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.
Task Force REcommendationsSAFETY NEWS
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
Recommendations | Rationale | Action(s) Taken | Status |
Develop a comprehensive, layered educational campaign of all safety resources. |
|
| Completed |
Expand and enhance the Community Ambassador program. |
|
|
Completed (Spring 2022) Ongoing |
Create and launch a safety class targeted for community members living off-campus. |
|
| Completed (Fall 2021) |
Increase access and attendance in the off-campus living workshops |
|
| Completed Fall 2021 Ongoing |
Enhance the existing cultural diversity and implicit bias training in OSUPD |
|
| Completed (Summer 2021)
|
Recommendations | Rationale | Action(s) Taken | Status |
Reintroduce an unarmed security presence to provide community-based crime prevention in the University District. |
|
| Completed (Fall 2020)
Completed (Fall 2021)
|
Evaluate lighting and landscape in the off-campus neighborhoods in partnership with the City of Columbus. |
|
| Completed (Fall 2020) Ongoing Partially Completed (Spring 2022) Ongoing |
Extend the hours and promotion of the Lyft Ride Smart program. |
|
| Completed (Fall 2020) Completed (Fall 2021) |
Expand and enhance Ohio State Off-Campus Housing Network (previously known as the Off-Campus Housing Excellence Program) |
|
| Completed (Spring 2022) Ongoing |
Expand surveillance coverage in the off-campus neighborhoods. |
|
| Completed (Spring 2021) |
Increase the staffing of OSUPD to allow for more joint coverage and OSUPD patrol coverage of university property East of High. |
|
|
Completed (Summer 2022)
|
Outreach and Engagement Efforts
Recommendations | Rationale | Actions Taken | Status |
Conduct a campus-wide safety survey for students. |
|
| Completed (Spring 2021) Completed (Fall 2022)
|
Add resources to the University District Organization (UDO) to develop and offer social service outreach. |
|
| Completed (Summer 2021) |
Develop and strengthen OSU partnerships with grass roots and community organizations to advance greater safety and wellness. |
|
| Completed (Summer 2021) Ongoing |
Work with the Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) to expand on OSU PD’s existing community policing programs and initiatives, with a special focus on outreach and interactions with marginalized groups. |
|
| 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 |
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 |
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
Trudy Bartley (Co-Chair) | Associate Vice President Local and Community Relations OSU Government Affairs |
Matt Hansen (Co-Chair) | Senior Campus Planner Planning Architecture and Real Estate |
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 |
Craig Stone | Deputy Public Safety Director Columbus Division of Police |
Bill Phillips | Chief Relationship Office, OCIO |
Kimberly Spears-McNatt | Chief of Police, University Police |
Nicole Nieto | Assistant Vice Provost, Academic Affairs |
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 |
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 |
Anna Stewart | Assistant Director of Field Education, College of Social Work |
SAFETY RESOURCES