderbilt’s strategic transportation and mobility plan that falls under the FutureVU comprehensive campus planning efforts. Through it, we have successfully implemented new programs and benefits for the VU community, including:

  • Commute concierge: Helping you plan sustainable commutes and more
  • Sustainable commute incentives: Eligible commuters can earn a daily incentive for sustainable commutes
  • VandyRide: Our all-electric shuttle bus service
  • Mobility Rides: Electric golf carts available for those with medical or accessibility needs
  • Carpool: Those looking to carpool can use our matching tool
  • Free Bus Rides: Vanderbilt offers free access to local and regional WeGo buses for all students, faculty, staff, and postdocs with their Commodore Card, available anytime, anywhere
  • Guaranteed Ride Home: Eligible commuters using sustainable transport to campus receive a free Lyft ride in emergencies
  • Daily Parking Program: Pay only for days parked on campus
  • Commute Calculator: Personalized assessment for the best parking program based on campus days, salary, and sustainable commute

Find out more about your transportation options and benefit from our team’s support here.

Lost and Found

If you've misplaced an item on Vanderbilt University property, you should notify the VUPD Lost and Found Department—we'll check to see if the item has been turned in as found property. We'll reach out if we have received an item matching your description. Otherwise, we'll add your details to our Lost and Found Call list and let you know if anything comes up.

Fill in the Lost and Found form here

Alarm Services

The Vanderbilt University Police Department (VUPD) offers monitoring services for burglar and panic alarms within facilities owned or operated by Vanderbilt University, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Vanderbilt at One Hundred Oaks.

Alarm System Planning

Contact us to schedule an initial survey of your proposed alarm location. This survey aims to provide recommendations for any necessary alarm needs and requirements and discuss expectations.

Installing and Maintaining Your Alarm

Vanderbilt University Police Department does not install, maintain or service alarm systems. If your alarm system requires service, the following resources are available to you:

  • For alarms located in buildings that are maintained by the University
    Plant Operations (Campus): (615) 343-9675
  • For alarms located in buildings that are maintained by the Medical Center
    Plant Services (Medical Center): (615) 322-2041
  • For alarms located in buildings that are maintained by Vanderbilt University Real Estate: CBRE, Inc., (615) 493-9225

Testing Your Alarms Regularly

VUPD conducts quarterly testing of the panic alarms they monitor to ensure that they are working as intended. Account holders should test their alarm systems periodically to ensure that they are operating properly. Contact your alarm maintenance provider to coordinate and schedule testing of your alarm equipment with VUPD.

For more guidance

  • Please read the [Public Safety FAQs]
  • If you still have unanswered questions, please contact our Public Safety team at [phone number/email address] or chat with them live through the VandySafe app