Campussafety&security

Campus Safety & Security

VCUarts Qatar is provided contracted campus security from Qatar Foundation. Security personnel are not sworn officers and do not possess police powers. All students, faculty, staff, and guests are encouraged to promptly report criminal incidents, accidents, and other emergencies to campus security, which will coordinate with local authorities or report directly to Qatari emergency services as appropriate.

Reporting Criminal Incidents and other Emergencies at VCUarts Qatar

Incidents can be reported at any time by calling Qatar Foundation’s main security control room at (+974) 4454 0999, or the VCUarts Qatar security control room at (+974) 4402 0769. Incidents can also be reported in person at Qatar Foundation’s Central Plant (CP2) Building on the North Campus or at VCUarts Qatar’s main security control room, basement floor, Room 8, also known as the Fire Command Center.

To further encourage the timely reporting of crimes on campus, the following persons have been designated as “campus security officials” to whom incidents may also be reported:

  • Andrea Cecetka, Director of Facilities and Safety, VCUarts Qatar. Office: (+974) 4402-0668. Mobile: (+974) 3025 1232. Email: [email protected]
  • Archana Kumar, Director of Human Resources, VCUarts Qatar. Office: (+974) 440-20549 / (+974) 3013 3505.

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is committed to assisting all members of the community in providing for their own safety and security. As required by federal law (The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, 20 U.S.C.1092(f), known as the “Clery Act”), the university publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report for the Virginia-based campuses, which contains information regarding campus security, crime reporting policies, personal safety and crime prevention, and fire and crime statistics for our various Virginia-based campus locations. The university also publishes a separate Annual Security Report for the VCUarts Qatar campus, which contains information regarding security, crime reporting policies, personal safety and crime prevention, and crime statistics for the Qatar campus. To request a paper copy of these reports, please contact the VCU Police Department by calling (804) 828-3851 or in person at 224 E. Broad St., Richmond, Virginia 23219.

VCUarts Qatar Building Access Rules

VCUarts Qatar building access rules are established for the safety and security of students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

General Student Access

  1. The VCUarts Qatar building is considered open to VCUarts Qatar students 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Internal spaces, such as the university libraries and maker-spaces have unique access requirements; please see their timings to schedule access after normal business hours.
  2. Should an incident in Education City arise which limits building access due to safety concerns (fire, power outage, other facilities management incident making the building potentially unsafe for occupancy), the community will be notified via email and signs will be posted at the main entrance. The university community will be provided with regular updates, and once deemed safe, a message will be sent that the building is once again accessible for occupancy.
  3. Students must show their IDs to enter the building, and should carry their VCUarts Qatar student ID at all times when in Education City. Students should provide their VCUarts Qatar ID if asked by a security guard.
  4. Security guards, when requested, will open doors to classrooms for students to work on projects with proof of prior authorization after hours. Security guards will not unlock doors to allow students access to offices, electrical or mechanical rooms, or custodial storage rooms.
  5. While in the building, students should report any incidents (injuries, suspicious activity, plumbing issues, etc.) immediately to the security guards on duty at the main entrance or by calling the security control room at 4402-0769.  

Visitor Access

  1. All visitors MUST sign in at the main Security Desk and present a photo ID. Visitors are allowed in the building during normal business hours, and to attend university events taking place after normal business hours.
  2. Vendors (travel agents, office supply sales persons, hotel representatives, etc.) are not allowed in the building without an appointment. The vendor must provide Security with the name of the VCUarts Qatar person with whom they are scheduled to meet, and the time of the scheduled meeting. Security will direct the vendor to the reception area at the university’s main entrance for assistance with contacting the community member of their arrival for the scheduled meeting.
  3. Outside the hours of 8am to 5pm, Sunday through Thursday, visitors will only be allowed if they meet the above requirements and they have an appointment with faculty or staff (Security will call the faculty or staff member for approval prior to admitting the visitor, and the faculty or staff member must come to the Security desk to meet the visitor).
  4. No visitors are allowed in the building after 12am. After midnight, only VCUarts Qatar students, faculty, and staff are allowed in the building until 8am the following morning.
  5. Anyone coming to deliver something to a faculty/staff member or student at any time must wait at Security for the community member to come to the Security Desk. Drop-off/pick-up deliveries by visitors or vendors to the university community (i.e. food deliveries, items from home forgotten by students, etc.) must take place at the main entrance and cannot be left with university security or reception staff.

Enforcement Authority of Campus Security

Qatar Foundation is responsible for campus security. Qatar Foundation’s City Operations Directorate has authority over all security personnel working on campus. Security personnel are comprised of Qatar Foundation employees as well as contracted security staff assigned to Education City as a part of a third party contract. Qatar Foundation does not have the authority to arrest individuals who violate the laws of the State of Qatar. Should an incident arise which requires Qatari police presence, QF Security will act as a liaison and facilitate the necessary support.