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The University of Texas at Austin Office of the President

UT Austin Police Oversight Committee

Scope and Purpose

Revised January 2022

The purpose of the Police Oversight Committee is to provide vision, guidance and oversight to The University of Texas Police Department (UTPD) as it serves the university community. Through its members, the committee will serve as communications liaisons between the UT community and UTPD. This collaborative partnership will serve the university community by providing thoughtful insight into the security needs of our diverse campus community and by reviewing UTPD activities to ensure it respects the dignity of each member of the community in a manner that upholds the core values of the university.

Committee Charge

The Police Oversight Committee is advisory to the president. It serves as the principal institutional channel of communication between members of the university community and UTPD. The focus of the committee’s work varies from year to year as different issues arise, but the consistent task is to ensure the communication between UTPD and the university community remains transparent and respectful, and that UTPD continues to operate in a manner that best represents the values and diverse culture of UT.

The committee reviews issues and concerns which it identifies, or which are referred to it from the university community. Any member of the university community, acting personally or officially, may submit a matter for the committee’s consideration. The committee is not intended to be a substitute for the established means for handling formal grievances or complaints. When appropriate, the committee is expected to refer concerns to the proper channels for formal consideration and action. The receptivity and effectiveness of those channels is within the committee’s purview.

For the current academic year, the committee shall:

  1. Receive briefs by the chief of police regarding UTPD hiring and training policies and practices, including policies governing the use of force, and general data and information about complaints filed against UTPD employees.
  2. Receive briefs by the chief of police regarding complaints made by members of the UT community against UT police officers and subsequent investigations.
  3. Receive briefs by the chief of police on all use of force incidents involving UTPD officers.
  4. Review a summary of police citations issued and criminal cases referred to the district or county attorney.
  5. Serve as a sounding board for the chief of police on various issues or concerns involving the department and the UT community.
  6. Provide input on UTPD programs and initiatives to enhance campus security.
  7. Advise the president and UTPD on the most effective strategies for communication and engagement that promotes a strong relationship between UTPD and the UT community.
  8. Advise UTPD on the most effective strategies for implementing researched-based implicit bias and de-escalation training in policing.
  9. Prepare brief reports to the president including an annual report, which is to include a summary of the matters on which the committee focused, conclusions reached, and recommendations for consideration by the president. The report may include matters that are recommended to be continued for consideration by the committee appointed for the following academic year.

As matters warrant, at the request of the chair, the committee may meet with the president.

The committee, through its chair, may communicate with the leadership of the UTPD and may respond as appropriate to any member of the UT community who submits a concern to the committee.

Membership

Members of the committee are appointed by and report to the president. Membership on the committee shall be representative of the university community, and shall consist of:

  • Three general faculty members who serve on the committee chosen by the president to serve three-year staggered terms. Each spring, the Faculty Council shall submit at least two nominations for each vacant seat for the president’s consideration. If a vacancy occurs on the committee during the academic year, the president may appoint another faculty member to complete the term of the vacated seat.
  • In consultation with the Faculty Council chair, the president may appoint additional faculty members to serve on the committee to serve a one-year term.
  • Three staff representatives who serve on the committee chosen by the president to serve three-year staggered terms. Each spring, the Staff Council shall submit at least two nominations for each vacant seat for the president’s consideration. If a vacancy occurs on the committee during the academic year, the president may appoint another staff member to complete the term of the vacated seat.
  • In consultation with the Staff Council chair, the president may appoint additional staff members to serve on the committee to serve a one-year term.
  • Beginning in the 2021-22 academic year, the president shall select one faculty member and one staff member on the committee to serve as co-chairs. The term for both co-chairs is one year and begins on the first day of the academic year and ends on the last day of that academic year with the option to extend appointment an additional year following a review and approval of the President.
  • Three students who serve on the committee chosen by the president each to serve a one-year term. Each spring, the incoming Student Government president and the dean of students shall each submit at least five nominations of current student representatives from which the president will appoint three students to serve on the committee. If a vacancy occurs on the committee during the academic year, the president may appoint another student to complete the term of the vacated seat.
  • In consultation with the Student Government president, the president may appoint additional student to serve on the committee to serve a one-year term based on recommendation of the dean of students and the vice president for diversity and community engagement.
  • The term of each appointment begins on the first day of the academic year for which an appointment is made and continues until a successor for that seat is appointed.
  • The committee will include ex officio members appointed by the president to serve at his or her discretion and for an indeterminate term. Ex officio members shall include the chief of police, senior vice president and CFO (or a designee), vice president for diversity and community engagement (or a designee), dean of students (or a designee), vice president for legal affairs (or a designee) and the chief communications officer (or a designee). The president may appoint others to serve on the committee as ex officio members. Ex officio members may participate in discussions of the committee but shall not vote on matters before the committee.

Committee Meetings

While issues involving UTPD vary from year to year, the university community is best served when the committee engages with UTPD to provide thoughtful insight into the community it serves. To do so, the committee is expected to meet at least four times during the academic year, and more frequently as circumstances warrant, as determined by the chair. The committee may host an open public forum each academic year to receive concerns or to provide information to the university community. At the request of the chair, the committee may meet with the president annually.

The president’s office shall provide administrative support to the committee.