MARIETTA— For nearly seven years, Washington State College of Ohio (WSCO) has been actively involved in the Ohio Department of Higher Education’s (ODHE) initiative, Changing Campus Culture. This state-wide effort is focused on ending sexual violence on all of Ohio’s college and university campuses.
Recently, ODHE Chancellor Randy Gardner informed WSCO President Dr. Vicky Wood that Washington State has completed all of the required metrics associated with the state’s recommendations. “I applaud the hard work and dedication of your staff in their efforts to prevent and better respond to sexual violence in your campus community,” wrote Gardner in his communication.
“At Washington State, we believe education demands that we support our students wholly. In addition to preparing them for the workforce, we recognize that their lives beyond the classroom impact them as students,” explained Wood. “Their safety, along with that of our faculty and staff, is of the utmost importance to us and we are vigilant in our efforts to maintain a safe campus.”
Last fall, Washington State was one of the recipients of the 2021 Campus Safety Grant Awards and received $316,719. This was the largest amount awarded to a community college and the fourth-largest award among all Ohio institutions of higher education. Those funds were used for preventative safety measures directly related to the Changing Campus Culture initiative, including the replacement of the college’s entrance doors and enhancements to its security monitoring systems.
WSCO’s Vice President of Organizational Effectiveness Gary Barber expressed appreciation for the state support that helps the college’s ongoing efforts to maintain campus safety. “We are very grateful that our Governor has invested in our vision of providing a safe, warm and welcoming environment here on the campus. These funds and this commitment have given us the opportunity to implement positive changes that support our continuous improvement.”
