Education Security Consulting Case Study

Berea College

Berea College, located in Berea, Kentucky, was founded in 1855 by John Fee, an abolitionist Presbyterian minister who envisioned a safe interracial and coeducational environment in higher education - a particularly unpopular stance in the Commonwealth of Kentucky at the time. Fee’s courageous uphill fight to accomplish this goal resulted in he and his followers being driven out of Kentucky by pro-slavery sympathizers. Following the Civil War, however, Fee returned to Berea and began building the college into what is now – a highly-lauded and nationally-recognized liberal arts institution.

The position taken by John Fee against gender and racial disparities continues to the present day as the school carries forward his views of fundamental human rights. However, this doesn’t come without risks to the safety of the college community. The college frequently becomes the target of those who disagree with the institution. Protests, along with harassment of students, created a treacherous environment for security.

Our Approach

More than a decade ago, Berea College’s Director of Public Safety saw the potential for grave harm to the college and contracted with SRMC to develop a security master plan. The team from SRMC produced a focused and concise plan which offered a thorough and vital roadmap for enhanced campus safety.

Results

Over the following years, the college invested heavily in security systems to include bringing more than 450 security cameras online; new and expanded emergency/information callboxes; and increased access control that enabled the campus to go on lockdown within seconds rather than hours. All the while, SRMC continued to be a solid partner in these efforts.

Faculty cannot teach, students cannot learn, and staff members cannot produce if the foundation for a safe environment is lacking. From the onset, SRMC was focused on community engagement and input. This unquestionably created a safer space for learning and living, thus continuing the goals that were intended by John Fee more than 160 years ago.