Division News & Statements
University earns largest grant from Campus Sexual Assault Program
November 27, 2018
Original Source: GVNext
Grand Valley will upgrade campus security and enhance its bystander intervention program with grant money from the state of Michigan.
Grand Valley received $248,000 from the Campus Sexual Assault Grant Program; of the 22 colleges and universities that earned a total of $1 million in funding in 2018, GVSU's award was the largest.
Most of the funding will be used to update and enhance the university's current security camera system, according to Grand Valley Police Capt. Kourosh Khatir.
"In addition to the new software, our efforts will focus on adding cameras that can provide additional coverage to open public areas, and facial recognition capabilities to areas that may benefit from it," Khatir said.
The camera project will be implemented over the next two years, he added.
Krystal Diel, campus victim advocate in the Gayle R. Davis Center for Women and Gender Equity, said grant money will also allow expansion of prevention efforts, like the bystander intervention program facilitated by peer educators.
"Grand Valley has been fortunate to have received funding for the third year in a row," Diel said. "I think our commitment to ending sexual violence on campus has continuously been demonstrated to the state as we continue to expand our efforts around this important work."
The grant program was established in 2015 by first lady Sue Snyder.
For More Information Contact: Michele Coffill in University Communications - (616) 331-2221