The Office of the Provost is soliciting nominations of individuals to serve on the University of Michigan’s new task force on public safety.
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The creation of the task force — announced earlier this month as part of a number of new anti-racism initiatives — will convene to better understand the status of policing and public safety on the Ann Arbor campus and to ensure respectful, transparent and community-responsive public safety services on campus.
The group will examine public safety efforts on campus — identify existing problems, determine areas of need, recognize and leverage existing strengths, and generate actionable recommendations.
The goal is for U-M’s Division of Public Safety and Security to be the very best at providing public safety for the university community and a model for other campuses.
U-M community members who are interested in joining the task force, or who would like to nominate someone else, are asked to apply via an online form by 5 p.m. Nov. 5. The nomination should describe one’s lived experience, research expertise, community leadership and any other qualifications that would make the candidate a good fit for the task force.
“This call for nominations is intended to be broad and inclusive,” said Susan M. Collins, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “Within our community, there are a wide range of strongly held views and proposed actions, often reflecting very different experiences. However, there is consensus that all people on our campus should not only be safe, but feel safe.”
The provost will announce the task force’s charge and membership in November.
“To be effective, this work must leverage and reflect perspectives from all stakeholders — undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, staff, parents, the Ann Arbor community and DPSS,” Collins said. “It must pay particular attention to the experiences and perspectives of our communities of color and others who are disproportionately impacted by challenging national policing policies and practices.”
