May 12, 2026
Dear Campus Community,
The university has always prioritized the safety of its community members and the security of its facilities. In 2022, President Pines announced plans to implement 21 recommendations put forward by the Public Safety and Community Policing Task Force, which he convened in 2021.
As co-chairs of the Campus Safety Advisory Council (CSAC) established by President Pines, we are pleased to share that all 21 task force recommendations are now complete or have reached a sustained commitment.
The task force's recommendations have prompted new and improved initiatives that move our community forward. Highlights since our Fall 2025 update include:
- UMD’s Mental Health Emergency Assessment and Response Team (MHEART) provides a mental health clinician along with police first responders for mental health emergencies. MHEART is one of the first mobile crisis co-responder programs in a university setting in the United States. Established by the Counseling Center in partnership with the University of Maryland Police Department (UMPD), the team uses a “mental health first” approach which can also help reduce the stigma of calls for help.
- UMD’s Bias Incident Support Services (BISS) offers restorative practices that can help provide psychological safety and community in response to identity-based harm. BISS integrates these practices into their work with students, staff, and faculty. They host a restorative practices symposium on a bi-annual basis and convene restorative circles on a monthly basis during the semester.
The above initiatives reflect more holistic programs that entail new paradigms and practices. In addition, UMPD continues to carry forward its community policing efforts at the university as well as through partnerships and outreach. An example of this outreach is the Citizens Police Academy, which successfully concluded its third session in early May.
The significant progress on each of these accomplishments could not have been achieved without the support and collaboration of President Pines, UMPD, the Division of Student Affairs, the members of CSAC, and many campus stakeholders. Please visit our online dashboard for the status of each of the 21 recommendations. We look forward to continued progress ahead.
Sincerely,
Charles R. Reuning
Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer
He/Him/His
Georgina Dodge, Ph.D.
Vice President for Diversity & Inclusion
She/Her/Hers