The University of Tennessee Southern has been awarded over $4 million by the state, part of a larger $6 million allocation to the University of Tennessee System for one-time investments aimed at enhancing safety and security across UT Southern’s main and east campuses in Pulaski, Tenn. This funding initiative comes in the wake of a detailed assessment conducted in November 2023.

The comprehensive safety assessment, led by UT System Audit and Compliance, identified critical improvements needed in lighting, access control, and the delineation of campus borders. Recommendations from the assessment, grounded in the principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), include installing energy-efficient lighting to improve natural surveillance, adjusting light timers, and maintaining vegetation to CPTED standards.

The initiative will also see collaboration with the City of Pulaski to enhance street lighting, add ground and flood lights to various buildings, upgrade security cameras, and install electronic door locks, ensuring all existing lighting is fully operational and introducing new fixtures in strategic locations such as walkways, entrances, parking lots, and residential areas.

According to the university, these enhancements are designed not just to upgrade physical infrastructure, but also to reflect UT Southern’s commitment to creating a secure and inclusive environment that prioritizes student safety. By increasing safety opportunities and minimizing potential criminal activities, the university aims to ensure a welcoming atmosphere for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

UT Southern Chancellor Linda C. Martin expressed her gratitude to state lawmakers for their support, saying, “We are immensely thankful to the General Assembly for appropriating these critical funds. This strategic investment is a testament to their commitment to the safety and well-being of our students and community. It enables us to enhance our campus security infrastructure significantly.”

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