Oversight Committee

Overview
The Public Safety Oversight Committee is established pursuant to a resolution by the Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees on August 10, 2001 and Act 120, Public Acts of 1990.

Charge
The committee is a legislatively mandated committee of Northern Michigan University. The committee will receive and address grievances by persons against NMU Public Safety officers and/or the NMU Public Safety Department. The operation of the committee will be consistent with applicable labor contracts, Public Safety Department policies, Northern Michigan University policies and procedures, and state and Federal laws.

Committee Membership
The committee will consist of individuals nominated and elected by the faculty, staff and students of Northern Michigan University, external to the Public Safety Department. The committee will include two students, two members of the faculty, and two members of the staff. The director of Public Safety will serve as the chair of the committee in an ex-officio, non-voting role.

Student representatives shall be appointed to the committee by the president of the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University, from students elected to office in student government. Student representatives shall serve one-year terms.

Faculty and staff representatives will serve three-year terms, except, initially, one faculty and one staff member will serve two-year terms. One additional faculty and staff member will be elected to the committee as alternates for three-year terms.

The dean of students (or representative) will serve as an ex-officio member of the committee.

The Assistant to the President for Equal Opportunity will serve as an ex-officio member of the Committee.

Procedures
The committee will work directly with the director of the Public Safety Department. The committee will operate under the procedures for the review and investigation of grievances and complaints, which have been reviewed by university counsel and approved by the NMU president. The committee may recommend disciplinary action against a Public Safety officer who is found responsible for misconduct in office.

Operating Procedures

Overview
The Public Safety Oversight Committee was established pursuant to an August 10, 2001 resolution of the Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees and Act 120, Public Acts of 1990. The committee will receive and address grievances against the Northern Michigan University Public Safety Department or its officers and may recommend disciplinary measures against an officer who is found responsible for misconduct in office. The operation of the committee will be consistent with applicable labor contracts, Public Safety Department policies, NMU policies and state and federal laws.

Committee Membership

1. The committee shall consist of the following voting members:
   1. two elected faculty representatives who will serve for three-year terms;
   2. two elected staff representatives who will serve for three-year terms;
   3. two elected representatives from the Associated Students of Northern Michigan University (ASNMU) who will serve for a one-year term; and
   4. one additional faculty, staff, and ASNMU representative shall each be elected, as alternates, to serve on the committee and vote in the event of an absence of a regular committee member.
2. Voting members of the committee will serve for no more than two consecutive terms.
3. Additionally, the following individuals will also serve on the committee as non-voting members:
   1. The director of Public Safety who will serve as the chair;
   2. the dean of students or his or her designee; and
   3. the assistant to the president for Equal Opportunity, when the grievance is a civil rights matter.
4. Four voting members of the committee shall be required to constitute quorum for the purposes of convening the committee.
5. A simple majority of the voting members present shall be required to recommend disciplinary measures.

Grievances

1. Grievances can be addressed to:
   1. Department of Public Safety;
   2. Human Resources Department;
   3. Dean of Students Office
   4. The Equal Opportunity Office, or
   5. any member of the oversight committee.
2. Informal grievances, which are not made in writing, shall be referred to the director of Public Safety for consideration.
   1. The director shall investigate all informal grievances in a timely manner.
   2. The director shall inform the committee of the results of the investigation and whether disciplinary measures were taken.
3. Formal written grievances shall be referred to the Public Safety Oversight Committee for review and consideration.
   1. All grievances shall be addressed in a timely manner.
   2. A copy of the formal written grievance shall be provided to the accused.
   3. Grievances filed more than 60 days after the alleged misconduct will not be addressed unless the committee determines that there are extenuating circumstances to do so.
4. Grievances, which are determined to be false, or filed in bad faith, shall be referred to the appropriate university or law enforcement authorities for review.

Disciplinary Measures
The committee, after review and consideration of all formal written grievances, may recommend disciplinary measures be taken. Recommendations shall be submitted in writing to the Director of Public Safety and the university president.

Confidentiality
The right to confidentiality, both of the complainant and of the accused, will be respected as long as it does not interfere with Northern Michigan University’s legal obligation or ability to investigate allegations of misconduct when brought to its attention, and to take corrective action when it is found that misconduct has occurred.