Every two years, the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Management (DPSEM) conducts a campus-wide safety and security survey to better understand the experiences, perspectives, and concerns of our faculty, staff, and students, with the goal of identifying areas that are working well and opportunities for continued improvement. As was shared in a communication to the campus earlier this month, this year’s survey is especially important, and we are writing to encourage your participation.

As you know, the University is currently undergoing a comprehensive safety and security assessment this semester led by the global firm Teneo Risk under the direction of external counsel, while we also have focused significantly on safety and security measures and infrastructure across campus following the events of December 13. Feedback gathered through this year’s safety and security survey — along with other feedback from the community engagement phase of the safety and security assessment — will help inform any further enhancements and ensure that the assessment reflects the experiences and perspectives of our community.

The 2026 DPSEM Community Survey opens today, March 30, and will remain available through Monday, April 20. We strongly encourage all faculty, staff, and students to take a few minutes to complete the survey. The survey is open online.

Individual survey submissions are confidential, while aggregated results are shared publicly. Broad participation is essential to ensure we have an accurate understanding of campus perspectives and can continue to make thoughtful, effective, and informed safety and security enhancements.The biannual survey plays an important role in shaping our planning, priorities, and actions related to campus safety and security. Past surveys are available on the DPSEM website.

This year’s survey includes several new questions related to physical security measures and actions taken since December 13. These questions were shaped by our engagement with Brown community members, including questions submitted by the Undergraduate Council of Students (UCS), and are intended to gather stakeholder feedback on recent security changes and to help guide future decisions.

Thank you for taking the time to share your perspectives and for helping us continue to strengthen the safety and security of our campus community.

Sincerely,
Sarah Latham, Executive Vice President for Finance & Administration

Hugh T. Clements Jr., Interim Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police