New Virginia Tech website educates university community regarding campus safety issues

BLACKSBURG, Va., April 26, 2010 – Virginia Tech has launched its new threat assessment website, providing the university community with a new resource regarding campus safety issues.

The website provides information regarding the mission and role of the university’s Threat Assessment Team; how to report concerning incidents or situations; and other helpful resources aimed at educating students, faculty, staff, and parents on campus safety issues.

The university’s Threat Assessment Team was established in December 2007 by Presidential Memo 251. The mission of the multi-disciplinary group is to determine if an individual poses, or may reasonably pose, a threat of violence to self, others, or the Virginia Tech community; and to intervene to avert the threat and maintain the safety of the situation. The team responds to behaviors exhibited by students, employees, visitors, and non-affiliated persons before to a critical incident occurs in an effort to maintain a safe and secure working and learning environment.

Threat Assessment Team members include representatives from the Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, Human Resources, Cook Counseling Center, Virginia Tech Police Department, and University Legal Counsel. Two permanent representatives -- a member from the Office of the University Registrar and a senior faculty representative — were recently added to the team. Visit the website for a complete listing of current team members.

The Virginia Tech community is encouraged to provide feedback on the threat assessment website by clicking on the “Evaluate this website” link located on each subpage. For additional information on the Virginia Tech Threat Assessment Team or the threat assessment website, contact Emily Reineke, Threat Assessment Team coordinator at (540) 231-7194.