July 5, 2016
Dear UT Community:
As we enter the summer months at UT, I want to give you an update on safety and security. The safety of our campus continues to be a top priority as we strive to make UT the best possible place for learning, living and working.
UT must implement “campus carry” policies on August 1 to comply with state law. Through an extensive process, the university has engaged with students, faculty, staff, parents and others to develop policies. The UT System Board of Regents is expected to review the recommended policies later this month. Dr. Gerald Harkins, chair of the Campus Carry Implementation Task Force, will provide more information later this week about the specifics of the policies.
After the tragic murder on our campus in April, I wrote to you about safety. Since then, university police and the Campus Safety and Security Office have coordinated closely with university departments and law enforcement agencies to examine better ways to serve UT students, employees and visitors.
As the university continues to review safety and security issues, we are implementing many of the suggestions you gave us from the safety survey. Based on that feedback, we have strengthened the SURE Walk program, added more nighttime transportation choices for students, and increased police patrols. These are just a few of the efforts.
At my request, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is reviewing safety and security at the university. The DPS review should identify additional measures, and DPS expects to complete their work by the end of August and provide recommendations.
For the latest on safety and security, I encourage you to use the Be Safe website.
I welcome your feedback on these issues and wish you a productive summer.
Sincerely,
Gregory L. Fenves
President