TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Eleven public universities in Florida are seeking an additional $3.5 million to upgrade their emergency personnel and communications on campus.
In response to the massacre at Virginia Tech April 16, Chancellor Mark Rosenberg is representing the state schools in obtaining the funds to hire 20 police officers and upgrade the schools’ current emergency communications systems. Though late in the spending plan process, the Board of Governors overseeing the universities hopes pressuring the state House and Senate will prove fruitful in its efforts. According to a Miami Herald report, Governor Charlie Crist has expressed his optimism in obtaining funds.
The board also plans on studying policies currently in place at its campuses regarding troubled students. Rosenberg said that not all universities have such policies in place, and the ones that do differ in their approaches.
The universities also seek to put in place cell phone text-messaging alerts, reverse 911 systems, sirens and other alerts to help notify students and faculty in the event of an emergency.
