Campus Safety Office

The unapproved possession or use of ammunition, chemicals, flammable liquids, items that constitute a fire hazard, fireworks, offensive weapons, or explosives of any kind are strictly forbidden on campus. Offensive weapons include, without limitation, firearms of any kind, guns, pellet guns, B.B. guns, paintball guns, dart guns, bows and arrows, pepper spray and mace, any instrument that can hurl a projectile, brass knuckles, knives, hunting knives, and any other cutting instruments as determined within the sole discretion of the university, except those whose purpose is related to the preparation or consumption of food, as well as ammunition that can cause bodily harm. In addition, items that are not generally considered to be a weapon but could be used or viewed as a weapon are prohibited. Such items will be confiscated immediately.

Students violating these guidelines will be severely sanctioned up to and including expulsion. The university will report such violations to civil authorities if warranted.

Any of the above mentioned implements that are needed for a student’s activities or involvement on or off campus must be registered with the Office of Campus Safety and the Office of Student Engagement and Transformation; control and storage of these items shall be at the discretion of the Director of Campus Safety.

The university may permit exceptions to this procedure regarding items for the ROTC detachment, in which case control of these items shall be coordinated between the Director of Campus Safety and the military science professor. All such weapons must be placed in the secured arms area on campus.

Widener University’s Coordinated Community Response Team (CCRT) is a coalition of faculty, staff, and student representatives from across the university. The CCRT works collaboratively to create a culture where consent is centered, survivors are supported, and sexual violence – including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking - is not tolerated in person or online. In this aim, the CCRT provides inclusive and ongoing education and primary prevention as well as a comprehensive response to reports of sexual violence and misconduct.

Hazing is a serious cultural and public health problem that causes physical and mental harm to students nationwide. In continued support of hazing prevention and awareness, Widener University continues to prohibit all acts of hazing and adheres to the Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law, which defines hazing to include Hazing, Aggravated Hazing, and Organizational Hazing.

Learn More About Anti-Hazing

WAVE (Widener Anti-Sexual Education) is a university-wide campus safety program aimed at preventing sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, and stalking. WAVE is led by a coalition of students, faculty, and staff, with a strong emphasis on student input. WAVE provides education on consent, relationships, and bystander intervention.

Read WAVE news story
Access WAVE student resources

During a heightened state of security alert, report any of the following to Campus Safety:

• People in buildings or areas who do not appear to be conducting legitimate business.
• People monitoring areas, buildings, or entrances.
• Unauthorized people in restricted, sensitive, or private areas.
• People requesting information with no apparent need for that information.
• People wearing clothing not consistent with the weather conditions at mass population events (bulky coat in warm weather etc.).
• Abandoned parcels or other items in unusual locations or high traffic areas.
• Individuals attempting to access utility locations (water, electrical, petroleum, telecommunications, information systems).
• Multiple persons who appear to be working in unison, committing the above.
• Propped open building/residence hall entrance doors/windows.

Also Be Aware Of: 

• Abandoned vehicles.
• Vehicles parked near buildings or public and common areas for an extended period of time.
• Unexpected/unfamiliar delivery trucks.
• Unfamiliar vehicles parked for long periods of time.
• Vehicles containing unusual/suspicious parcels or material.
• Vehicles arriving and being left behind at unusual hours.

In the event of a terrorist attack, natural disaster, or other large-scale emergency, the Department of Homeland Security will provide a coordinated, comprehensive federal response and mount a swift and effective recovery effort.

• Keep your keys with you at all times; report lost keys to building manager/department head.
• Protect access codes, combinations, and cards, change codes regularly; report compromised codes to the person in charge.
• Familiarize yourself with building exits and emergency exit routes.
• Report suspicious tampering with physical security (doors, locks, etc.).
• Talk with co-workers; know what is out-of-place (unclaimed or unfamiliar items, etc.).
• Account for and secure all sensitive material/information when you are not able to attend to it.
• Account for and secure sensitive deliveries in a timely manner.

• Homeland Security
  PA 717-651-2715
  DE 302-744-4101
  DE 302-659-3362 DEMA
• State Police
  PA 484-840-1000 Chester
  PA 717-671-7500 Harrisburg
  DE 302-761-6677
• Water Company
  PA 610-876-8181 Chester
  PA 717-238-8725 Harrisburg
  DE 302-366-7055
• Electric/Gas Company
  PA 800-841-4141 Chester
  PA 800-841-4141 Harrisburg
  DE 302-366-7050
• Mayor's Office
  PA 610-477-7723 Chester
  PA 717-255-3040 Harrisburg
  DE 302-571-4100 Wilmington

As a WRN Ambassador, Widener University commits to working with NOAA and other Ambassadors to strengthen national resilience against extreme weather. In effect, the WRN Ambassador initiative helps unify the efforts across government, non-profits, academia, and private industry toward making the nation more ready, responsive, and resilient against extreme environmental hazards.

This is the first step to become a StormReady® Community.

For more information visit the Weather-Ready Nation website.

All property found on campus should be taken to Campus Safety within 48 hours of when it was found. Campus Safety will serve as the custodian of all found property. If an individual finds an object in public areas, it is his or her responsibility to take it to the Campus Safety Office. Items left in common areas such as the library and dining hall will be taken to Campus Safety by the staff workers in these areas. All staff workers will be directed to take found items to Campus Safety no later than the end of their shift. Athletic clothing and other athletic-related items found at the Schwartz Center will be handled by the equipment room at Schwartz Center.

Please use discretion in dealing with lost property. For example, a textbook that contains owner identification found in a classroom, should, if possible, be given to the student rather than transferring it to Campus Safety.

Campus Safety will store and catalog all found items. It will maintain a database of all these items and provide the documentation necessary to ensure that these items are returned to the appropriate owners or finders. Upon receipt of an object, Campus Safety will attempt to identify and contact the owner. If the owner cannot be identified, Campus Safety will proceed as follows:

• Attach an ID label to the item noting where, when, and by whom it was found. 
• Give the finder a receipt for the found object. The receipt will contain the ID number of the finder, a description of the object, and where and when the object was found. 
• Enter the item in a database.

Procedure for claiming lost items: 

• Try to locate lost items in the Campus Safety Office as soon as possible. Any such inquiry will be logged by Campus Safety. 
• Prior to being shown any item, the claimer must describe the item and indicate the approximate time and place where the item was lost. 
• The claimer will sign a form confirming that the item claimed is their property.

Procedure for the disposal of found property not claimed: 

• Campus Safety will hold the found property for 30 days. During that time, owners of the lost property will be able to claim the items they lost. 
• After 30 days, Campus Safety will attempt to contact the finder and offer her or him the items found. However, the executive director of the Campus Safety Department may recommend that an item be retained for a period of longer than 30 days before it is offered to the finder. 
• If the finder does not claim the property within 10 days after notification, the executive director of the Campus Safety Department will appropriately dispose of the property.