Community Safety and Well-being
Task Force on Community Safety and Well-Being
CHARGE
The original University Task Force on Community Safety and Well-Being charge was to facilitate a comprehensive analysis of the challenges, opportunities, successes and potential gaps related to the safety of our Ohio State community members. The task force analyzed on-campus and University District crime statistics and current crime prevention and education resources. The group’s recommendations include improving communication, engagement and support of residents on campus and in the near-campus neighborhoods. Recommendations focus on resources that are most important to tangibly improving safety, sense of belonging and community confidence among those engaging in the area. The task force was challenged to identify tactics that help to minimize violence, crime and high-risk activities and behaviors. The group’s approach was anchored in principles that reinforce partnership, well-being, community-building and outcomes-based results.
Following a comprehensive review, the task force published the below recommendations on November 18, 2020 in conjunction with a presentation to Ohio State's Board of Trustees.
Co-Chairs of Task Force
Jay Kasey
Senior Vice President
Office of Administration and Planning
Melissa Shivers
Vice President
Office of Student Life
Task Force Members
Trudy Bartley
Associate Vice President
Local and Community Relations
Office of Government Affairs
Jennifer Beard
Assistant Dean
College of Public Health
JR Blackburn
Chief of Staff
Office of the President
Natassja (Tassj) Boham
Inter-Professional Council Representative
Mitchell Brown
City Council Member
The City of Columbus
Noah Burton
Student Representative
Dilna Cama
Department Manager
Off-Campus and Commuter Student Services, Office of Student Life
Chris Davey
Interim Vice President
University Communications
Jessica Eveland
Secretary to the Board
Board of Trustees
Anne Garcia
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Office of Legal Affairs
Kate Gomez
Student Representative
Tom Gregoire
Dean
College of Social Work
Matt Hansen
Executive Director
University District Organization
University Community Business Association
University District SID
Molly Hegarty
Managing Director
Office of Student Legal Services
Roaya Higazi
Student Body President
Undergraduate Student Government
Douglas Huffner
Senior Director and Chief Risk Officer
Office of Financial Services / Business & Finance
Dennis Jeffrey
Commander-Patrol Operations Zone 4
Columbus Division of Police,
The City of Columbus
Grace Johnson
Chief of Staff
Office of Diversity and Inclusion
Nicholas Messenger
Council of Graduate Students
Monica Moll
Director
Department of Public Safety
Aaron Moore
Task Force Coordinator
Office of Administration and Planning
Stephen Quaye
Associate Professor
Department of Educational Studies
Kate Pishotti
Deputy Chief of Staff
Mayor’s Office
The City of Columbus
Craig Stone
Deputy Public Safety Director
The City of Columbus
Sherri Tandon
Parent Representative
Adrian Ward
Student Representative
Willie Young
Senior Director
Off-Campus and Commuter Student Services, Office of Student Life
TASK FORCE IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS
SAFETY AWARENESS AND EDUCATION
Communication and programming to enhance safety and embrace diversity and inclusion.
ENHANCED SECURITY MEASURES
Expanded surveillance, improved lighting and increased police and security patrols.
OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT
Social services and community partnerships along with police outreach to marginalized groups.
Safety Awareness and Education
| Recommendation | Action Taken | Status |
| Safety Education & Communication | Launched Safety Spotlight video series featuring self-defense tactics and resources. | Completed (Spring 2021) |
| Safety Education & Communication | Launched new, comprehensive safety resources webpage. | Completed (Spring 2021) |
| Enhance Existing Cultural Diversity Training for OSUPD | Ongoing | |
| Community Ambassador Program | Expanded service boundaries and staffing. In the process of hiring additional student community ambassadors. | Ongoing |
| Off-Campus Safety Class | Determined an online training will be pursued and curriculum is being developed. | Ongoing |
| Off-Campus Living Workshops | Planning for fall semester 2021 with the goal to increase awareness and attendance. Soliciting feedback from parents and families in order to keep all Buckeyes informed about the transition off-campus. | Ongoing |
| Recommendation | Action Taken | Status |
| Community Crime Patrol | Reengaged with Community Crime Patrol for off-campus security foot patrols. | Completed (Fall 2020) |
| Lyft Ride Smart at Ohio State | Expanded discounted ridesharing hours from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. (formerly 3 a.m.) | Completed (Fall 2020) |
| Lighting Repairs Off-Campus | Immediate lighting repairs along with a lighting survey for longer-term enhancements. | Completed (Fall 2020-Spring 2021) |
| Off-Campus Surveillance Coverage | Expanded surveillance coverage in the off-campus neighborhoods with the addition of four cameras in Fall 2020 and two during Spring 2021. Three additional locations have been identified with the goal to have those installed by the end of May. | Completed (Fall 2020-Spring 2021) |
| Increased Police Patrols (Short-term) | Increased police presence in the off-campus area with a combination of OSUPD and CPD officers. Ohio State and the City of Columbus adjusted to crime trends by redeploying on-duty patrols and staffing patrols on overtime to add to the police presence in the University District. | Completed (Spring 2021) |
| Increased Police Patrols (Long-term) | OSUPD continues to recruit, hire and train sworn police officers to fill vacancies and retirements. The goal to expand OSUPD coverage, through joint patrol east of High Street, is longer-term and anticipated for FY23. | Ongoing |
| Off-Campus Housing Excellence Program (OCHEP) | Exploring potential partnerships with smart security systems that would then be available to student tenants and their landlords. | Ongoing |
| Recommendation | Action Taken | Status |
| Student Safety Survey | Issued a student safety survey in Spring 2021 to gauge the overall perception of safety both on and off campus as well as awareness of Ohio State’s resources and programs. Results are currently being analyzed with data likely available during Summer 2021. | Ongoing |
| OSUPD Community Programming and Initiatives | A Student Safety Dialogue was held on Thursday, April 22. Students had the opportunity to share what safety means to them to a panel of university and external representatives, including OSUPD, CPD, Student Life and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. | Ongoing |
| University District Organization (UDO) Social Service Outreach | Partnered with the UDO to add a full-time Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) in the off-campus area to provide additional outreach and support for the housing vulnerable. The College of Social Work will provide placement opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to acquire supervised experience with the LISW as part of their in-the-field training. | Ongoing |
| Partnerships with Grass Roots and Community Organizations | To advance greater safety and wellness, efforts are underway to provide an 8-week summer “Pathways to Progress” program for youth (16-18 years old). | Ongoing |
IMPLEMENTATION TEAM MEMBERS
Following the development and approval of the recommendations put forth by the Task Force, three implementation teams were formed to analyze and create implementation plans for each of the recommendations:
- Safety Awareness and Education
- Enhanced Security Measures
- Outreach and Engagement Efforts
These teams are supported by executive sponsors from across the university.
Implementation Team Executive Sponsors
The executive sponsors of the Community Safety and Well-Being Task Force are:
Jay Kasey
Senior Vice President for Administration and Planning
Mike Papadakis, MBA
Senior Vice President and CFO, Treasurer
Paul Patton
Senior Advisor to the President, Office of the President
Melissa Shivers, PhD
Vice President for the Office of Student Life
Safety and Education Implementation Team
Name | Area | |
Dr. Stephen Quaye (Co-Chair) |
| Associate Professor Higher Education and Student Affairs Department of Educational Studies |
Blake Marble (Co-Chair) | Director of Student Life Student Wellness Center | |
Dilna Cama | Department Manager, Off-Campus and Commuter Student Services. Office of Student Life | |
Dan Hedman | Director A&P Communications | |
Molly Hegarty | Managing Director OSU Student Legal Services | |
Sheri Tandon | Parent Representative | |
Bill Phillips | Chief Relationship Office, OCIO | |
Alyce Obee | Senior Relationship Manager, OCIO | |
Kate Gomez | Student Representative | |
Joanna Shaul | Lieutenant, University Law Enforcement Officer, University Police | |
Zaida Jenkins | Representative from Undergraduate Student Government | |
Tom Knox | Assistant Director, University Communications | |
Claire Halffield | Representative from Inter-Professional Council | |
Nicole Holman | Assistant Director, A&P Communications | |
Dennis Jeffrey | Commander-Patrol Operations Zone 4 Columbus Division of Police, The City of Columbus | |
Rachel DeMooy | Program Manager, Off-Campus Commuter Student Services, Office of Student Life |
Enhanced Security Measures Implementation Team
Name | Area | |
Director Monica Moll (Co-Chair) |
| Director, Department of Public Safety |
Aaron Moore (Co-Chair) | Program Coordinator, A&P Administration | |
Dennis Jeffrey | Commander-Patrol Operations Zone 4 Columbus Division of Police, The City of Columbus | |
Doug Huffner | Senior Director & Chief Risk Officer, Office of Financial Services / Business & Finance | |
Nick Messenger | Representative from the Council of Graduate Students | |
Bill Phillips | Chief Relationship Office, OCIO | |
Alyce Obee | Senior Relationship Manager, OCIO | |
Stacey Renker | Director of Risk and Emergency Management, Office of Student Life | |
Dilna Cama | Department Manager, Off-Campus and Commuter Student Services. Office of Student Life | |
Rachel DeMooy | Program Manager, Off-Campus Commuter Student Services, Office of Student Life | |
Aparna Dial | Senior Director of Sustainability and Strategic Services, Facilities Operations and Development | |
Deputy Chief Tracy Hahn | Deputy Chief of Police, University Police Department | |
Shea Daley | Representative from Inter-Professional Council | |
Nicole Holman | Assistant Director, A&P Communications | |
Aaron McKee | Representative from Undergraduate Student Government |
Outreach and Engagement Implementation Team
Name | Area | |
Trudy Bartley (Co-Chair) |
| Associate Vice President Local and Community Relations OSU Government Affairs |
Matt Hansen (Co-Chair) |
| Executive Director University District Organization |
Jennifer Beard | Assistant Dean OSU College of Public Health | |
Natassja Boham | Representative from Inter-Professional Council | |
Tom Gregoire | Dean - OSU College of Social Work | |
Grace Johnson | Chief of Staff OSU Office of Diversity and Inclusion | |
Ray Jones | Expert-in Residence Corporate Engagement Office, Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship | |
Craig Stone | Deputy Public Safety Director Columbus Division of Police | |
Bill Phillips | Chief Relationship Office, OCIO | |
Alyce Obee | Senior Relationship Manager, OCIO | |
Kimberly Spears-McNatt | Chief of Police, University Police | |
Nicole Holman | Assistant Director, A&P Communications | |
Erin Prosser | Director of Community Relations, PARE | |
Nicole Nieto | Assistant Vice Provost, Academic Affairs | |
James Jackson | Communications & Marketing Manager, Administration and Planning Services | |
Na’Tyra Green | Associate Editor, Executive Communications | |
Grant Ames | Legislative Assistant for Columbus City Councilman Mitchell Brown | |
Keith Troy | Pastor, New Salem Baptist Church | |
Adam Troy | Commercial Real Estate and Economic Development | |
Kacy Bullard | Director of Advocacy, Office of Government Affairs and The Ohio State University Alumni Association | |
Autumn Glover | Government Affairs and Community Relations / President, PACT — Wexner Medical Center | |
Katherine Cull | Neighborhood Liaison with the City of Columbus | |
Doreen Uhas Sauer | Education and Outreach Coordinator, Columbus Landmarks | |
DaVonti” Haynes | Graduate Research Associate, Student Life | |
Sandra Lopez | Legislative Advisor, Community Engagement Columbus City Council | |
Tracy Stuck | Prog Dir Comm Partnership & Innovation, Student Life |
SAFETY RESOURCES
RAVE GUARDIAN
Download the app by searching “Rave Guardian” inside the Ohio State app.
LYFT RIDE SMART AT OHIO STATE
Lyft Ride Smart at Ohio State offers students discounted rides, inside the university-designated service area, from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m.
SAFETY NOTICES
Ohio State’s Department of Public Safety uses a variety of methods to communicate with the campus community.
HOME SAFETY
Remember to lock your windows and doors and pick up complimentary safety alarms and timers from the Off-Campus and Commuter Student Services office located in the Ohio Union.
ADD OSUPD TO YOUR CONTACTS
Add our non-emergency number 614-292-2121 to your contacts and always
dial 9-1-1 in case of emergencies.