UTDPP1114
Public Safety Oversight Committee

Policy Statement

The Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) is a Standing Committee of The University of Texas at Dallas appointed by the President.

Committee Charge

The Public Safety Advisory Committee provides guidance to and oversight of the public safety functions of The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD). These include the University of Texas at Dallas Police Department (UTDPD), Emergency Management, and Fire and Life Safety, collectively the university public safety units. The Committee is charged to perform the following duties:

1. Serve as an institutional channel of communication between members of the university community and public safety units;
2. Facilitate communication and develop a mutual understanding of roles and expectations between the community and public safety units;
3. Review issues or concerns related to public safety at UT Dallas identified by the PSAC or referred to it from the university community;
4. Ensure that the policies, practices, and operations of university public safety units effectively promote the safety and security of the university community and that each member of the university community is treated with respect and professionalism;
5. Promote transparency and trust between the university community and public safety units by monitoring public safety units' activities to ensure: a)compliance with University of Texas System policies; and b) treatment of each member of the university community in a manner that upholds the core values of the university.

Any member of the university community, acting personally or officially, may submit a matter to the PSAC for consideration. However, the committee is not intended to be a substitute for the established means of handling formal grievances or complaints. When appropriate, the committee is expected to refer concerns to the proper channels for formal consideration and action. The receptivity and effectiveness of those channels is within the committee's purview.

As matters warrant, at the request of the chair, the committee may meet with the president. The committee, through its chair, may communicate with the leadership of public safety units and may respond, as appropriate, to any member of the university community who submits a concern to the committee. As part of executing its charge, the committee shall:

• Receive bi-annually reports from public safety units regarding hiring and training policies and practices;
• Receive bi-annually reports from public safety units regarding complaints made by members of the university community against police officers and/or public safety staff and the results of any subsequent investigations;
• Receive bi-annually reports from the chief of police on all use of force incidents involving UTDPD officers;
• Receive quarterly reports from the chief of police on citations issued and criminal cases referred to the district or county attorney;
• Receive briefings as needed from public safety units on any changes to university or UT System policies or procedures related to public safety;
• Serve as a sounding board for public safety units on various issues or concerns involving these units and the university community;
• Review and provide input on proposed public safety programs and initiatives to enhance campus safety and security;
• As appropriate, advise the president and public safety units on the most effective strategies for communication and engagement that promote a strong relationship between public safety units and the university community;
• As appropriate, review, in consultation with subject-matter experts, the most effective strategies for implementing research-based best-practices in campus public safety;
• Prepare an annual report to the president to include a summary of the matters on which the committee focused, conclusions reached, and recommendations for consideration by the president. The report may include matters that are recommended to be continued for consideration by the committee appointed for the following academic year.
• At the discretion of the committee but no fewer than once a year, invite all members of the UTD community to attend committee meetings and participate in a public comment and question period; and
• Request additional reports regarding complaints and use of force as suggested by the members.

Membership

The committee shall consist of 10 voting members appointed to two-year, staggered terms. Membership shall consist of two tenure-track faculty members, one of whom must be tenured, and one non-tenure system faculty member nominated by the Committee on University Service, three staff members nominated by the Staff Council, two undergraduate students nominated by Student Government, and one graduate student nominated by the Graduate Student Assembly. Faculty, staff and student members are appointed by the President. In addition, the Dean of Students shall serve as an ex-officio, voting member. The Vice President for Administration and Chief of Operations, Chief of Police, designee of Chief of Police, Senior Director for Risk and Safety, Associate Director for Emergency Management, Fire Marshal, University Attorney, and Assistant Vice President of Institutional Compliance and Title IX Coordinator shall serve as ex officio, non-voting members. The chair of the committee shall be appointed by the President annually from among the appointed faculty members.

At the request of the RUO or committee chair, the President may appoint additional, non-voting members to the committee for one-year terms.

Responsible University Official (RUO)

The Vice President for Administration and Chief of Operations serves as the RUO for this committee.