The University of Southern Mississippi, Alcorn State University, Delta State University, Jackson State University, the University of Mississippi and Mississippi Valley State University recently received their Sports Event Security Aware Seal of Approval by the Center for Spectator Sports Security Management at the University of Southern Mississippi.

The seal represents a university’s development of an interdisciplinary environment to improve sport security management policies and procedures and enhance emergency response and evacuation, recovery operations and crowd management training. Mississippi State University's training is in the process of completion.

Universities that train with the center complete a vulnerability assessment with a report that points out counter-measure improvement recommendations. Creation of a workforce for game day follows, along with rigorous training that includes evacuation and disaster incident scenarios that are customized for a university’s specific needs and characteristics. It’s a multi-agency collaboration training program that delivers instruction to athletics facility administrators, campus police, Emergency Medical Services, fire/ HAZMAT and local jurisdiction emergency management directors. The assessment process also includes a system audit by center officials.

Training techniques comply with the standards and procedures of the National Incident Management Systems set by the Department of Homeland Security.

Awarding the SESA Seal to universities within the state completes a four-year research project that has resulted in a $3.5 million U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant to train an estimated 5,370 officials at 1,055 institutions nationwide on sports event security management, in conjunction with the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. The grant was awarded in September 2007.