Howard Community College Wins National Award for Campus Safety Planning

Columbia, MD – Howard Community College recently won the national Safety Planning and Leadership Award of Excellence from the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). Dr. Kate Hetherington, president of Howard Community College, accepted the award April 11 at the AACC annual convention in Chicago.

"Every member of our college community is committed to maintaining a safe learning and working environment," said Dr. Kate Hetherington, president of Howard Community College. "Our success is only possible with the support and collaboration of our faculty, staff, and students, as well as our community partners such as the Howard County Police Department. I am honored that the American Association of Community Colleges chose to recognize our college community for the work they do to keep our campus safe today and into the future."

The award recognizes exemplary practices and innovation in campus safety and emergency response strategies, programs, and procedures. Howard Community College practices a fully integrated approach to campus safety, called the Safe Campus Initiative. Several committees work collaboratively to focus on the health, safety, and well-being of faculty, staff, students, and campus visitors. These groups develop and manage emergency preparedness, response, and recovery plans for the college; address incidents of disruptive behavior inside or outside of the classroom; proactively identify students who need behavioral intervention or employees who need assistance; notify the college community of weather-related incidents; and provide education and prevention measures.

A committee of the AACC board of directors selected the award winners. Howard Community College was one of four finalists for the Safety Planning and Leadership Award of Excellence.

To learn more about safety efforts at Howard Community College, visit howardcc.edu/publicsafety.