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Safeguarding America’s Colleges: Preventing Violence and Promoting Learning - Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Key Resources
Recent events that have occurred on college and university campuses across the United States have made it clear that higher education institutions must plan for and be prepared to respond to emergency situations. In the wake of tragedies such as the shootings at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois Universities, restoring the learning environment is critical as schools provide students a sense of stability, security and belonging. The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools administers various grant programs that help colleges and universities prepare for and respond to crises. Emergency Management for Higher Education and Project School Emergency Response to Violence (SERV) are examples of the type of federal assistance available to help higher education institutions to deal with the wide array of potential threats to campus safety and security.
The U.S. Department of Education also supports the Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance (TA) Center. The Center provides emergency management resources, training, and publications. The TA Center also helps non-grantee local educational districts and private schools with improving and strengthening their emergency management plans through the provision of resources, responses to technical assistance requests, and facilitation of Emergency Management for Schools Training events.
Roanoke College, Princeton University, Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University are just four of the many colleges and universities throughout the nation committed to ensuring a safe and secure campus environment.
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Participants
Deborah Price is the assistant deputy secretary for the Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools (OSDFS) at the U. S. Department of Education. Price oversees the Department's activities related to safe schools, crisis response, alcohol and drug prevention, and the health and well being of students—including building strong character and citizenship. She also leads the Department's homeland security efforts. Prior to this appointment, Price served as chief of staff for the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA), where she was responsible for day-to-day FSA operation and the resolution of problems impacting student aid delivery or implementation of the FSA performance plan. (Pre-taped)
Tara Hill is a management and program analyst with OSDFS as part of the Office's Center for Emergency Preparedness. She supports school districts and higher education institutions that have received discretionary grant funds to bolster their emergency management efforts. Ms. Hill oversees a contract for the Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools Technical Assistance Center and is the competition manager for the Emergency Management for Higher Education discretionary grant program. Currently, she also serves as the contracting officer's representative for the Department's Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention.
Donald Grady is the chief of police and public safety for the Northern Illinois University Department of Public Safety in DeKalb, Ill. He started his career with the Rock County Sheriff's Department in Janesville, Wis. He also has served as the chief of police for the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and for the cities of Santa Fe, N.M., and Bloomer, Wis. Additionally, he has served as the director of training for the Dean Junior College Department of Public Safety in Franklin, Mass. Chief Grady has been certified as a police instructor in thirty subject areas. He maintains certifications as an emergency medical technician and hazardous materials technician. Chief Grady is an adjunct professor and teaches at Northern Illinois University.
Sherwood Wilson is the vice president for administrative services at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in Blacksburg, Va. Mr. Wilson has a strong record of leadership and facilities improvement at Virginia Tech and other large universities. He is responsible for providing creative vision, leadership, and management for the university's facilities operations, which include: capital design and construction, physical plant and utilities, transportation services and parking, the university architect, real estate management, human resources, campus police, and environmental health and safety.
Edward Spencer is the associate vice president for student affairs at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. A professional in student affairs for 38 years, some of Mr. Spencer's responsibilities have included: student life and activities, housing, judicial affairs, career services, the international center, off-campus housing, community relations, crisis management, and learning communities. Mr. Spencer began his professional career in student affairs in 1970 at the University of Delaware. He came to Virginia Tech in 1983 as director of housing and residence life. In 1989, he became director of residential and dining programs and, in 1996, he was named assistant vice president for student affairs. Subsequently, in 2004, he was named associate vice president.
Steven Healy is the director of public safety and the chief of police at Princeton University. Chief Healy has been the Director of Public Safety at Princeton University since January 2003 and is the Immediate Past President of the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA). Chief Healy, is responsible for leading the University’s safety, security, and law enforcement programs and participates in numerous University-wide committees with oversight for campus safety initiatives. Chief Healy recently completed a term on the Department of Education’s Review Group for the Higher Education Center for Alcohol, Other Drug and Violence Prevention and serves as a subject-matter expert for the U. S Departments of Education and Justice.
Eugene Zdziarski is the vice president of student affairs at Roanoke College in Salem, Va. Mr. Zdziarski oversees the college's services to students, including residence life, campus safety, student activities, Greek social organizations, student health, counseling, and athletics. Prior to this appointment, he served as assistant vice president and dean of students at the University of Florida. He also served as an adjunct faculty member at the university's college of education. Mr. Zdziarski has been recognized with the John Koldus Award for Distinguished Service to the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. He co-authored Campus Crisis Management, a practical resource containing information that can help administrators evaluate, revise, or establish comprehensive crisis management plans appropriate for their institutions.
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