The University of Iowa’s Reimagining Campus Safety Action Committee is making progress on creating a shared vision for a safe and inclusive campus for every member of the community.

During weekly meetings, the committee has studied the context of policing nationally and locally. Members also have worked together to gain understanding of how different UI communities define safety and experience law enforcement.

In addition, over the next few weeks and into the spring semester, the committee will begin to engage the community through town hall meetings and listening sessions to gather a range of perspectives, experiences, and viewpoints.

Town hall meetings are scheduled for:

• Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021
• Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021

The times and Zoom information will be announced later.

In June, the university announced the formation of the committee, which was created to answer these and other questions:

• What are the essential elements of a safe and inclusive campus?
• What policies, practices, and organizational structures are needed to provide the essential elements of a safe and inclusive campus?
• Who should perform the various duties associated with a safe and inclusive campus?

The group, chaired by Vice President for Student Life Sarah Hansen, includes 24 members with a range of viewpoints, roles, and professions. Members include undergraduate and graduate students; staff with expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusion, threat assessment, and student success; shared governance representatives; the UI Department of Public Safety; and faculty members with research expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusion, policing of communities of color, deliberative dialogues, and organizational change.

The committee expects to make recommendations to President Harreld early in the spring 2021 semester, with a goal of having a new structure in place by July 2021.