Dear UMW Community,
We write to you with tragic news from our peer institution and system sibling school, University of Virginia (UVA), which experienced a shooting last night on Grounds. UVA remains under a shelter in place this morning, following the events in the evening.
Our hearts go out to the many individuals impacted, particularly the families and friends who have lost loved ones. UVA has reported three deaths and two additional victims injured.
Our UMW campuses in Fredericksburg, Stafford and Dahlgren are not immediately within the vicinity of the incident or directly affected. Our classes are in session today, Nov. 14, and campus is under normal operations. However, we know that you may want to help your peers and colleagues, and you might seek additional resources and information.
Campus safety remains a top priority. UMW has an extensive and robust threat assessment and violence prevention process that assists the University in identifying threats to our campus community and in responding to those threats. It takes a community approach. We encourage you to share information when concerns arise. If you see or experience anything of concern, no matter how seemingly insignificant, report it via the online reporting system or by calling UMW Police at 540-654-1025 (non-emergency) or 540-654-4444 (emergency).
For additional community resources, please visit the Talley Center resources page. UMW’s Talley Center for Counseling Services can be reached at 540-654-1053. After-hours services are available too. UMW employees also have access to around the clock support via the employee assistance program. To learn more and access these services, visit the Employee Assistance Program information.
Take care,
Vice President for Student Affairs Juliette Landphair
Chief of Police Michael Hall