SUNY-Mandated Presidential Campus Safety Advisory Committee Report to President Kenny, June 15, 2008
Executive Summary
The SUNY-mandated Presidential Campus Safety Advisory Committee was created in late February 2008. Each year a committee is charged by Stony Brook University President Kenny to produce a report on campus safety. President Kenny charged this year’s committee on March 25, 2008 to submit a report on our findings by June 15, 2008. The report must be sent to the President, to The State University of New York, and the campus community. The report may be requested by student applicants to the University and potential employees. The committee consists of 12 members appointed by the President comprising an equal number of faculty, staff and students.
The President stated that the report should contain a review of:
The President stated that she is also interested in the committee’s observations about any other safety-related programs and initiatives, even though these additional findings are not officially a part of the mission of this committee.
The committee’s first meeting coincided with an alleged incident of a person with a gun on campus. Though the President was unable to attend the meeting and officially charge the committee due to this crisis, the incident prompted the committee to begin its work. This crisis served as an opportunity to test campus emergency preparedness systems and to determine where improvement was needed. The committee advised the President to send out a follow-up broadcast e-mail to the campus community to inform members of the improvements made to the emergency management plan. Her initial e-mail solicited feedback and suggestions from the campus community.
Committee members made it a priority to review campus policies and procedures related to Emergency Management. Colleagues with expertise and responsibility for emergency management, communication and safety were interviewed during our April 23 meeting. In addition, the committee interviewed colleagues in Human Resource Services, Training and Organizational Development and University Police on May 8 about the New York State mandates to create and implement policies on Workplace Violence and Domestic Violence.
The committee then returned to its charge as stated in items 1 through 5 above. Committee members interviewed colleagues who provide education, training, counseling, and investigation of complaints and inquiries related to sexual assault. They also reviewed 17 campus policies and procedures related to safety. The committee also reviewed 5 programs or initiatives related to both personal and general safety. The 5 programs or initiatives are:
1. Emergency Management Plan Policies and Procedures
2. Safe Zones Program
3. New York State Executive Order 19 Domestic Violence Policy
4. Disruptive Behavior Policies and Programs for Students
Stony Brook University (Students)5. Future Legislation related to Safety in the WorkplaceSchool of Medicine (Faculty, Fellows, Residents)
- Behavior Assessment Committee
- Responding to Disruptions on Campus
- Responding to Disruptions in the Classroom
- Disruptive Resident Behavior
- Code of Ethics
- Faculty Assistance Committee – Faculty Senate
The committee recognizes that individuals within our community often function within multiple roles as employees and students, and in different locations and campuses. This complexity may pose challenges with both coordination and communication of information, programs and resources.
Additionally, the committee recognizes that Stony Brook University is a geographically large and complex organization. The Stony Brook University system comprises the Stony Brook campus, the University Medical Center (UMC), the Long Island State Veterans Home (LISVH), off-site offices in Long Island and two relatively new campuses in Manhattan and Southampton. The committee focused its review and recommendations on the Stony Brook campus.
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