President Foster’s office announced Thursday a new partnership between CMU and the Mesa County Domestic Violence Task Force, the highlight of which will be the Sixth Annual Domestic Violence Academy on May 8 and 9, 2014, in the University Center Ballroom.

“We are taking active steps to ensure as best as possible that the university is being an active partner to reduce incidences [of domestic violence] in the community,” said John Marshall, Vice President of Student Services.

The Mesa County Domestic Violence Task Force is a collaborative, interagency entity featuring representatives from the Latimer House (a housing alternative for women and children), the Mesa County District Attorney’s office, local churches and law enforcement and probation agencies.

The two-day Domestic Violence Academy offers training and guidance for law enforcement, social and case workers, judicial staff, medical professionals, clergy, and other community members whose work often encompasses problems associated with domestic violence.

This spring, CMU Social and Behavioral Sciences students and faculty will also be participating the the Domestic Violence Academy, lending some of their academic expertise to the conference as well as reaping the benefits provided by exposure to experienced practitioners, such as local law enforcement agents.

“The benefit here [at CMU] is that we have scholars and learners,” Marshall said. “When you can add the expertise of faculty and the dynamic of undergraduate students, it creates a whole new level of activity and collaboration.”

While the Spring 2014 Domestic Violence Academy will be the most obvious manifestation of the partnership between the university and the Task Force, the collaboration between the two entities has already benefited students and community members in other ways.

Members of the Task Force have recently come into several criminal justice classes, according to Dr. Katie Dreiling, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, as well as helping out with the on-campus RAINN Day events on Sept. 24.

“We’re hoping to keep this [partnership] going and do more events throughout the year,” Dreiling said. “Domestic violence is a very hidden issue still. It happens in just about every population out there, and that doesn’t exclude the student population.”

cblackme@mavs.coloradomesa.edu