In support of its efforts to provide a safe college environment, Clark College has received a federal grant of nearly $750,000. The grant, which runs from October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2012, is provided through the Emergency Management for Higher Education Program of the U.S. Department of Education. The $744,402 grant reflected the full amount of the request submitted by Clark College director of operations & auxiliary services Jennifer Grove.

In April 2007, the college formed the Security Assessment Task Force.  That first step launched comprehensive emergency management planning efforts across the college.

The EMHE (Emergency Management for Higher Education) grant will be supported extensively by local first responder agencies and city government. The project will achieve full National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliance as the college completes and implements a comprehensive emergency operations plan. The project will provide for the inclusion of special needs groups, advanced behavioral threat assessment training, college-wide training that will be available through social networks and on the college website, as well as training sessions and drills at Clark’s main campus and its facilities at Columbia Tech Center, Town Plaza and WSU Vancouver.