Progress continues on Reimagining Campus Safety initiatives

The University of Iowa's Reimagining Campus Safety Implementation Team continues to make significant strides to enhance campus safety and student well-being initiatives.

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

The University of Iowa's Reimagining Campus Safety Implementation Team continues to make significant strides to enhance campus safety and student well-being initiatives.

Over the last year, the team has focused on completing three of the key remaining recommendations:

• Developinga new and improved resource guide
• Implementing a comprehensive response model
• Establishing the Campus Safety Improvement Board

These efforts, driven by the 2021 recommendations from the Reimagining Campus Safety Action Committee's final report, also align with the UI Strategic Plan 2022-2027goal of embedding well-being and mental health into all aspects of campus culture to better support students, faculty, and staff.

New and improved resource guide

One of the implementation team's primary achievements is the creation of a new and improved resource guide. This guide serves as a comprehensive directory of safety resources available to students, faculty, and staff. It includes information on emergency contacts, mental health services, and support for victims of crime. The guide is designed to be user-friendly, with an intuitive layout and easy-to-navigate sections. It also features a digital version accessible via the university's website and mobile app, ensuring that critical information is readily available when it's needed.

By providing clear and concise information, the guide empowers individuals to take proactive steps to ensure their safety and well-being, as well as information and resources for supporting others who may be experiencing challenging situations.

Comprehensive response model

In addition to the resource guide, the committee developed a response model to more effectively address safety concerns. This model outlines responses that may occur when a student, staff, or faculty member is in distress (non-law enforcement, co-response, and law enforcement response) and explains how the university uses a coordinated approach to handling various incidents, from minor infractions to major emergencies.

This approach emphasizes the importance of timely communication, collaboration between departments, and the use of evidence-based practices to support the safety and well-being of students and employees.

Campus Safety Improvement Board

Perhaps the most significant development is the establishment of the Campus Safety Improvement Board. Charged by the Office of the President, the board will seek to build trust and facilitate difficult conversations about campus safety to continuously adapt to the ever-changing dynamics of our campus environment.

The board comprises representatives from many campus groups, including students, faculty, staff, and safety experts. Its primary goal is to ensure that safety policies and practices are aligned with the needs and values of the university community. The board will meet twice per semester to review safety data, assess the effectiveness of current measures, and be proactive in recommending systemic improvements.

A key aspect of the board's work is its commitment to transparency and maintaining open communication. By engaging with the campus community and soliciting feedback, the board seeks to build trust and foster a sense of shared responsibility for safety. This collaborative approach is essential for addressing complex safety challenges, promoting a culture of continuous systemic improvement, and building on the work of the Reimagining Campus Safety Implementation Team.