January 12, 2023 - Campus Safety Update for January 2023

Dear Campus Community,

I hope you enjoyed, or are still enjoying, your winter break. As we prepare for the start of the spring semester, Cabinet, the Academic Senate Executive Committee, and I have been working closely to determine the viability of each of the resolves made by the senate last month. This includes examining how we can legally be more transparent about personnel and safety issues that affect our community. I am committed to sharing information as progress continues.

Meanwhile, we continue to enhance campus safety and analyze what additional support we can provide. A few updates:

• Campus Safety Forums – Two campus safety forums are scheduled for the first week of the semester. Student Affairs will lead two hybrid sessions. During these meetings, leadership from Student Affairs, University Police, Business and Finance, and other units will share information and answer questions about available resources and measures to address safety.
  • Employee Session—Tuesday, January 24, from 12:30–2 p.m. in Colusa 100A/B with a virtual option
  • Student Session—Wednesday, January 25, from 2:30-4:30 p.m. in BMU 203 with a virtual option (please note the time change).
• Enhanced Mental Health Services – Beginning with the spring 2022 semester, the University will have additional counselors available for in-person sessions. We will have a counselor available to the entire campus, and one specifically for employees and students within the Department of Biological Sciences.
• Security Measures at Holt Hall – We began the process of changing locks internally last summer and have accelerated that effort. We are developing a long-term plan that will include additional changes to locks as well as transition to swipe-card access where appropriate in Holt Hall and the broader campus. University Police Department also continues to have a regular presence inside and outside Holt Hall for the time being.

I want to affirm that everyone should feel campus is a safe place to work and learn. If you have concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to your supervisor.

Sincerely,

Gayle E. Hutchinson

President