Campus Security Update: Resources To Mitigate Domestic Terror

On Feb. 2, the AASCU Government Relations Team participated in a briefing hosted jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to update higher education stakeholders on recent spate of threats started in early January that has grown to include at least 28 HBCUs and seem to follow a pattern of a spoofed phone call or email that promises a future bomb attack followed by gun violence.

While the FBI did not view the threats as credible, the announcement that six “tech savvy” juveniles aligned with neo-Nazi organizations had been identified and interviewed as persons of interest was welcome news. However continued threats against historically black houses of worship, colleges, and universities in a month set aside to honor and celebrate the immense contributions of African Americans to our country, including one which closed Spelman College for a third time, prove that the individuals interviewed were not responsible for all intimidations and further investigation is needed.

Security experts agree that continued vigilance is the best way for the public to assist the intelligence community. At present 20 FBI field offices are helping to investigate bomb threats against at least 17 HBCUs across the country. On Monday, Feb. 7, DHS issued a national bulletin warning of a heightened threat of domestic and foreign terrorism in the United States against domestic infrastructures, including “soft-targets” such as institutes of higher education (IHE) and houses of worship.

Both agencies have made federal resources available to IHEs including information on available national security grants, access to protective security advisors, and threat assessment briefings. Accordingly, AASCU has been asked to share the following information with our membership who can use the links below to contact the relevant federal partners:

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

POC: Traci Silas, Executive Director (acting) in the Office of Academic Engagement

• Contact information: dhsacademic@hq.dhs.gov or via phone at 202-603-1142
• Protective Security Advisors – provided to IHE Presidents to provide detailed briefings on active threats or safety assessments of campuses
• Link: Academic Engagement | Homeland Security (dhs.gov)
• Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) provides funding to support target hardening and other physical security enhancements to non-profit organizations at high risk of terrorist attack.
• Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) works with public and private sector partners to mitigate risk against our cyber and physical infrastructure and increase nationwide cybersecurity resilience.
• If You See Something, Say Something^® .  Report suspicious activity and threats of violence, including online threats, to local law enforcement,  FBI Field Offices, or your local  Fusion Center.

Federal Bureau of Investigation

POC: Jim Tarasca, Deputy Director of the Counterterrorism Division (FBI)

• Contact Information: Academia@FBI.gov or call 202-324-2770
• Academica Program – FACT SHEET
• Find Your Local Field Office (the New Orleans Field Office is serving as the main field office for the current investigation)