Wittenberg University receives grant to enhance campus safety

Wittenberg University has received a grant in the amount of $583,000 from the Ohio Department of Higher Education and the Ohio Emergency Management Agency to enhance the safety of its campus. The funding will be utilized to install additional security cameras that will enhance the cameras and safety measures already in place, resulting in a fully integrated safety and security system.

According to an article on Wittenberg University’s website, Gwen Owen, who serves as the Vice President and Dean of Student Life, was quoted as saying of the security enhancements afforded by the grant funding, “With these new security measures in place, we aim to deter inappropriate behaviors and further enhance the overall safety of our campus community. The presence of improved security infrastructure will enable campus officials to monitor activities more effectively and hold individuals accountable for actions that do not align with our community standards. Ultimately, the proposed security improvements will foster a safer campus environment, allowing students in our community to thrive even more and feel more at ease when in their residential spaces on campus.”

The Department of Residence Life and the Residence Hall Association received $283,000 of the funding from the Ohio Department of Higher Education. This funding will enhance the safety of student housing through the placement of additional security cameras that will work in tandem with the cameras already placed at residence hall entrances and exits. The residence halls also have a door access control system to keep track of who enters and exits each building.

The other grants to enhance campus safety will also result in the placement of additional cameras around campus. The Ohio Emergency Management Agency’s State of Ohio Security Grant Award for $100,000 and the Nonprofit Security Grant Program National Security Supplemental for $200,000 will allow the university to install cameras in high traffic areas and common areas on campus, which will have live viewing capabilities. These real-time cameras will allow for the analysis of emergency response times to further enhance safety on campus.

Mary Beth Walter, the university’s associate vice president of administration and chief human resources officer, said, “We prioritize campus safety through training, equipment, and partnerships with local law enforcement. For 23 years, the University has collaborated with the Springfield Police and Clark County Sheriff's Office on training exercises. In 2023, we formed the Rescue Task Force for trauma care and rapid extraction. We also provide situational awareness training for students, faculty, and staff. Campus security is enhanced with the Tiger Safe App for emergency communication. And these additional safety measures will provide students even more comfort when it comes to safety on campus. These investments in our security infrastructure will integrate and unify all our internal and external systems. We are thrilled that these entities invested in us.”

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