The UVA Ready mobile safety app is the official safety app of the University of Virginia. It was designed as a safety resource to help students, faculty, staff, and the public prepare for emergencies on Grounds. The app offers tools like submitting a non-emergency safety concern, requesting a Safe Walk with a UVA Ambassador, telling your friends your ETA when you are walking, a list of emergency procedures for different situations, and even an “I’m Ok!” feature that allows you to mark yourself safe in the event of an emergency on Grounds.
Absolutely! Our free public version of the app allows parents (and the general public) to access and understand emergency procedures at UVA, report an accessibility barrier on Grounds, access maps of Grounds, and look up parking and transportation resources when you’re visiting for a football game or visiting your student!
The “I’m Ok!” feature is new to UVA Ready. This function allows you to text or email a trusted person to let them know you are okay in an emergency in your community. You also have the option to send the person your location via Google Maps so they know where you are located at that time.
Your device is never tracked unless you ask for assistance. UVA Ready will provide your location to responders if you use the app to seek help like submitting an urgent concern/tip through the app. If you use the Friend Walk feature, only the trusted people you invite can see your location. UVA Ready also uses your location to deliver geography-based alerts from safety officials. Otherwise, your location is always private.
To get the best use from UVA Ready, go to settings and turn your location to be on always.
This way, you will immediately receive all geo-fenced broadcast messages targeted to your specific geographic location.
No one can see your location unless you invite them.
Yes. The app designer uses the latest security technologies and undergoes regular security audits to keep all data in the app secure and private. The app allows UVA students, faculty, and staff to log in using their dual authentication (Duo-Mobile) so that their information is also protected using the same security systems within UVA.
When you text a non-emergency concern or tip, it goes directly to UVA Police. You can chat with police. Never use this tool to report an emergency. For an emergency or a crime in process, always call or text 911.
No. While you cannot submit an anonymous tip via the UVA Ready app, you can utilize Tip Submit on the UVA Police website to submit anonymous concerns.
Concerning behavior, illegal activity, mental health concerns, suspicious objects, etc. For emergencies or crimes in progress, always call or text 911.
Chat with UVA Police is just one of many channels available to report troubling behavior at UVA. Students can also report through Just Report It; or to their resident advisor, the Office of the Dean of Students or Title IX; employees can contact UVA Human Resources, UVA Police Department, and the Faculty and Employee Assistance Program.
You should always call or text 911 in an emergency. The 911 Center will know exactly what response team from which jurisdiction to send to help you. The 911 center can dispatch police, emergency medical care, and fire services.
UVA Ready replaces our old Rave Guardian system. Our new safety app provides more resources and features to help the UVA Community better connect to safety resources and preparedness materials. This is an entirely new app so you will need to download UVA Ready for your phone’s mobile app store. You can also remove the Rave Guardian app if you still have it downloaded to your phone.