The Department of Homeland Security announced the launch of their Campus Resilience Pilot Program (CR Pilot) for not-for-profit colleges and universities yesterday. DHS and the departments of Education and Justice 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."
Six colleges or univerisities will be selected by DHS to "pilot an emergency preparedness and resilience planning process." DHS said the program will reach a diverse group of colleges and universities of various sizes and settings. Those chosen must provide their own funding for the program.
They said that participants 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."
According to the application, the program will:
- Promote FEMA's "Whole Community philosophy."
- Use existing DHS, Department of Education and Department of Justice resources.
- Help colleges/universities assess and plan for "major man-made or natural incidents.
The program is a joint initiative of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Office of Academic Engagement. Applications must be filled out in order to have an opportunity to be selected. They're due by Feb. 22, 2013 at 5 p.m. EST. The six chosen colleges and/or universities will be announced on March 15, 2013, and immediately begin the program. The project is scheduled to end on Dec. 31, 2013.
The application is located at https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/CR_Pilot_Program_Announcement_FINAL%20508_0.pdf
Comments