Safety and Security Message

To members of the Mary Baldwin College community (students, parents, faculty, and staff):

We are looking forward to greeting students on our beautiful historic campus for the 2007-08 academic year very soon. Much planning goes into the creation of dynamic opportunities for students to help them build vibrant futures, and we believe that a safe and secure environment is a very important part of that. We are continuously improving our response plans for potential emergencies and we need every member of the community to partner with us in that effort.

This year, for the first time, I will be asking students to complete a Contact Information Form online this fall. This document will capture vital information we need to communicate with them through text messaging, voice mail, and email. It will also provide us with emergency and family contact information. Parents and guardians may help by ensuring that students have your cell phone and email addresses when they return to campus.

I also ask parents and guardians to take a few important minutes before your daughter returns to campus to discuss a personal emergency travel plan should the college need to close on short notice due to an emergency. Students should be prepared to depart campus immediately. Students should only pack belongings which can be easily carried in a vehicle. The college will secure the residence halls. For students who live far from Staunton , it will be essential that they locate another student who lives nearby to stay with until arrangements may be made to get home. I encourage you to make a plan.

College communications will advise the campus of any known potential emergencies and will continuously update students, parents, faculty, and staff during an emergency via Mary Baldwin's Web site (www.mbc.edu), email, text messaging, and local media.

While no college/university may say its campus is crime-free, ours has been a relative safe haven for many years and we will do all we can to ensure that does not change. You have access to information about safety and security on our Web site at www.mbc.edu/security (note that our crime statistics must be updated by October 1 each year).

You play a central role in our plan for the safety and security of all our students. Thank you for your support and cooperation.

Sincerely,

Dr. Brenda L. Bryant
Dean of Students and Vice President of Enrollment Management
Mary Baldwin College
Staunton , VA 24401