Nova Safe

Nova Safe

Nova Safe is a free smartphone app designed to help the Villanova University Department of Public Safety respond to emergency situations quickly and with more information available to them than ever before. 

Your safety is important and we hope that you use Nova Safe as a supplement to the other things you do every day to stay safe here a Villanova such as locking your door and keeping personal belongings secure. Please keep in mind though that Nova Safe is limited by the technology that supports it, such as cell phone functionality, internet availability, cellular coverage, and GPS positioning technology.  At times when these services are unavailable, Nova Safe may not work as you expect it to, and when dealing with an issue as important as safety, you should not be completely reliant on any one system or product.

Getting Started

Nova Safe is available in the App Store or on Google play and is free to download. After downloading the app, you can create a profile with as much personal information as desired — including, photos, contact information, local address, medical conditions, emergency contacts and more. Most of the information is optional and will be viewable to the Public Safety Dispatcher in the event you contact the Department via the app. The app is available to all students, faculty, and staff.

An important feature is that your GPS location can be seen by the Public Safety dispatcher when you contact the Department via the app. We can’t do this without your permission though. When prompted, you will need to “Enable Location Services” if you want us to be able to see where you are when you contact us. The only time the dispatcher can see your location is when you contact us via the app.

How it Works

Nova Safe has seven main functions.  All of these functions can be used anywhere you have cellular coverage, both on and off campus:

Emergency Calling & Texting

If an emergency call is made from the app, an alert is sent to the Public Safety dispatcher that you may need help.  Included in this alert is your profile information with a map of your current location.  At the same time your phone calls Public Safety and you are connected with emergency response.

Crime Map

The crime map is an easy way to stay informed about crime on campus. All serious crimes will be posted to the crime map. These include criminal homicide, rape and other sex offenses, aggravated assault, simple assault, hate crimes, stalking, dating violence, domestic violence, burglary, theft (including motor vehicle theft), and arson.  The crime map does not display every crime known to Public Safety, particularly liquor law offenses, drug offenses, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness. Information about these crimes can be found in the Daily Crime and Fire Log, which can be reviewed upon request at the Public Safety Office in Farrell Hall. 

Friend Watch

Friend Watch lets your emergency contacts know if you are out and about and may need watching over. Simply set the Friend Watch timer and describe your activity. Your Friend Watch contacts will then be sent a text message with this information. For example, a user might set a friend watch while walking from one building to another at night, walking from their office to a vehicle, going for a jog or any other activities where you just want additional safety. The friend “watcher” does not have to download the app in order for this function to work.

Submit a Tip

The “Submit a Tip” function is activated through the “Services and Tips” button to quickly send photos and videos—anonymously, if desired—directly to Public Safety. These might include crime tips, suspicious activity, icy sidewalks, or maintenance issues.

Do not use “Submit a Tip” for emergency situations and never put yourself in jeopardy to capture a picture or video to submit a report. Instead, use the Emergency Calling feature for dangerous or emergency situations.