FHU receives Higher Education Safety Grant to upgrade campus security systems

In its continued effort to make campus safety a top priority, Freed-Hardeman University has been awarded a Higher Education Safety Grant from the state of Tennessee in the amount of approximately $177,000. The grant will primarily be used to enhance electronic access control and security cameras for student dorms. FHU has gained a reputation for supporting student safety, having recently been ranked No.1 in the state of Tennessee and No.22 in the nation on Niche’s list of Safest College Campuses in America.
“We are deeply grateful to the state of Tennessee for prioritizing campus safety and investing in the well-being of our students, faculty and staff,” said FHU CFO and Vice President for Financial Services Dr. Jason Brashier. “We look forward to implementing these enhancements. Freed-Hardeman University remains dedicated to providing a safe and secure campus environment.”
According to the state of Tennessee, “The Higher Education Safety Grant provides financial reimbursement to qualifying public and private institutions of higher education who invest in the purchasing of non-recurring equipment, technology and/or training with a focus on strengthening physical security and enhancing accountability in their respective safety protocols.”
Although FHU currently has extensive safety protocols in place, including security cameras, electronic access control for buildings and a trained security team, the grant funds will be used to upgrade and expand existing systems, especially surrounding student dorms. These improvements will likely be made over the next year to 18 months. 
In addition to Brashier, Director of Campus Safety and Security Stewart Brackin and Director of Information Technology Nathan Kitchen were both instrumental in creating the proposal to secure the Higher Education Safety Grant.