Utica College, located in central New York, was awarded $313,000 to spend on new security technology through the Higher Education Capital Matching Grant Program.
The program provides $300 million statewide in matching grants to finance capital projects and equipment purchased by private colleges across the state, UC Tangerine reports.
The school will use the grant money to assist in purchasing access control technology, a new cybersecurity wall, security cameras, improved campus-wide lighting, and exterior and interior emergency alert systems, among other things.
So far, the campus has used the money to improve camera coverage in parking lots and interior locations across campus, provided campus safety officers with additional technology to assist them in keeping the campus safe, installed several new emergency blue-light phones and invested in better lighting on walking pathways and roadways as requested by students.
A new access control system is also in the process of being installed, which will allow the campus to be remotely secured and will provide improved emergency alert technology that will notify students both on and off-campus of potential danger or emergencies. Students and staff will be issued a new identification card with enhanced safety features.
“When all safety and security enhancements are completed and implemented, there will be no comparison to UC’s safety preparedness five years ago,” said Shad Crowe, director of emergency management at Utica. “The improvements and changes have increased preparedness at Utica College far beyond the levels of previous years.”
Crowe also praised grant writer Amy Lindner, the college’s assistant vice president for advancement and chief grants officer.
“Lindner was the brilliant mind who completed the application for the grant,” Crowe said. “She is an amazingly talented grant writer who Utica College is very, very fortunate to have.”
If your campus is also planning to apply for a grant in the near future, here are five qualities two education grants development consultants say your application should include.
