A recent report by the Department of Education about UNC’s compliance with campus safety laws was not discussed by board members at the university board of trustees’ meeting on Thursday. Interim Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz, however, took time to address its findings.
During his opening comments at the Board of Trustees meeting, Guskiewicz reiterated his reaction from a letter he sent to the campus community, saying the report shows some concerning and disappointing shortcomings.
“When we don’t meet the highest level of standards here at Carolina,” he said, “that’s problematic. But we’ve been working to address these issues and we can, and must, do better.”
The review examined the ways UNC violated the Clery Act, which requires universities to accurately record and report crime statistics. The report studied UNC’s methods from 2009 to 2016 and found “systemic failure to provide students and employees with important campus crime information and services that are essential to their safety and security.”
The report said issues with the university’s reporting of crimes persisted into 2019, but Guskiewicz said during the media availability even more recent steps have been taken.
“I’m proud of the work a number of campus leaders are working on. We’ve engaged Margolis Healy, the nation’s leading consultant on Clery Act compliance and they’re on our campus right now working with campus leaders. Chief David Perry, who is also regarded as a national leader and consultant on this topic, has been hard at work since he [got] here in early September.”
Guskiewicz also said the creation of the Vice Chancellor of Institutional Integrity and Risk Management position, which George Battle will assume in January, will help address areas mentioned in the review.
It’s unclear whether the Department of Education’s review will impact the discussions within the Campus Safety Commission, which Guskiewicz created to examine campus safety habits and to improve relationships between campus police and community members. The interim chancellor said some aspects of the report coincide with concerns raised during the commission’s meetings, which have been held monthly since May.
“Their work is important,” Guskiewicz said about the commission. “They’ve held several listening sessions and will be having a summit in January, which I think will move us forward. [It will allow us] to hear further input from our campus community, look at the recommendations have been made, and also look ahead to our new commission on history, race and a way forward, which I think will also help make an impact on our campus.”
The Department of Education said it will continue to examine the university’s progress of complying with Clery Act requirements through a post-review monitoring program.
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