College of William & Mary - Safety & Security

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

Students are mostly pleased with the campus police department and other safety services on campus. The small-town atmosphere and the tight-knit community create a sense of safety that might not be present at larger universities. In fact, all students must pledge not to lie, cheat, or steal before they officially become members of the W&M community—a tradition founded by Thomas Jefferson. Almost every student takes the Honor pledge very seriously, and theft is very rare as a result. Students often leave their backpacks and laptops at the library without worrying about them disappearing. Lots of students even leave the doors to their rooms unlocked. Serious crimes, such as assault and rape, are rare; most students don’t fear this kind of incident, even late at night.

Williamsburg is a small town and is pretty safe compared to bigger cities. The police force seems to do an adequate job, though students sometimes complain that they spend more time writing parking tickets than doing anything else. Though annoying, it’s a good indication that there aren’t any major threats concerning campus security. The level of safety on campus is evidenced by the campus newspaper, when the year’s only recorded laptop theft became a front page feature. Sometimes strangers are found wandering around in residence halls after hours. After these are reported, however, the whole campus is notified of the event via e-mail and is reminded to “be safe.” A sexual assault is reported once every few months, but the campus has worked hard to confront this issue. Every incoming student is required to attend a sexual assault information session, which has improved students’ awareness about potential dangers that may exist even in a small town. Overall, especially compared with colleges in an urban setting, William & Mary is very safe.

Free Profile Tools

Do I Stand A Chance?

Calculate YOUR chances of admission at every school CP covers!

__%

Personality Match

Calculate YOUR personality match with every school CP covers!

__%

What'll It Cost Me?

Estimate your out-of-pocket costs at every school CP covers!

$__,___

Students Speak Out

vwburk says: College of William & Mary 2014 Psychology

I feel safe, and that's saying a... I feel safe, and that's saying a lot because I'm a terribly paranoid person. Steer Clear is amazing, the police are nice, the only thing to worry about are the townies. Some can be really creepy, but usually the security on campus keeps the creepers away. 12345 Safety & Security: December 10, 2008 Report

Anonymous says:

The campus is very safe! The... The campus is very safe! The school newspaper always publishes the weekly activity in their issues and usually the worst things are stolen bikes or incidents of public drunkenness. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Anonymous says:

I hardly ever study in my room,... I hardly ever study in my room, and my study habits are such that on more than one occasion I’ve found myself in an academic building across campus from my dorm at three in the morning. I’ve never had a problem with walking back by myself, though, as long as I let someone in the dorm know I’m on my way, so they know where I am until I get in safely. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Anonymous says:

The campus is safer than most... The campus is safer than most partially because of its location. Residence Life and Campus Police are trying to make it even safer, if possible. I have never felt threatened, though, and there is an organization that has people on-hand at night to walk you places if you don’t want to walk by yourself. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Anonymous says:

I feel safe. There have been a few... I feel safe. There have been a few attack incidents on campus, but there is an escort service that you can always call if you want someone to walk with you. 12345 Safety & Security Report

Did You Know?

All campus residences are protected by electronic key card locks that allow only students in during the day, and only residents of the building in at night.

Most Recent Contributing Author

Name: Joe Quinn
Hometown: Fredericksburg, VA
Major: Geology/English

Joe loves dogs.

Contributing Author Internship

College Prowler is actively seeking talented students to be "Contributing Authors," and assist with updating the College Prowler guide to their school. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain internship experience, be a part of a nationally recognized company, gain tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college. Read more about the internship.