The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Academic Engagement (OAE) supports the DHS mission by building, improving and leveraging relationships with the academic community.
Through this ongoing series, read how OAE actively engages with the academic community in the United States and leads initiatives related to international students, among other key focus areas. 

September is National Preparedness Month in the United States. In recognition, DHS’s OAE created a new web page focused on campus resilience.

The page outlines programs and tools that campuses can use to promote preparedness and resilience. In addition, it provides resources for campuses, including the Academic Resource Catalog and information on the If You See Something, Say Something™ campaign. DHS also hosts the National Tabletop Seminar and Exercise Series (NTTX), a series of campus-based events to test and promote campus resilience. The series brings together senior higher education leaders, as well as federal, state and local representatives from departments and agencies that support campus resilience to participate in workshops and work through a designed emergency scenario.

The 2016 NTTX event will take place at University of Illinois at Chicago on November 16–17 and will focus its discussion on campus violence, including active shooter and other threats that impact the higher education community. 

OAE also encourages schools to participate in this year’s preparedness month theme of “Don’t Wait, Communicate.” This initiative involves taking active steps toward building resilience and preparedness efforts. National Preparedness Month serves as a reminder to prepare for the types of emergencies that significantly impact the daily lives of students, faculty and other campus community members.

DHS supports the PrepareAthon! National Day of Action, which encourages stakeholders to take preparedness action and build stronger and safer communities. For more information or to learn how you can take action in your community, visit the National Preparedness Month website.

Sign up to receive monthly updates about DHS’s engagement with the academic community by visiting OAE’s website.