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Reporting Crime and Other Emergencies

All crimes occuring on the main campus should be promptly reported to UNC Police. This helps ensure incidents are properly included in the annual Disclosure of Crime Statistics and a Crime Alert can be issued when necessary. In an emergency, dial 911. Police must respond to every 911 call, whether called in on a cellphone or a landline, even if the caller hangs up without saying anything. If 911 is accidentally dialed, the caller should stay on the line and tell the operator the call was in error. This will save the police an unnecessary trip.

Those at the Institute of Marine Sciences campus should contact the Morehead City Police Department by calling 911 in an emergency situation or 252-726-5361 for non-emergencies. Institute of Marine Sciences personnel may also reach out to UNC Police for assistance. UNC Police will help determine which agency is most appropriate to respond to the situation.

There are several additional ways to contact help or report a crime depending on the location and situation:

There are emergency phones located across campus for the general public to use. All of these emergency phones provide a direct line to the UNC Police 911 call center. There are also approximately 287 direct line call boxes (identifiable at night by the blue lights on top) located across campus and in University parking decks, as well as emergency phones in parking lots and elevators. There is generally at least one call box on each level of the University’s parking decks.

Call boxes require only the push of a button to contact UNC Police through a speakerphone. A bright strobe light on the top of the call box is set off when the button is pushed, helping police quickly locate the caller. If the caller is unable to speak or needs to seek safer shelter, there are indicators in place to let police dispatchers know which call box has been activated. UNC Police officers will respond quickly any time a call box is activated, whether someone speaks into the speaker or not. In addition to using the call box to report emergencies, callers should also use them to report simple suspicious activities that may warrant immediate police attention.

For more information or to arrange a call box demonstration, call UNC Police at 919-962-8100. To report any kind of problem relative to the operation or appearance of a campus call box, please call Electric Distribution Systems at 919-962-8394, or UNC Police at 919-962-3951 if the call box is within a parking deck.

Look for an officer on patrol or go to the Public Safety Building at 285 Manning Drive for assistance. It is open 24 hours a day.
For routine calls, please call UNC Police at 919-962-8100 or 919-962-6565.
In an emergency, dial 911 to reach local police. To reach these agencies in nonemergency situations:

Anyone can electronically send anonymous reports about campus crimes to UNC Police through the Silent Witness program. When submitting a report, please provide three pieces of information: the type of crime involved, the general location of the crime (campus building, parking lot, etc.) and a more specific location for the crime. The form also has spaces for date, time and description of the crime as well as the suspect’s name, address and appearance.

After filling in as much information as possible, click on “Submit” and the report is emailed to UNC Police’s Criminal Investigations Division (CID). The report is identified only by a unique, randomly generated number. The same number is also displayed for printing purposes. If the party making the report wishes to contact UNC Police again about the same crime, they should reference the number of the previous report to enable the Criminal Investigations Division to add new information to the file.

UNC Police follows up on each Silent Witness report as appropriate, based upon the timeliness of the report and substantiation of information provided, to determine if the incident represents an ongoing threat to the campus community. If the investigating officer determines the reported incident occurred and that it has not previously been reported, the officer will complete an incident report. Reports filed in this manner are counted and disclosed in the annual crime statistics for the institution.

Smart911

When 911 is dialed today, the information received by the 911 call center can be limited based on the type of phone used to make the call. Smart911 is a free, private and secure opt-in service through which the UNC-Chapel Hill community and visitors can create personalized Safety Profiles with important personal information. Smart911 allows citizens to provide the additional details 911 call takers may need in order to assist them during an emergency, thereby putting dispatchers a step ahead in terms of response. At a time when a caller may be panicked or unable to communicate, or when it could be unsafe to communicate, Smart911 ensures the important details needed by 911 are immediately available in the event they cannot be verbally provided.

With Smart911, any time an emergency call is made from a phone registered with a personalized Safety Profile, the 911 systems recognize the phone number and automatically displays the caller’s profile on the screen of the dispatcher who receives the call.

A Smart911 profile contains photos, physical descriptions, details about the user’s place of residence and work, and medical information. Users can personalize their Smart911 profile, sharing any or all of the uploaded information.

Carolina Ready

To help the campus community remain safe, both on and off campus, the University provides the Carolina Ready app that turns cellphones into personal safety devices.

Carolina Ready features include:

  • Mobile BlueLight: Activating this alert on campus places an emergency call to the UNC Police 911 call center and identifies your location.
  • Friend Walk: Ask a family member or friend to remotely monitor your location on a map while you walk to your destination and know that you arrive safely.
  • WorkAlone: This feature will send you a push notification while you are working or studying alone and will call your emergency contact if you fail to acknowledge the notification.
  • Report a Tip: Share information with UNC Police through a phone call or the app including options to remain anonymous.
  • Take Action Guides: Access tips and guidance on what to do in various situations so you can be prepared before an emergency occurs.
  • Alert Carolina: Receive important Alert Carolina notifications.

Available on the App Store or Google Play, users can download the app on their iPhone or Android device, select “UNC-Chapel Hill” as their affiliation and fill in their user profile information to begin using the app.

Alert Carolina

Students, faculty and staff receive emails to their University accounts and text messages to their cellphones if the number is registered in the campus directory. More information about the Alert Carolina program is found in Emergency Notification Systems and Crime Alerts.

Members of the University community are encouraged to report crimes and incidents directly to UNC Police at the contact information listed below. However, it is understandable some may prefer to report to other individuals or offices within the University. As such, the campus community can also report crimes to Campus Security Authorities. The Clery Act requires the University to designate employees with significant responsibility for student and campus activities outside of normal classroom instruction as CSAs. CSAs include but are not limited to: deans and department heads, athletics coaches and player support personnel, community directors and resident advisors, and many staff within Student Affairs.

Professional counselors acting in the scope of their professional license are not considered CSAs and are not required to report crimes for inclusion into this report. However, they are encouraged to share information about the various support and reporting options on campus and in the community with those they serve. In addition, the following offices have been officially designated as places where University community members should report crimes:

The trained professionals designated below can provide counseling, information and support in a confidential setting. These confidential resources will not share information identifying an individual (including whether that individual has received services) without the individual’s express permission, unless there is a continuing threat of serious harm to the patient/client or to others, or there is a legal obligation to reveal such information (e.g., suspected abuse or neglect of a minor). These professionals are also available to help an individual make a report to the University.

On Campus

UNC Campus Health Services

919-966-3650 | After-hours: 919-966-2281

  • Sexual assault exams/evidence collection.
  • Screening and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
    • Emergency contraceptives.
    • Pregnancy tests.
  • Treatment paid for by the Survivor’s Assistance Fund.

Gender Violence Services Coordinators

Kayla Zollinger and Holly Lovern, 919-962-1343 or 919-962-7430 | gvsc@unc.edu

  • Support for individuals experiencing interpersonal violence.
  • Assistance in understanding reporting options and navigating reporting process.
  • Link to University and community resources.
  • Walk-in hours and appointments available.

University Ombuds Office

919-843-8204

  • Impartial, informal and independent resource and referral.
    • Nonjudgmental listening and discussion of options.
    • Available to anyone affected by the incident.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

919-966-3658

  • Individual and group counseling and referral.

Employee Assistance Program

877-314-5841

  • 24/7 confidential care for University employees and their families.

UNC Hospital Emergency Room

919-966-4721

  • After-hours medical care
  • Sexual assault exams/evidence collection
  • Screening and treatment of STIs
  • Emergency contraceptives
  • Pregnancy tests
  • Survivor’s Assistance Fund financial assistance available to offset medical expenses.

Off Campus

Compass Center for Women and Families

919-929-3872 or 24/7 Hotline 919-929-7122

  • Personal and court advocacy
  • Emergency shelter placement

Orange County Rape Crisis Center

919-968-4647 or 24/7 Hotline 1-866-WE-LISTEN (1-866-935-4783)

  • Personal and court advocacy
  • Accompaniment to emergency room and police

UNC-Chapel Hill strives to create a welcoming and safe environment for all individuals visiting University property or participating in University programs. The Policy on the Protection of Minors reinforces this expectation by establishing standards, requirements and procedures that specifically focus on protecting the safety of individuals who are less than 18 years of age from abuse and neglect by a parent, guardian, caregiver or staff of programs sponsored by or affiliated with the University.

Compliance with this policy shall be a responsibility of all University faculty, staff, volunteers, interns and students, as well as outside third parties (including contractors) who are authorized to use University facilities. Both as a matter of University policy and North Carolina state law, any member of the University community who reasonably suspects that a minor has been abused or neglected by a parent, guardian, caregiver or staff member has an absolute obligation to report that suspicion to the appropriate county Department of Social Services (DSS). The Orange County DSS is the appropriate contact for incidents occurring on the University’s campus in Chapel Hill regardless of the residence of the minor involved.

  • Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. excluding holidays, call 919-245-2818 or 919-968-2000.
  • After-hours and on weekends and holidays, call 911 and ask for the on-call social worker.

In addition to notifying the Orange County DSS, the reporting party also must notify one of the following offices:

  • For instances involving alleged sexual misconduct, harassment or assault, the University’s Equal Opportunity and Compliance Office (EOC) at 919-966-3576.
  • For instances involving any other forms of alleged inappropriate behavior or misconduct, the University’s Employee and Management Relations unit of the Office of Human Resources at 919-843-3444.

If a situation is encountered in which a minor is at immediate risk of harm or the victim of a criminal act, please contact UNC Police or the appropriate police department immediately by dialing 911.

UNC Police or the appropriate police department will make a final determination as to whether a matter merits further investigation and University community members must not attempt to make such judgments independently of law enforcement. Reporting to University officials does not relieve the obligation of a University community member to also make a report directly to law enforcement in the event the minor is at immediate risk.

For more information about the protection of minors on campus, how to register a program or report an incident, contact Starr Barbaro Sanders at 919-843-8995.

The University’s Violence in the Workplace Policy provides a mechanism for addressing violent behavior committed by employees on the job. The policy prohibits “any form of violence by an employee against another employee, student, vendor, or visitor to the University.”

Employees are subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal, for threats, intimidation, physical attack or intentional property damage they commit on or off campus while engaged in activity related to their University employment.

Any employee who believes that they have been the target of workplace violence should report the incident immediately to an appropriate supervisor or manager, or to the Employee and Management Relations department in Human Resources at 919-843-3444. In emergencies, employees should call 911.

Reports of violence will be handled in a confidential manner as allowed by North Carolina law, with information being released only on a need-to-know basis. Management will investigate incidents fully and promptly, take appropriate disciplinary action and follow up with victims and any other staff members affected by the incident. The policy prohibits retaliation and harassment against employees who make good faith reports about policy violations.

Threats of workplace violence, as defined in the University’s Violence in the Workplace Policy, should be reported to either the Employee and Management Relations department in the Office of Human Resources or UNC Police, depending upon the circumstances.

  • Immediate threats should be reported to UNC Police (dial 911) for emergency response coordination. The reporting party should then report the threat to Employee and Management Relations.
  • Potential threats should be immediately reported to Employee and Management Relations department at 919-843-3444.
  • Threats of an uncertain nature where it is unclear whether they are potential or immediate should be reported to UNC Police. UNC Police will assess the nature of the threat and may refer the reporting party to Employee and Management Relations, depending upon the circumstances.

The Employee Threat Assessment and Response Team is charged with assessing and responding to threats of workplace violence made by employees. Once notified, the team will assess available threat information and determine an appropriate initial response. Immediate but more focused threats should be addressed directly by UNC Police in order to stabilize the situation and reduce immediate likelihood of violence. UNC Police will conduct criminal investigations as appropriate. Employee and Management Relations will coordinate workplace violence investigations in accordance with the University’s Violence in the Workplace Policy. Both groups will report findings to the Employee Threat Assessment and Response Team.

Although the University takes routine disciplinary action against students under the auspices of the Instrument of Student Judicial Governance, the Emergency Evaluation and Action Committee (EEAC) Policy and Procedures provide a swifter response when the safety of the University community is involved.

The EEAC is chaired by the vice chancellor for student affairs or his/her delegate and administered by the Office of the Dean of Students, which can be reached at 919-966-4042. Situations which may be dealt with under this policy fall into five categories:

  • An applicant for admission or readmission to the University who has been convicted of a crime involving assault or felonious behavior, who has a record of violent behavior, or who has a record of academic dishonesty or disciplinary rule violations elsewhere.
  • A student whose behavior, on or off campus, is such that his/her presence in the University, in the judgment of the Emergency Evaluation and Action Committee, poses a serious threat of disruption of the academic process or a continuing danger to other members of the University community or University property.
  • A student who has been arrested and charged with a serious crime of a violent or dangerous nature, or a serious crime that involved placing another person in fear of imminent physical injury or danger, where, in the judgment of the committee, if the student is found guilty, his/her presence in the University would pose a serious threat of disruption of the academic process or a continuing danger to the student, other members of the University community or University property.
  • A student charged by the University with a violation of policies concerning illegal drugs, whose continued presence within the University community would, if the charges are true, constitute a clear and immediate danger to the health or welfare of other members of the University community.
  • A student whose behavior on or off campus is such that, in the judgment of the Committee, he/she poses a danger to himself/herself.

Once a student is notified by the EEAC of an initial action, the student can request a hearing that will occur not earlier than seven days from the date of notification unless the student waives the seven-day standard. The scheduled hearing will then occur on the next appropriate Thursday (when EEAC regularly meets). The student is usually notified of the outcome of that meeting within 24-48 hours. The full spectrum of possible sanctions issued by the EEAC include:

  • Summary suspension.
  • Summary medical suspension.
  • Reinstatement of a student who has been summarily suspended by the committee or the vice chancellor for student affairs.
  • Reinstatement of a student who has been indefinitely suspended by the committee.
  • Ordering that an applicant not be considered for admission due to his/her behavioral history.
  • Referral to the student attorney general for proceedings under The Instrument of Student Judicial Governance.
  • Required mental health evaluation.
  • Permitting the student to remain enrolled, with case management by the UNC
  • Counseling and Psychological Services, subject to his/her compliance with specified conditions set by the committee. Violation of such conditions to be a ground for reopening the case against the student.
  • Mandatory medical withdrawal.
  • Indefinite suspension.
  • Recommendation for expulsion.
  • Imposition of any other sanction or administrative remedy that is reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances.
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