The Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) and the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (OEMA), under the Ohio Department of Public Safety, have awarded more than half a million dollars combined in grant funding to enhance safety on Wittenberg’s beautiful, 100+ acre wooded campus and allow for a fully integrated security system.

Wittenberg’s Department of Residence Life and the Residence Hall Association (RHA) received $283,800 in grant funding from the ODHE to install additional, upgraded security cameras in all the residence halls. The investments complement the door access control system and the entry/exit cameras already in place.

Two other grants, a State of Ohio Security Grant (OSG) Award of $100,000 and a Nonprofit Security Grant Program National Security Supplemental (NSGP-NSS) for $200,000, both through the OEMA, will also support campus safety. Improvements will include cameras that allow for comprehensive coverage of campus, including high-traffic areas as well as common spaces, thereby ensuring a safer and more secure environment for all of the University community.

ODHE was able to provide grant money to several Ohio institutions to help foster safe, inclusive, and respectful educational environments per section 381.220 of amended substitute Senate Bill 94 of the 135th General Assembly for funding through the Campus Security Support Program Grant.

A total of 50 applications were received by the OEMA for the latest grant funding Wittenberg received. As part of NSGP-NSS funding, applications represented just over $8.6 million in total funding requests. The total allocation of NSGP-NSS funding for Ohio awardees was $2,403,500 of which Wittenberg received $200,000 and plans to use the entire amount to install additional cameras on campus.

“We prioritize campus safety through training, equipment, and partnerships with local law enforcement,” said Mary Beth Walter, associate vice president of administration and chief human resources officer. “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.”

The funding will also allow the University to invest in a camera system that offers real-time viewing capabilities and analytics features so as to allow quicker response times during emergencies, as well as provide insight into campus activity patterns, further enhancing safety measures. 

“These investments in our security infrastructure will integrate and unify all our internal and external systems,” Walter said, adding that “we are thrilled that these entities invested in us.”