Student Advisory Committee for Public Safety

The Student Advisory Committee for Public Safety provides advice on issues of safety and security from the student perspective.

Overview and Membership

The Student Advisory Committee for Public Safety addresses a variety of subjects related to student safety and security and provides diverse perspectives from both undergraduate and graduate students on issues such as recruitment and training of personnel, security-related communications and reports, and new safety initiatives.

The committee meets regularly with the VP for Public Safety and senior administrators from the office of the Vice Provost for Student Affairs to provide insight and feedback, share concerns of fellow students, and offer ideas for improving security.

The committee is supported by staff from Johns Hopkins Public Safety, Student Affairs, and key campus stakeholders, who will provide information on current university policies, practices, and programs as necessary and assist with other materials to inform the committee’s work.

The committee is composed of 12 undergraduate and graduate student representatives from across JHU’s schools and is reflective of the diversity of the university community. Members are appointed by the VP for Public Safety in coordination with the Vice Provost for Student Affairs for a one-year term and are welcome to apply for additional terms. Students must be currently enrolled at the university to serve on the committee.

Charge

The JHU Student Advisory Committee for Public Safety will provide input and recommend strategies to enhance the university’s security policies, practices, and programs and serve as a forum to voice concerns about, and provide ideas for improving, security at JHU

The committee will advise the university in its ongoing efforts to:

Enhance the university’s current security program;
Incorporate student feedback into hiring and training practices for security personnel;
Ensure transparency in security operations;
Provide guidance on crime prevention, individual safety, and emergency preparedness messaging for students;
Incorporate student perspective in the development of a strategic plan for Johns Hopkins Public Safety.
Enhance support and advocacy for victims of crime;
Advocate a fair and balanced process for responding to security-related incidents, concerns and complaints;
Explore methods for integrating new technology into security operations: and,
Work toward student inclusion and involvement in issues impacting safety and security on campus.

Guiding Principles

Recruitment and Training. Johns Hopkins University recognizes the need to employ security personnel who represent the diversity of the community we serve, understand the university culture, and are trained to the highest of standards for a security organization. JHU students are key stakeholders in identifying priorities for the recruitment and training of these individuals.
Crime Prevention and Safety. Safety training and tips can be incredibly valuable in preventing crime and protecting our community. Students can be a force multiplier in identifying and reporting issues, and are an important part of an overall crime prevention strategy.
Communication and Reporting. Johns Hopkins Public Safety is committed to timely, accurate reporting of crimes committed on and around our campuses to ensure students, faculty, staff, and visitors are aware of incidents that may impact their safety. The perspectives of our students are valuable in determining the best methods and procedures for ensuring the community is informed about both prior incidents and ongoing risks.
Policies and Procedures. Public Safety policies and procedures must be clear, fair, based on best-practices, and reflective of the mission and values of the university. Student input is vital to the evaluation of new and existing policies.
Engagement and Transparency. Johns Hopkins Public Safety cannot be successful without genuine, transparent partnerships and collaboration. The committee will work to ensure inclusion, appreciate diversity, and maintain respect for differing viewpoints.

Meeting Notes

In a commitment to transparency, Committee Members approve monthly meeting notes to post online. Each month’s notes can be found below: