Tennessee Wesleyan University has been awarded a $190,000 federal grant through FEMA’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program to strengthen safety and security across campus.

     The funding will support several safety initiatives on TWU’s campus, with special attention paid to improving safety measures for the campus’s residential buildings.

     The grant focuses particularly on an enhanced card access system and will occur in two separate phases. During the first phase, card readers that scan student ID’s for apartment entrance will be added on exterior doors at Nocatula Apartments, a 32 bed, co-ed, apartment style residence building located on the university’s campus. The second phase of safety improvements funded by the grant will place student and faculty ID card readers on exterior doors located on the university’s academic buildings.

       In addition to the increased number of student ID card readers located on exterior doors across campus, a new system will be implemented that offers greater functionality to place TWU’s campus and its buildings on shut-down in case of an emergency. This new system allows for campus to be placed on lockdown remotely, ultimately serving as a more effective and efficient method to ensure student safety.

      These improved safety enhancements are expected to be completed by the Spring of 2028 and reflect TWU’s ongoing commitment to providing a safe and welcoming environment for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.