Annual Security & Fire Safety Report
Safety on the university campus is a natural source of concern for parents, students and university employees. Education - the business of Virginia State University - can take place only in an environment in which each student and employee feels safe and secure. VSU recognizes this and employs a number of security measures to protect the members of its community.
Although the area, with its small-town feel and neighborly attitude, is perceived to have a relatively low crime rate, crime prevention remains a high priority among residents. VSU does its part to ensure the safety of its students and employees. The professionally trained police force, the well-trained Residence Life staff, and the students/employees share in the responsibility of making the VSU campus a safe place to study, work and live.
The Virginia State University Police Department prepares this report to comply with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act of 1998 (Clery Act). Crime statistics include offenses reported to DPPS and local law enforcement agencies that occurred within VSU’s Clery geography(PDF download) , Office of Student Conduct records, and offenses reported to VSU’s Campus Security Authorities (CSAs).
All crimes are categorized in accordance with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Uniform Crime Reporting Handbook (UCR). For sex offenses only, definitions are pulled from the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) edition of the UCR, and hate crimes are classified according to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Hate Crime Data Collection Guidelines and Training Guide for Hate Crime Data Collection. Recently added violence against women offenses are defined by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act (Campus SaVE) provisions.
You can view the Crime and Fire Safety report for 2021-2023 published September 2024:
Annual Security & Fire Safety Report
Annual Security & Fire Safety Report Request
Current or prospective faculty, staff, and students can also obtain a paper copy by calling (804) 524-5599 and by visiting VSU Human Resources or the Virginia State University Police Department.
A report can also be requested by writing to :
ATTN: Records Management : Annual Security & Fire Safety Report Request
Virginia State University Police Department
PO Box 9405
Petersburg, VA 23806
Additional information concerning security, crime prevention programs, and crime statistics is also available by contacting VSU Police at 804-524-5360
