Virginia Tech is again offering three campus programs for faculty and staff designed to train and engage more community members in campus safety and personal safety issues and emergency response procedures.

Human Resources, Virginia Tech Police, and Emergency Management have partnered to offer Faculty/Staff Police Academy, Rape Aggression Defense Class, and Campus Citizen’s Emergency Response Team.

Classes will be offered during business hours beginning May 17. Enrollment is limited, and applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Department heads are encouraged to allow their personnel to attend these sessions as part of their regular work day.

Faculty and staff interested in these courses should enroll online.

“For several years, Virginia Tech Police has offered Student Police Academy and Rape Aggression Defense primarily to students because programs were held generally in the evening — a time more conducive to students and less so to faculty and staff,” said Officer Geof Allen, who heads the Virginia Tech Police Community Outreach Unit. “Faculty and staff have asked us to offer these programs during the day or in the summer months to better accommodate their schedule.”

Courses will continue to be offered in the evenings during the fall and spring semesters, and faculty and staff are invited to voluntarily attend with the students.

Faculty/Staff Police Academy

The Faculty/Staff Police Academy is a hands-on, inside look at university law enforcement. It is a free class in which participants will learn the role of law enforcement in a campus community. This is an opportunity to better understand policing and for the department to more deeply understand the community.

  • The class will be held on Tuesdays beginning May 17 through July 5 from 2:30 to 5 p.m. in the Physical Plant classroom.

Rape Aggression Defense Class

The Rape Aggression Defense Class is a free self-defense class for women only, ages 16 and up. This class teaches how to recognize a threat, avoid it, resist it, and overcome an attack. This class is both hands-on and lecture, and can be completed regardless of physical condition or injuries.

  • The class will be held on Tuesdays beginning Aug. 2 through Aug. 16 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Inn at Virginia Tech.

Note: This class is offered throughout the academic year in the evenings. Each class is three hours on three different days. Sign up for the night class online.

Campus Citizen’s Emergency Response Team

The Campus Citizen’s Emergency Response Team is designed to prepare volunteers to better assist in emergency response on and around campus. This class teaches fire suppression, disaster medical operations, search and rescue, terrorism, and more. Those who successfully complete this class will become part of the response team for the university and will be provided response equipment (such as backpack, helmet, and medical equipment).

  • This class will be held on Thursdays beginning May 19 through July 21 from 2:30 to 5 p.m. in the Squires Student Center, Brush Mountain Room B.

Questions may be directed to Allen at (540) 231-8123.

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