Dear Members of the Georgetown University Community,
At Georgetown University, we take your safety, health, security and emergency preparedness very seriously. Please review the important information below about safety resources, public health and COVID-19 protocols and securing your property so that you can keep yourself and our community safe and healthy in the year ahead.
A viewable/printable summary of resources is also available for the Georgetown University Police Department (GUPD) and Office of Emergency Management (OEM).
Thank you for your attention to these matters, and we hope you have a great semester.
Sincerely,
Marc Barbiere
Director of Emergency Management
Ranit Mishori, M.D., MHS, FAAFP
Professor of Family Medicine, Vice President and Chief Public Health Officer
Katherine Perez
Chief of Police
PERSONAL SAFETY
For your personal safety and the well-being of the community, always practice the following strategies:
Use the LiveSafe Mobile App. LiveSafe is a personal security system that connects users with GUPD when activated during an emergency situation. The app also allows users to report suspicious activity, request a SafeRide Shuttle or personal escort, access resources on emergency preparedness, and use SafeWalk to share their location with friends.
Confirm/update your contact information for HOYAlerts. All current students, faculty and staff are automatically enrolled to receive email and text messages from HOYAlert, Georgetown’s mass notification system used in the event of an emergency situation or incident on campus. Please take a moment to confirm or update your HOYAlert contact information. You can also “follow” HOYAlert on Twitter.
Enroll in Alert DC. AlertDC is the official District of Columbia communications system that allows you to receive emergency alerts, notifications, and updates directly from DC’s public safety officials. AlertDC allows you to pick and choose what kind of notifications you want to receive through text and/or email and the time of day you wish to receive alerts. It is a great way to stay informed of important events and emergencies throughout the District.
If You See Something… Say Something. Program phone numbers for the Georgetown University Police Department (GUPD), (202) 687-4343, and Georgetown’s EMS responders, GERMS, (202) 687-4357, into your phones. Off-campus, contact 9-1-1 to report an emergency. If you are concerned about threatening behavior or are worried about potential violence to the university or someone at Georgetown, contact the Georgetown Threat Assessment Program.
Run-Hide-Fight Training. Keeping the Georgetown community safe from an active shooter incident is a top priority. Visit activeshooter.georgetown.edu for information on how to stay safe during an active shooter incident and how to attend one of GUPD’s Run-Hide-Fight training sessions.
Be Aware and Vigilant. Never walk alone at night, and always walk along well-lit and well-traveled routes. Take earbuds out of your ears, and keep your attention on your surroundings rather than your phone. Please use caution and use marked crosswalks, particularly near on-campus construction areas. Always walk bicycles and scooters on sidewalks and reduce speed when approaching pedestrians and/or construction zones. Scooters should never be taken or ridden indoors. Please be considerate of community members, and keep your voices down and your behavior respectful as you move through the residential neighborhoods.
Sexual Misconduct Resources and Response. Georgetown has resources in place to support members of the University community who have experienced or wish to report sexual misconduct, which includes all forms of interpersonal violence. These resources include options for medical care, safety planning, confidential counseling, and other supportive measures. Additionally, off-campus resources are available for the University community. All resources may also be found on the Sexual Misconduct Reference Guide.
Report a Bias Incident. The University considers acts of hate and bias unacceptable and antithetical to its commitment to an inclusive and respectful community. Through the Bias Reporting System, Georgetown is able to track, review, and respond to bias-related incidents. More information will be shared in the weeks ahead about a new framework for communicating about bias-related incidents, including hate crimes, that occur on or near campus.
Take Precautions with Ridesharing. Always check that the vehicle, license plate and driver information matches what’s listed in the rideshare app. Don’t give away your name prior to entering the vehicle, instead ask the driver to confirm the name of who they are picking up.
Fire Safety. It is important that all community members take fire-safety precautions and are prepared for building emergency evacuations. In the event you discover fire or smoke, or if you hear the fire alarm:
- Leave the building immediately via the stairs. DO NOT USE THE ELEVATORS.
- As you leave, close all doors, including any that are propped open, and pull the fire alarm station, if not already ringing.
- Once outside, follow directions from Building Emergency Coordinators (identifiable due to their bright yellow vest) or GUPD and gather in designated assembly areas. Do not congregate in front of the entrance to the building.
- Remain outside the building until the “ALL CLEAR” is given by Building Emergency Coordinators or GUPD. Please note: silencing of the alarms does not constitute an “ALL CLEAR.”
Students in university housing should take special care to note prohibited items that are a fire hazard. If you are living off-campus, please make sure your residence has working smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers.
E-Scooters and E-Bikes. Recent fires across the country associated with lithium-ion batteries in e-scooters and e-bikes have resulted in loss of life and property destruction. Damage to the battery or device, overcharging, or using the incorrect charger, among other factors, can cause these batteries to catch fire and explode. We strongly discourage you from storing and charging e-scooters and e-bikes indoors on campus because of the serious safety concerns associated with charging them in indoor settings. E-scooters are prohibited in residence halls. A number of rideshare e-scooter and e-bike services are available to use in the area, but these devices cannot be brought into university buildings and should not be left in the middle of sidewalks, roads or curb cuts because they can block accessible pathways.
Rooftop Safety. Unauthorized access to prohibited rooftop spaces is a significant safety hazard. It is also a serious violation of the Code of Student Conduct and can result in disciplinary action.
PUBLIC HEALTH
COVID-19 remains circulating in the population. Please continue to take measures to protect yourself and others against COVID-19, especially those who may be at higher risk for complications. Georgetown’s COVID-19 Resource Center includes important information about the University’s protocols and resources.
Vaccination. We strongly recommend everyone to stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and receive the latest dose that becomes available and recommended by the CDC moving forward. In the coming days, we will share information about on-campus vaccine clinics for COVID-19 and the flu this fall.
Testing. Free antigen and PCR testing for COVID-19 is available to all community members, and wastewater testing continues to be used to monitor COVID-19 transmission on our campuses.
If You Have Symptoms. If you experience symptoms of COVID-19, please stay home or in your campus residence; complete the COVID-19 Check-In survey through the GU360 mobile app or website; call the Student Health Center (if a student) or your physician, if needed; take a COVID-19 test; and do not return to class or work until cleared by your physician or after a consultation with the Care Navigator team.
If You Have Been Exposed to COVID-19. If you are in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, wear a mask when around others for ten days following the date of exposure. As long as you don’t develop symptoms, you may participate in your regular activities. Residential students and others who share living space should make a plan now with roommates for what they will do if one roommate tests positive. For guidance from a Care Navigator, complete the COVID-19 Check-In Survey.
If You Test Positive. If you test positive through an outside clinic or at home, report your positive test via the GU360 website or app. Isolation is required for all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, who test positive for COVID-19. Individuals must isolate in their home or campus residence for at least five days (if asymptomatic or symptoms have resolved and they have been fever-free for 24 hours) or up to ten days if symptoms have not resolved or an antigen test remains positive. Please follow guidance from Georgetown’s Care Navigator team. Georgetown follows DC Department of Health guidance regarding isolation, which may change periodically.
- Students: Follow your instructor’s policy for making up coursework, as needed, which may include attending class remotely or completing work by other means.
- Faculty: Follow your instructional continuity plan, as needed.
- Staff/AAP Employees: Use sick leave following your department’s established call-in procedures or by submitting a request in GMS, based on your department’s established practice.
Please direct questions about COVID-19 or other public health concerns to carenavigators@georgetown.edu or questions about vaccination to hoyavaxa@georgetown.edu.
SECURING YOUR PROPERTY
We want your belongings to be safe, and the university cannot be responsible for personal items. Therefore, please take the follo in wing actions to protect your items:
Lock Your Doors. GUPD recommends all students lock their doors every time they leave their room or home. Laboratory and office spaces should also be secured if they can be.
Lock Your Laptops. Never leave laptops unattended. Contact GUPD for laptop registration, lock and theft prevention information.
Lock Your Bikes. To mitigate thefts, all bicyclists are encouraged to use U-locks, which are more secure and more difficult to cut than cable locks. Discounted U-locks can be purchased from GUPD, located in Village C West, or at the university bookstore. GUPD also offers free bicycle registration, which can help facilitate your bike’s return if stolen, allow GUPD to assist if your key is lost, or contact you if your bike appears abandoned.
Share a Complaint, Compliment or Concern with GUPD. GUPD investigates all complaints regarding conduct by the department. If you believe you have been subjected to, or witnessed, police misconduct of any type by GUPD, please report the incident, anonymously if preferred, via the Complaints, Compliments and Feedback form.
Mark Your Calendars
Hoya Ready Preparedness Fair. In celebration of National Preparedness Month, we will host the Hoya Ready Preparedness Fair on Wednesday, September 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Copley Lawn, which will be a fun opportunity for the Georgetown community to learn about safety and emergency preparedness resources and lifesaving skills like CPR and Stop the Bleed while enjoying free snacks and giveaways.