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Cornell University

Cornell Brooks Public Policy

Health and Safety

For emergencies, dial 911

The closest emergency room to the Wolpe Center is George Washington University Hospital, 900 23rd Street, NW.

Additional health and wellbeing resources

  • Student health center for Cornell Students in DC is located at Georgetown University: Contact Georgetown University Student Health, Darnall Hall, Ground Floor, 3800 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007.
  • Dupont Circle MinuteClinic: The closest MinuteClinic, a neighborhood medical clinic that accepts most insurance, is located at 2240 M Street, NW.
  • Local DC mental health services: Contact Parkhurst Associates, 1755 S Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009. Payment required. Be sure to check your insurance.
  • Local DC pharmacy: The CVS at 2240 M Street, NW, is open 24 hours a day.
  • Cornell University health services: Students can call Cornell Health 24/7 for consultation about medical or mental health concerns: 607.255.5155. Learn more on Cornell Health’s Especially for Students Outside of Ithaca page.
  • Cornell’s Student Health Plan (SHP): If you’re enrolled in SHP, refer to Using Your Student Health Plan on Cornell’s Student Health Benefits website to find providers in the D.C. area who participate with your insurance.

Safety & security at the CU Wolpe Center

Cornell in Washington is a caring community and each member of the community plays a vital role in supporting and maintaining the wellbeing, safety, and security of all at the CU Wolpe Center. To that end, please review the following information:

  • In an emergency, dial 911 and notify the Tutor on call as soon as it is safe to do so.
  • The security alarm system is monitored 24/7 at the CU Wolpe Center.
  • The fire alarm system includes annunciators, strobes, and sprinklers throughout.
  • In case of fire, notify others by pulling a fire alarm, located at every exit and stairwell door. Exit the building immediately and meet up in designated location.
  • In the case of unforeseen emergency or disasters, follow the directives of local authorities. CIW staff will also give directions.
  • CIW maintains emergency provisions and food and water to last three days. You are advised to have an individual emergency care kit in your apartment as well.
  • The Tutor on call is based on a rotating schedule that is posted on each floor. Tutor-on-call duty is from 11:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. daily.
  • You must immediately report lost access cards and apartment keys to the office or, after hours, to the Tutor on call.
  • In all cases of emergency, communicate with CIW staff immediately as soon as it is safe to do so. If phones aren’t working, send an email to cwash-service-request@cornell.edu to share your location and status and inform your emergency contact person as well.

General safety tips

The Dupont Circle neighborhood in Washington, DC, is generally very safe. That said, it is in the heart of a city:

  • Be mindful of your surroundings.
  • Do not go out alone late at night. Take a friend with you.
  • Let others know where you are going.

Additional safety resources

Please review the Cornell University Emergency Action Guide. Keep in mind that while this is written for the Ithaca campus, much of it is applicable to Washington, DC. When in doubt, call 911 and notify the Tutor on call as soon as it is safe to do so. Here are a few topics from this guide: