The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced the launch of the DHS Campus Resilience Pilot Program (CR Pilot) for U.S. colleges and universities. Together with the Department of Education and the Department of Justice, DHS will work with state, local and private sector partners to engage colleges and universities to take proactive steps to enhance preparedness and campus resilience.
“DHS is committed to working with our partners throughout government and in the academic community to make our nation’s college and university campuses more safe, secure and resilient,” said Secretary Napolitano. “Through the Campus Resilience Pilot Program, we will support campuses and communities in leveraging existing capabilities and seeking new and innovative approaches to making campuses more resilient.”
This is a competitive program. Colleges and universities are integral partners with their communitiees in emergency management and disaster planning. They present unique challenges with their concentrated student populations that may need special attention during disasters. This could be in the form of evacuations, shelters or providing life support if basic services are not available.
Academic facilities also offer local emergency managers with potential sources of expertise among their faculty and staffs.
Six colleges or universities nationwide will be competitively selected by DHS to pilot an emergency preparedness and resilience planning process. The CR Pilot will reach a diverse group of colleges and universities of various settings and sizes. Selected CR Pilot colleges and universities will have the opportunity to convene their campus leadership and students in facilitated community engagement work and receive technical assistance in assessing and further developing their own campus emergency and resilience plans.
The CR Pilot is a joint initiative of and is supported by DHS’ Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Student and Exchange Visitor Program, and the Office of Academic Engagement.
The CR Pilot addresses a recommendation from the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council that DHS establish a campus resilience program. Learn more about and apply for the CR Pilot here: http://1.usa.gov/XgjKMU.
All applications are due by Feb. 22, 2013. The six college and university pilot sites will be announced in March 2013.
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