Need Immediate Assistance?

  • Call 911 if you need immediate assistance at your location. Be ready to tell the dispatcher: what is happening, where it is happening, and a description of the people involved.
  • Once safe, call Safe Campus at 206-685-SAFE (7233).

Behaviors to Watch For

Violent behavior is often preceded by signs that indicate a person is not coping well. The following behaviors to watch for could indicate the potential for an individual to engage in violent behavior or self-harm. They may be behaviors that you observe or that are reported to you by coworkers, students, faculty, or TAs, etc. Call us at 206-685-SAFE (206-685-7233) if you are concerned about any of these:

  • Reacting angrily or emotionally in a way that seems disproportionate to the situation.
  • Making direct or veiled threats about harming or killing one’s self or others.
  • Making unusual references to or being preoccupied with violent incidents that have made the news.
  • Engaging in intimidating, belligerent, insubordinate, defiant, or challenging behavior.
  • Being confrontational, angry, or behaving in an unpredictable, restless, or agitated manner.
  • Having a history of violent, reckless, or antisocial behavior.
  • Displaying an unusual or obsessive fondness or fascination with firearms.
  • Blaming others for anything that goes wrong, with no sense of personal responsibility.
  • Displaying a recent, marked job or academic performance decline and/or attendance problem.
  • Displaying marked changes in personality, mood, or behavior.
  • Withdrawing from friends and acquaintances.
  • Crying excessively for what appears to be little or no reason.
  • Exhibiting a decline in personal grooming.
  • Crossing behavioral boundaries at work (e.g., excessive phone calls, personal emails, and/or visits).
  • Engaging in substance abuse.
  • Perceiving disgrace or loss of options due to failure, including failing in school.
  • Experiencing serious stress in one’s personal life (e.g., financial, family, or marital problems).

Prohibited Behaviors

Prohibited behaviors are behaviors the University does not tolerate—whether direct or through the use of University facilities, properties, or resources. Prohibited behaviors:

  • are violent.
  • threaten violence.
  • harass or intimidate others.
  • interfere with an individual’s legal rights of movement or expression.
  • disrupt the workplace, our academic environment, or the University’s ability to provide service to the public.

Violent or threatening behavior can include physical acts, oral or written statements, harassing email messages, harassing telephone calls, gestures, and expressions or behaviors such as stalking.

Resources

SafeCampus

SafeCampus is the central reporting office if you are concerned for yourself or a friend. We have trained specialists who will take your call, connect you with resources, and put safety measures in place to reduce the chances of violence occurring. We are available 24/7.

UW Police Department (UWPD)

  • Emergency calls: 911
  • Non-emergency calls: 206-685-UWPD (206-685-8973)
  • police.uw.edu

Provides emergency response to violent incidents and direct threats of harm to persons or property. The UWPD also provides Crime Prevention services designed to assist in identifying problems and intervening to prevent violence.

UWPD Victim Advocate (available to UW community)

The Victim Advocate works with faculty, staff, and students on a variety of safety concerns, including dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. She provides planning for personal safety and information about resources, protection orders, reporting options, and navigating the criminal justice system.

Health and Wellness Advocate (available to UW students)

The H&W Advocate works with students affected by sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, and sexual harassment. The H&W Advocate meets with students to offer support and guide them through their rights, options, and resources.

UW Counseling Center (available to UW students)

The UW Counseling Center supports students in all aspects of their development, providing personal and career counseling, study skills assistance, and other services to those currently enrolled. The Center is ready to respond to students in crisis situations. Consultations with faculty, staff, and parents who have concerns about a student are also available.

Hall Health Mental Health Clinic (available to UW community)

Hall Health Mental Health Clinic provides mental health services to students, faculty and staff, including assessments; individual, couple, family and group therapy; medication evaluation and management; and referrals when appropriate to other campus or community resources.

UW Human Resources Consultants (available to faculty and staff)

Your department’s assigned HR Consultant can help you with information about leave eligibility use, planning time away from work for legal reasons etc.

UW CareLink (available to benefits-eligible faculty and staff)

The UW CareLink program offers short-term confidential counseling services for faculty and staff at no cost. Master’s-level counselors are available to take your call, any time day or night.