Hearing Set on Security at Pennsylvania Institutions of Higher Learning

To cover status of emergency response policies and recommendations for improvements.

Harrisburg – The state Senate Education Committee, chaired by Sen. James Rhoades (R-Schuylkill), will hold a public hearing next week on security at Pennsylvania institutions of higher education.

The hearing will be held Wednesday, May 2, beginning at 9 a.m. in Hearing Room 1 of the state Capitol's North Office Building.

Rhoades said the committee will receive input from representatives of state, state-related, and private colleges and universities, as well as community colleges.

"We want to allow representatives of the Commonwealth's colleges and universities to testify about their campus security systems, and discuss any improvements they might suggest," said Rhoades, adding that the recent shootings at Virginia Tech University raised questions about adequate response and communication during campus emergencies.