Campus Safety Message

April 8, 2016

Jackson School community,

I know the recent tragedy on campus is on all of our minds. This senseless violence has shaken the entire university community. The safety and well-being of our students, faculty, research scientists and staff is a top priority for the Jackson School of Geosciences, and we will continue to work with authorities to step up security and communicate how best members of our community can stay safe.

The school encourages students to remain aware of their surroundings, walk in groups, especially at night, and stay on clearly marked and well-lit sidewalks. We are actively promoting SURE walk, a student escort service that is available between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. Monday through Thursday. Students can call 512-232-WALK (9255) to request an escort and a two-person team will walk them to their car or home.

Please also remember to close and lock doors behind you and to not allow people you don’t know to follow you into buildings. If you come across broken lights, unsecure doors or other situations at the Jackson School that may promote an unsafe environment, please notify Nicole Evans, Assistant Dean for Student Services & Administration, at nicole.evans@jsg.utexas.edu or 512-471-2916.

President Fenves is working closely with UTPD and other law enforcement agencies to investigate the homicide, and extra officers and police vehicles are on campus now and will remain on active patrol.

It is impossible to make sense of a heartbreaking event like this. We all react and process tragedy in different ways. The university is offering a number of resources to help work through the wide range of feelings and emotions we may be experiencing.

The Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC) and the Employee Assistance Program are here to help the UT Austin community.

• For students, CMHC has extended its weekday hours to 7 p.m. through Friday, April 15, and will also host a support group 5–6 p.m. each of those days. CMHC will be open Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students can walk in during this time without an appointment.
• Students can call the CMHC Crisis Line 24 hours a day.
• For faculty and staff, if you need support, the Employee Assistance Program offers counseling and consultation services. You can contact the program at (512) 471-3366.

This is a difficult and trying time for all of us. Please help us in making safety a top priority at the Jackson School and throughout The University of Texas at Austin.

Sincerely,

Sharon Mosher, Dean