A woman reported that she was raped near the University of Maryland's Baltimore campus last month after getting off a bus, according to an alert from campus police.

In a message sent to students and staff, university police said the woman contacted Baltimore Police on Dec. 1 about a rape that she said occurred Nov. 21 in the 200 block of Pearl St. The woman told police that she got off a bus at the intersection of North Greene and West Saratoga streets at about 4 p.m. and was forced at knifepoint onto nearby Pearl Street, where she was raped. 

University officials said city police notified them about the woman's report on Monday. City police could not be reached late Monday for comment on the report.

"This information is being provided in an effort to ensure that the community is aware of the incident and our efforts to ensure the safety of the campus community. As a precaution, we are stepping up patrols in the area and coordinating with the Baltimore Police Department in their investigation of this incident," the message says.

The suspect is described as a white male, 40 to 50 years of age, with blonde, wavy hair and a mustache. 

The 200 block of Pearl Street is between Lexington Market and the school's campus.