Education Department Awards $10-Million in Grants for Campus Emergency Plans

Washington — The U.S. Education Department announced today that it had awarded $9.7-million in grant money to 26 colleges and universities to improve their campus emergency-management plans.

Ranging from $167,343 to $768,334, the individual awards will be disbursed with assistance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

The grant recipients will be required to focus on four phases of emergency management: prevention-mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. They can also use the funds to update existing plans, conduct assessments of campus facilities, provide training to staff members and students, organize large-scale drills, team up with local emergency personnel and community partners, and work with students with mental-health needs who may be at risk of violent behavior on the campus.

“Sending your children off to college can be difficult enough, but you shouldn’t have to worry about their safety and how well a campus is prepared to handle emergencies,” the secretary of education, Arne Duncan, said. “These grants will ensure that campuses have the resources to develop comprehensive emergency plans that involve the community.” —Ashley C. Killough