New security cameras are now in operation across Kent State University’s campus following a state grant aimed at strengthening campus safety, according to university and state officials.
The additions come through Ohio’s Campus Student Safety Grant Program, which is funded by the Ohio Department of Higher Education, which supported security updates at institutions that expressed concern surrounding crime and other various threats to student safety. At Kent State, administrators said the new system was shaped both by student feedback and collaboration with campus police to address gaps in surveillance coverage.
According to Jeff Robinson, Director of Communications for ODHE, the grant program was designed with a clear public safety focus across Ohio’s higher education system.
“The goals and intended outcomes of this grant were to enhance security measures on campus and increase student safety,” Robinson said, adding that funding was prioritized for institutions that showed “increased threats towards students and organizations.”
Robinson also noted that funding decisions went through a structured review process involving several state agencies.
“Funding amounts and recipient institutions were determined through [ODHE’s] review process, which included recommendations from the Ohio Department of Public Safety,” he said.
At Kent State, officials report that new security cameras have already been installed in multiple areas and are currently active across campus. Ben Davis, executive director of the Kent Center for Student Involvement, said camera placement decisions were made in coordination with Kent State University Police to identify areas that were most in need of coverage.
“The new cameras have already been installed and are operating currently,” Davis said. “We worked with [KSU] police to identify any spaces that were potential blind spots in the campus camera coverage.”
Davis added that student concerns and suggestions played a central role in securing the grant funding in the first place, particularly following safety concerns brought about in previous semesters.
“Student input and feedback was the driver for us pursuing this grant money,” he said. “After a few incidents in the Fall of 2024, students shared their concerns about campus safety, and we wanted to deliver a response that showed them we heard their concerns and were taking actions to make them feel more safe.”
While Student Life helped advocate for the funding, Davis emphasized that the department does not manage the distribution or surveillance of the system.
“As a general rule, we are not involved with the rollout and monitoring of campus safety cameras. That is [KSPD’s] area of expertise,” he said.
Still, Davis pointed to the grant as a part of a commitment to student safety and well-being.
“We hope that students see that when they share their concerns with Student Life, we do everything in our power to address those concerns,” he said. “We are committed to doing what we can to make every student know that they are safe on campus and belong here.”
Alexis Hood is a beat reporter. Contact her at [email protected].
