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University DPS to undergo accreditation assessment

07/17/18

A team of assessors from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) will arrive on campus Sunday, July 22 to examine all aspects of the Texas Woman’s University Department of Public Safety’s policy and procedures, management, operation, and support services, Chief Sam Garrison said.

Verification by the team that TWU DPS meets IACLEA’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation – a highly prized recognition of campus public safety professional excellence, he said.

University members, agency employees and the public are invited to offer comments by calling 940-898-4130 between 2-4 p.m. Monday, July 23. Comments will be taken by the assessment team.

Telephone comments must address the department’s ability to comply with IACLEA’s standards. A copy of the standards is available at the Denton DPS and may be viewed by contacting Autumn Stinchcomb, accreditation manager for TWU DPS and Clery Compliance Officer.

Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the TWU DPS’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation may send them to IACLEA Accreditation, 342 North Main Street, West Hartford, CT 06117-2507.

The TWU DPS has to comply with 215 standards in order to achieve accredited status. Garrison explained that in cooperation with IACLEA, Texas Woman's University DPS will maintain the highest standards of excellence in all facets of public service and will be considered by our university and our profession as one of the premier public safety agencies in the nation. 

Stinchcomb said the assessment team is composed of experienced campus law enforcement professionals from out of state. The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals and inspect facilities where compliance can be witnessed. The assessors are Captain Scott VanScoy, team leader, and Lieutenant Tamara McCollough. Once the assessors complete their review of the department, they will report back to IACLEA, which will then decide if the department is to be granted accredited status, Stinchcomb said.

Accreditation is for four years, during which the department must submit annual reports attesting to continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.