Dear Students,

We hope this message finds you well. We are reaching out to you to invite you to apply to join a diverse group of faculty, staff, and alumni in constructing a proposal for a new educational program on modern policing at USF. 

A bit of background: In 2022 USF leadership was approached by city officials and invited to develop a degree pathway for students wishing to become police officers in San Francisco. This is connected to a recent piece of state legislation, AB 89, that requires future police officers in California to have a college degree before entering the police force. While no promises or commitments have been made at this time, we have been asked to lead a working group of stakeholders in the creation of a proposal for such a program. We aim to engage creative minds in rethinking, reimagining, and transforming what policing can look like in San Francisco and how a USF education can foster that change. 

We hope to bring diverse student perspectives into the process of crafting this program proposal, and would especially appreciate the involvement of students who are from marginalized communities or those impacted by policing and the criminal legal system. Participants will be asked to work with faculty and staff in brainstorming and drafting the mission, program learning outcomes, curriculum, and community engagement facets of this proposal, and to attend all or part of an in-person retreat to finalize the proposal in late February or early March. We would also want student representatives to be in communication with members of the broader student body for their input. 

If you're interested in joining the working group, please complete this Google Form by Wednesday, Feb. 22. We would be happy to meet with you and answer any questions you may have — email us to set up a time to chat.

Sincerely,

Professor Kim Richman, Chair, Department of Sociology 
Associate Dean Josh Gamson, College of Arts and Sciences