West Virgina State University will improve safety on campus by using a $600,000 donation from Bayer CropScience to purchase security equipment.
The gift, announced by university officials on Monday, will be used to purchase a diesel generator, police cruisers and a surveillance camera system. It also will allow the university to hire a new public safety officer whose duties will include assessing campus safety needs.
University officials said the improvements will help safeguard students, staff, faculty and visitors.
"We often refer to our students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends as 'the State family' and we work for what is best for them," said university President Brian Hemphill. "With this contribution, Bayer CropScience is enabling us to further improve our campus for each member of the State family, and I am grateful to the entire Bayer CropScience team for that."
The West Virginia headquarters for Bayer CropScience, an agrochemical subsidiary of pharmaceutical giant Bayer, is located near the university in Institute.
A Bayer spokeswoman said the company and university have worked together in the past through scholarship contributions and engagement.
"Our contribution today is a continuation of that relationship and a demonstration of our continued commitment to the success of the university and the education of its students," said Connie Stewart, a health and safety manager for Bayer CropScience.
The $600,000 donation is one of several big-dollar gifts the university received this year as part of a campaign to raise $18 million by 2017.
In November, the university created an endowed scholarship for as many as 30 students after BrickStreet Insurance's nonprofit foundation donated $1.75 million. It was the largest gift in school history. It also nearly fulfilled the $18 million fundraising goal, which started in 2012 when Hemphill became president.
The university has since raised $16.8 million, $6 million of which has been received this year. Last month, Hemphill said he is confident the university will exceed its fundraising goal.
Reach Samuel Speciale at sam.speciale@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-7939 or follow @samueljspeciale on Twitter.