Clarke Continues Facility Upgrades with Homeland Security Grant
Following a $229,436.52 award from the Homeland Security Grant Program, Clarke University is undergoing significant updates to enhance the safety and security of its community members.
The grant, part of over $4.6 million awarded to organizations across the state of Iowa, will enable the university to add security features such as chip readers, security cameras, and enhanced lighting to the majority of its buildings, including all student residence halls and apartments. Updates will also be made to facilities that are commonly open to the public, such as Terence Donaghoe Hall and the Robert and Ruth Kehl Center.
The funds advance the work that started with a Dubuque Racing Association grant that financed the purchase and installation of a chip reader to the R.C. and Celeste Wahlert Atrium earlier this year. These investments in increased security measures will benefit Clarke students and employees, as well as the university’s neighbors on Clarke Drive.
The addition of physical precautions like chip readers and security cameras give us the ability to lock down a building in case of an emergency and provide police and first responders with valuable access and information,” said Vice President of Business and Finance Beth McGrath. “These measures maintain the safety of our buildings and can also create a sense of security for those living, working, and visiting nearby.
Clarke is one of only two universities who received funding through the grant initiative, which focuses on building and sustaining local capabilities for emergency management. Projects were selected based on five National Priority Investments jointly determined by the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.