HBCU President Outlines Plans for Upcoming Year
CLOVIS, Calif. – It’s not every day that one sees a security video equipment manufacturer get a standing ovation. But during the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Law Enforcement Executives Association (LEEA) 8th Annual Conference held July 9-11, Clovis, Calif.-based Pelco received just such a response. “The overwhelming outpouring of generosity by Pelco, David MacDonald, Steve Nibbelink and their counterparts was tremendous,” says Vernon Worthy, president of HBCU LEEA.
During the two-day event, which was held at Pelco’s headquarters, 68 of LEEA’s 113 members networked with each other and received training on Clery Act compliance, gangs, terrorism, site assessments and more. Additionally, the conference was a chance for the association to further develop its presence in the campus security community.
In his interview with Campus Safety magazine, Worthy discussed his plans for the upcoming year. “We’re sharing information and best practices with all of our HBCU institutions and particularly the LEEA membership on homeland security kinds of issues and emergency notification types of protocols,” he says. “We’re also focusing on the Clery reporting system. We’re just reaching out to members who may not be in a position to collaborate with colleagues on this type of require-ment.”
Worthy says LEEA looks at issues that generally affect HBCUs, such as gangs, identify theft, vehicle break-ins, terrorism and community safety. “There are unique challenges, particularly in urban settings, where the quality of life may not be as good as it ought to be,” he adds. “To that extent, we have to ensure the safety of our students as they traverse these kinds of communities.”
As the association continues to develop, it hopes to work with other organizations, such as the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA), to further its reach among HBCUs. Next year’s conference will take place at the Atlanta Hilton and Towers in Atlanta from Aug. 5-8, 2008. For additional information, contact Worthy at vworthy@morehouse.edu.
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