Cleveland State University receives grant for campus safety improvements

Cleveland State University has received $321,500 from the Ohio Campus Safety Grant program to make improvements to campus security measures and provide a safer community for students, faculty, and staff. The funding to Cleveland State University comes alongside funding for 27 other Ohio institutions to make similar safety updates, as recently announced by Governor Mike DeWine.

According to an article on Cleveland State University's website, CSUPD Chief Beverly Pettrey was quoted as saying, “The physical safety improvements [we are planning to make] will undoubtedly help increase the sense of safety for students living on campus. While these improvements are an important part of the solution, they won’t prevent all crime. However, they will reduce risk, [and] it's essential that our community take an active role in combating crime by being vigilant, locking doors and cars, not leaving property visible and promptly reporting suspicious activity to CSU Police.”

This is the second time Cleveland State University has received grant funding from the Ohio Campus Safety Grant program, with the first occasion coming in 2022. In order for a college or university to be eligible to receive funding via this program, the institution must perform an assessment of its campus safety and note any security vulnerabilities. These assessments are reviewed by the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Ohio School Safety Center.

Among the improvements Cleveland State University plans to make with this grant funding is upgrading the locks on doors and windows on residence halls, increasing lighting around dormitories and in other areas of campus that are considered to be darker, and purchasing a mobile surveillance trailer that will be able to make the rounds on campus during events to watch out for any safety concerns.

Pettrey said, “We believe these targeted upgrades will significantly enhance the safety and security of our campus community. It is still important to remember that if you see something, say something. We’re all in this together, and by working as a community, we can help create a safer environment for everyone.”

These improvements are still in the early stages of planning, as the university is evaluating different options for vendors and technologies, according to Pettrey, though she expects that work on the improvements will begin soon.

For more information about Cleveland State University, visit the school’s website.