Campus Security Support Program Grant

The Campus Security Support Program Grant is administered by the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) under the authority of Section 381.220 of Amended Substitute House Bill 96 of the 136th General Assembly. The program is designed to enhance safety across Ohio’s higher education institutions by providing funding to support institutionally sanctioned student organizations that may face elevated risks of violent crime, terrorism, hate crimes, or harassment. In this funding round, ODHE has shifted its approach by requiring institutions of higher education to apply directly for funding, rather than allowing student organizations to apply independently. Institutions act as intermediaries, receiving lump-sum awards and distributing funds internally to eligible student organizations. The primary objective of the grant is to strengthen campus safety by enabling student organizations to implement security enhancements and safety-focused programming. Institutions must outline in their proposals how they will allocate funds to organizations at risk and ensure that expenditures directly address safety needs. Allowable uses of funds include physical security enhancements and programmatic initiatives such as safety training, awareness campaigns, and student-led safety ambassador programs. However, restrictions apply: funds cannot be used for general campus-wide security upgrades, weapons, staffing costs unrelated to the program, or unrelated operational expenses. Additionally, programmatic activities are capped at no more than 40 percent of the total institutional award, ensuring that security infrastructure remains the primary focus. Funding is distributed through a tiered structure based on the number of institutionally sanctioned student organizations at each institution. Tier 1 institutions with more than 150 organizations may receive up to 300,000 dollars, Tier 2 institutions with 50 to 150 organizations may receive up to 200,000 dollars, and Tier 3 institutions with 50 or fewer organizations may receive up to 100,000 dollars. The total program funding available is up to 2,290,000 dollars. Institutions must ensure equitable distribution of funds, with no single student organization receiving more than 25 percent of the total award unless specifically justified and approved. Priority is given to organizations that have not previously received funding and those representing communities at higher risk. Eligibility is limited to Ohio-based institutions of higher education, including state universities, community colleges, technical colleges, and private nonprofit colleges that maintain institutionally sanctioned student organizations. These institutions are responsible for designing and managing an internal grant-making process, including application procedures, evaluation criteria, compliance monitoring, and reporting. Institutions must demonstrate their capacity to administer funds responsibly and ensure that student organizations play a leadership role in funded activities. Compliance with federal and state laws, including nondiscrimination requirements, is mandatory. The application process requires submission of a complete proposal package via email, including a cover letter, completed application form, and a detailed budget with narrative justification. Proposals must describe the institution’s internal distribution process, provide data supporting the need for funding, and explain how outcomes will be measured. Evaluation criteria include project design, rationale, implementation plan, and budget quality. ODHE reviews proposals for completeness and eligibility before conducting a formal evaluation, and may request revisions or additional information during the review process. The timeline for this funding opportunity begins with the release of the request for proposals on April 7, 2026. Questions from applicants are accepted through April 20, 2026, with responses provided by April 24, 2026. Proposals must be submitted by May 6, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The review period runs from May 6 to May 20, 2026, and award notifications are expected by May 29, 2026. Funded projects must be completed by June 30, 2027, with interim reporting required throughout the project period and a final report due 30 days after the end of the expenditure period. The program does not explicitly state recurrence, but multiple rounds have been conducted, suggesting periodic reissuance at the discretion of the state.

Use local campus or municipal crime data to strengthen rationale; clearly demonstrate internal grant management capacity; prioritize at-risk student organizations and equitable fund distribution