Feb. 6, 2024

Dear URI Community Members,

I am pleased to share that the University of Rhode Island is introducing a new Public Safety Advisory Committee designed to encourage community participation in matters related to public safety across our campuses.

We are fortunate to have a public safety department that engages broadly with our community and a director of public safety and chief of police, Mike Jagoda, who brings decades of experience and FBI National Academy training to his leadership role. Chief Jagoda was recently recognized as a finalist for a national campus safety director of the year award.

This new committee is charged with advising and providing recommendations to the Department of Public Safety and its various units—including the URI Police Department, transportation and parking, and emergency management—as well as University leadership regarding the department’s programming and operational activities. The committee is not an internal review board and is not charged with reviewing the actions of public safety department staff.

The introduction of this committee is not in response to, or out of concern for, any specific incidents or events. Rather, this proactive committee formation provides a forum for broad stakeholder engagement and collaborative, community perspectives on issues related to public safety. The new committee replaces the former Campus Security and Parking Advisory Committee.

The committee will meet at least quarterly, and will comprise stakeholders from across the University community. Committee membership may change over time, but generally will include the vice president for administration and finance; vice president for community, equity, and diversity; assistant vice president for facilities; assistant vice president for housing and residential life; dean of students; director of public safety and chief of police; deputy chief of police; and director of the Office of Equal Opportunity. The committee also will include three faculty representatives nominated by the Faculty Senate Executive Committee; one graduate student representative nominated by the Graduate Student Association; one undergraduate student representative nominated by the Student Senate; and a faculty or staff representative from each URI campus. Assistant Vice President for Housing and Residential Life and Student Development Tom Cooley has agreed to serve as inaugural chair of the committee.

The advisory committee will serve as an important link between the University community and the URI Police Department and public safety units, and will work to ensure the feedback and views of the community are included in discussions about public safety on our campuses. I encourage you to engage with members of this new committee, and to continue to engage collaboratively with members of our public safety units.

Abby Benson

Interim Vice President for Administration and Finance