Houston Community College

Houston Community College Student/Police Dialogues Focus Group Report October 2015

2 Student/Police Dialogues Focus Group National media coverage of incidents of violence and unrest across the country have highlighted community tension in many cities and colleges, including our own. Students, faculty, and staff are questioning what HCC can do to address concerns regarding safety and fairness. Dr. Cephas Archie, Program Director for Diversity and Inclusion, and Dr. Lee (Scott) Rinker, Director of Student Development and System Support, were charged to create a multidisciplinary task force to hear student concerns and make recommendations to improve the college s climate and support campus safety and student success. The overall objectives of the project included: 1. Giving voice to student concerns, 2. Addressing student/community fears and concerns regarding campus/community safety and engagement, 3. Increasing organizational cultural competence, 4. Improving safety for all HCC stakeholders and affiliates, and 5. Developing a culture of respect. Focus Groups were conducted at each of the six HCC Colleges between June 10, 2015, and July 10, 2015. Facilitated dialogues included HCC students and HCC Police Chief, Greg Cunningham. Responses were captured in each of the focus group meetings. The student focus groups were facilitated by certified mediators. Each session was one and one half hours in duration. Chief Cunningham attended all sessions and actively engaged with student participants. Students chosen to participate were selected by the Student Life Coordinators for each college. Each group consisted of a minimum of five students. The students who participated were drawn from a variety of student diversity populations. All student focus group attendees were prompted with the same questions to maintain systemic alignment of data gathered through the focus group process. The prompt questions used were: 1. Describe how the HCC police are perceived by HCC students. You may cite examples (both positive and not so positive). 2. Describe or define respectful interaction. What are some ways in which HCC law enforcement can show respect for students? 3. How do/should students interact with police to demonstrate respect and support for the police mission? 4. What are your suggestions as to how students can be educated on how to interact with law enforcement? 5. What is your understanding of HCC law enforcement s role in assisting with student success? 6. What are your ideas as to how: HCC law enforcement can/should deescalate a situation? How can/should a student deescalate a situation? 7. What is the student s role in maintaining campus safety? Student participants were provided with printed copies of the questions for consideration prior to the start of the dialogue to encourage thoughtful responses. Basic yet informative facts about the HCC Police Department (Crime Report Statistics, Ethnic breakdown of all HCC students and Police/Security Officers) were provided to all focus group participants. In order to maintain the integrity of the process, no external parties or communications were allowed during any of the focus groups sessions. No last names of any participants were provided to ensure open and honest dialogue.

Student Focus Group Findings 3 It is important to note that the majority of students who participated in the focus groups reported having positive interactions with HCC Law Enforcement Officers and security personnel. Upon completion of the focus group series, all collected data from each college was compiled and analyzed by utilizing the NVIVO Qualitative Software Program to code (label) thematic content. As a result of the data analysis, seven primary themes emerged: Thematic Findings 1. Law Enforcement awareness education and training is needed for both HCC students and police officers. 2. HCC Law Enforcement Officers are expected to display positive dispositions & respectful language and should be approachable, non-threatening and helpful. 3. There is a lack of trust among students for law enforcement officers in general. 4. Informal and social interactions between HCC students and HCC law enforcement officers prior to emergency incidents will improve student levels of trust and respect. 5. Improved online communications such as web pages highlighting HCC police services, locations, programs, office personnel, hours of operation, etc. will improve student awareness of HCC Police. 6. A reiteration of HCC Police purpose (To Protect & Serve vs. Command & Control) will improve student s understanding of the role of the police and help police officers and security personnel understand their role in supporting student success. 7. Students have serious questions and concerns about Texas new gun laws as they relate to HCC Campuses. Selected quotes documented during the six student focus groups sessions supporting each of the resulting themes is provided as Appendix B.

4 Student Focus Group Findings (cont d) Taskforce Responses to Student/Police Dialogues Findings Dr. Archie and Dr. Rinker met with each area represented on the taskforce to review the thematic findings. Working collaboratively, recommendations were developed to address each of the seven themes that emerged from the focus group discussions: 1. Acknowledging that additional resources and proposal development time are necessary to maintain long-term and sustainable project outcomes, the Task Force Chairs requested that each task force area provide short-term action items (Phase 1) to be implemented during the 2015-2016 academic year. Itemized departmental/divisional responses were developed and vetted collectively by the taskforce. Strategies recommended for implementation during the 2015-2016 academic year are identified in Appendix A to this report. 2. Long-term, sustainable (Phase 2) action items from each task force area are requested by the spring 2016 semester and will be submitted to the Administration with recommendations for future implementation. Recommendations from this project support HCC s value to promote integrity, innovation, and to build a culture of trust. In the coming months the Task Force will continue to meet and monitor progress toward implementing the recommendations provided and to develop longer term recommendations to support a positive, sustainable climate, so that students, faculty, and staff can focus on student success and completion. Respectfully submitted: James David Cross, Director EEO/Compliance 10/20/2015 Date APPROVED: Cesar Maldonado, Ph.D., P.E. Chancellor 10/20/2015 Date

5 Student Police Dialogues Task Force Chairs: Dr. Cephas Archie, Program Coordinator for Diversity and Inclusion Dr. Scott Rinker, Director of Student Development and System Support Student Police Dialogues Task Force Members: Christopher Williams, Student, Coleman College for Health Sciences Greg Cunningham, Chief of Police, HCCPD Janet May, Chief Human Resources Officer, HR Dr. Cheryl Sterling, Associate Vice Chancellor, Student Services Dr. Norma Perez, Curriculum & Institutional Assessment, Instructional Services Dr. David Diehl, Director of Teaching & Learning Resource Center, Instructional Services Todd Duplantis, Director of HCCTV, Communications Renée Mack, Manager of EEO & Compliance Training Moira Butler, Volunteer Mediator

6 APPENDIX A student/police dialogues taskforce phase 1 recommendations Institutional Response From HCCPD/Division of Finance and Administration 1. Partnering with the HCC OIE, training will be provided during the HCC New Officer Orientation (6-week training) to all Police and Security Officers, covering the following content: Cultural Awareness/Competency Cultural Communication Pathways Conflict/Dispute Resolution 2. Partnering with HCC HR, training will be provided to all HCCPD officers and security staff in the following content areas: Customer Service Communicating with Tact and Diplomacy Improving Communications in Cross-Cultural Relationships Managing Workforce Generations Institutional Response From Division of Student Services 3. Partner with the HCCPD to provide a segment in the Advising and Registration/NSO Session for police to educate students on campus safety. 4. Partner with the HCCPD to collaborate on essential student programming (e.g. Drug and Alcohol Prevention programming, Violence Against Women programming, Title IX programming, student conduct and discipline programming, behavioral intervention programming and student response practices during an emergency at HCC) intentionally incorporating HCCPD interactions with students and employees. 5. Encourage the Student Government Association to include HCCPD in events on campus, not only as crowd control and protection, but as participants in the student experience. 6. Encourage the Egalitarian staff to highlight HCCPD officers in an affirming and positive way. Themes Addressed 1, 2, 3 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Themes Addressed 1, 3, 4, 7 1, 3, 4, 7 1, 3, 4, 7 1, 3, 4, 5

APPENDIX A student/police dialogues taskforce phase 1 recommendations 7 Institutional Response From Division of Instructional Services 7. The Executive Director of Curriculum and Instructional Assessment will work with the Taskforce to review the curriculum currently offered by the Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Program related to Cultural Awareness. 8. The Division of Instructional Services will review the curriculum currently offered in the Student Success Courses, focusing on any and all content highlighting Cultural Awareness and conflict resolution. 9. The Division of Instructional Services will research best practices related to campus safety and the cultural community curricula. 10. As a result of the review of current curriculum and best practices research, the taskforce will make recommendations regarding changes to the curriculum for the Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement and Student Success Courses to address issues related to campus safety and cultural community (communication and competency), which may include the development of modules. Institutional Response From Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) 11. The OIE will provide ongoing Title IX first responder training to HCCPD Officers, Student Services and Instructional Services personnel regarding how to address issues of sexual violence, misconduct and gender discrimination. 12. The OIE will host three (3) community roundtable events within the HCC Diversity and Dispute Resolution Center, addressing issues of diversity and dispute resolution, mediation and alternative conflict resolution strategies. Participants at the roundtable discussion will include students, faculty, staff, members of law enforcement and invited community representatives. Suggestions from the roundtable discussions will be utilized to identify strategies to address cultural conflict resolution issues within the classroom environment and on-campus. 13. OIE will continue to work with Instructional Services to create programs and awareness around issues of unconscious bias in the classroom and on campus in general. OIE will also continue to partner with HCCPD to provide similar training opportunities to HCC Police and Security Personnel. 14. OIE will provide police whistles to new students during New Student Orientation, labeled with HCCPD contact information, promoting campus safety consciousness for all students. Themes Addressed 1, 2 1, 2 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 1, 2, 6 Themes Addressed 1, 2, 4, 5 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

8 APPENDIX B Theme 1: Law Enforcement awareness education and training is needed for both HCC students and police officers. 1. Orientation - This is how you act with police staff. Required class. Can t make it a one-time deal, then people get the idea. 2. We are afraid of what we do not know. (We) have to learn about people and cultures. 3. Officers act the way you have taught them. 4. Keeping us safe. Not every population is the same. Proper training. 5. (At) New student orientation they should give out the (police) number. Use a big room and inform everybody. 6. During new student orientation at U of H, the police give a presentation, interact and invite the students to stop by. They discuss where they [police] are located, number and business cards. 7. Inform students that they are real cops, orientation or having a mandatory class under the Success classes. Getting a note out, they are real, here s how we can help. 8. I was scared when I first came here (to the US). The officer came to me and I did not speak English. A lot of my friends are afraid to go to the police because they see guns. Officers do not carry guns in my country. Officers should speak to the international students. 9. Here we should get billboards (about interacting with the police). From elementary to business school we should get shown a video (about interacting with the police). We should be educated about library interactions and classroom interactions. 10. My story is complicated because I was not born here but I learned Don t mess around with the police. I had a wonderful HCC Professor in Government. It was a great class and I am so glad I took it because I learned about the role of the police. 11. (Officers should) Say who they are and what they do. When we have back to school they should have a table that says this is our shift, this is who we are.

APPENDIX B 9 Theme 2: HCC Law Enforcement Officers are expected to display positive dispositions & respectful language and should be approachable, non-threatening and helpful. 1. Always smile, don t look mad.be open minded and listen without being negative. 2. Should not use excessive force if not necessary. 3. Use tact and diplomacy. Don t be aggressive. 4. Gradual interventions, never become loud. Meet students where they are. Suggest alternatives like let s go outside and get some air. 5. Tone in your voice and body language. Tone down aggressive body language. 6. (Officers should) Look at you (students) when you (students) say hi to them. Officer does not look at me. That would be enough. 7. Officers presenting as real people, professional friendly. Go out of their way to interact. They share their experiences; make us feel comfortable, safe. It s more of a safety mindset. 8. Be a role model Lead by example. 9. Show the human side. Show consideration. Actually look at the students. Take the time to make us feel comfortable. Give us feedback and acknowledge us. 10. I have kids and I teach them to have respect for authority. We are in a situation where we are from different continents, different neighborhoods, respect means something differently. Police Officers need to revert to their training. 11. We (students) should feel comfortable and not be intimidated by a badge. Be more comfortable approaching them. 12. Police presence can be intimidating, officers should talk to people. Don t just walk around. Make themselves a part of the community. Ask employees/students if they need an escort. Don t just walk around and be intimidating. Police can make you want to give them respect. Officers should present as everyday people. Officers are people in a uniform. 13. One big thing is how you perceive someone is treating you. Sometimes you don t know when you encounter people what their day is like. Officers need to be cognizant of student challenges such as just flunked test.

10 APPENDIX B Theme 3: There is a lack of trust among students for law enforcement officers in general. 1. The police don t give us a break and you are asking us to change history. This has happened for over 100 years. My grandfather was killed by police there is nothing you can do to make me trust the police. It s not just me. Everybody knows someone who has had this experience. 2. The cops should build relationships. 3. HCC police have been given a right to disrespect a student because they can. I am the student government president and this is what they tell me. 4. I got in trouble as a kid and was told don t talk to police. Don t talk to cops. 5. As an African American in this country, there is more fear than respect. Theme 4: Informal and social interactions between HCC students and HCC law enforcement officers prior to emergency incidents will improve student levels of trust and respect. 1. Make it personable. The uniform should not dictate who you are. Face to face you make it personal. Volunteer to come out to meet and greet them. Music and food. Get to know them. We will understand why they are the way they are. 2. Make the officers real. Why not have a meet and greet for officers at your campus? When you take other courses that are offered at other campuses, you do not have a tour because you are not regarded as a new student. 3. We (students) need to know you (officers) when we don t have troubles. 4. Interact more with students Get to know them Interact with them (students) because they can help.

APPENDIX B 11 Theme 5: Improved online communications such as webpages highlighting HCC police services, locations, programs, office personnel, hours of operation, etc. will improve student awareness of HCC Police. 1. There needs to be a list of resources posted or a pamphlet to read if you can t start your car. We need to improve. 2. Provide information and emails. Use information and we (students) will pass it on. 3. You don t know where to go when you need services. 4. (Use and Location of) Student code of conduct. 5. Have a Facebook page because students don t read emails. More friendly social media. 6. Share your information to help students. Show how to use site. Theme 6: A reiteration of HCC Police purpose (To Protect & Serve vs. Command & Control) will improve student s understanding of the role of the police and help police officers and security personnel understand their role in supporting student success. 1. Do their job. Protect and serve. Maintain a comfortable and safe environment. Let us know that they are there for them. If students know what they are supposed to do they will have trust. 2. They (police) are made to seem as bad guys, but they are here to serve. 3. Treat them (students) as you (officers) would want to be treated. Be respectful and don t judge them. We are the ones who could become a victim at any time and we accept their help and they are here to protect. Be there when we do call 713.718.8888. 4. This is supposed to be a safe environment, not a jailhouse. Theme 7: Students have serious questions and concerns about Texas new gun laws as they relate to HCC campuses. 1. This is of great concern for me...this new law. 2. What is going to happen to the students with open carry? It happened at Lone Star it can happen here. Has never been addressed by HCC police. What do we do? What is your plan?

Houston Community College Student/Police Dialogues Focus 10162015.DIS1079 Group Report