By Kelsey Kendall
91Ѱ has enhanced its safety services for the new school year, providing students, families, faculty and staff and the broader community with a range of tools designed to promote safety and well-being on- and off-campus.
The University is expanding its reach with 91Ѱ Alerts, which notifies the campus community — including 91Ѱ’s Eastern Virginia Medical School campus and other auxiliary campuses. Visitors, 91Ѱ families and community members and vendors and contractors conducting work on 91Ѱ’s campuses will be able to sign up to receive alerts in case of campus emergencies. Students are automatically enrolled for 91Ѱ Alerts and others can find information on how to sign up on the University’s website.
91Ѱ Safe is replacing the LiveSafe mobile app, offering new features and resources to benefit the University community.
“The 91Ѱ Safe App is an important tool for the Monarch community in maintaining a safe campus. It provides a centralized platform for students, faculty and staff to access safety features and resources,” said Garrett Shelton, chief of police and assistant vice president for public safety. “91Ѱ Safe is an enhanced tool that will aid in maintaining a safe and secure environment for the 91Ѱ community.”
91Ѱ Safe, available for free through the Apple Appstore and Google Play, can be accessed by students, faculty and staff using their MIDAS logins. Guest logins are available for members of the broader community.
The new app, developed by AppArmor, offers many of the same features as its predecessor, such as a panic alarm that allows users to call 91Ѱ Police and share their real-time locations. It also features a platform to submit tips to law enforcement — anonymously or not. The app includes multiple emergency and key contacts to assist in communications during an emergency.
The Safety Toolbox includes several functions such as the “I’m OK” feature, which allows users to share their location and a message indicating they are safe during an on-campus incident to friends or family.
The Safety Companion or Share a Trip Home feature allows either friends, family or 91Ѱ Police to see that a user made it home safely by sharing their location.
Under “Support Resources,” the app shares information on academic advising, counseling, health services, YWCA sexual and domestic violence service and more through web links and direct contact information. Emergency guides are available to outline procedures and evacuation plans incrisis situations.
Individuals can also contact 91Ѱ Police by calling (757) 683-4000 for emergencies and (757) 683-5665 for non-emergencies or stop to talk to an officer if they see one.