Jackson State earns superior rating from Defense

JACKSON — For the second year in a row, the U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Security Service, has issued Jackson State University the highest possible security rating for the university’s compliance with the nation’s security standards.

The Defense Security Service rates security postures within one of five categories — superior, commendable, satisfactory, marginal or unsatisfactory. According to JSU, a superior rating is seldom achieved in the academic community and is only awarded to the top 10 percent institutions in the country.

“A sustained security compliance posture is indicative of hard work of a dedicated, security-conscious team at Jackson State University,” said JSU’s security officer and export officer Ora Rawls. “Support in these efforts includes the Office of Research and Federal Relations, the College of Science, Engineering and Technology, the Department Human Resources, the Division of International Programs, the Office of General Counsel, and the participating faculty, staff and students of the entire university.”

The superior rating positions JSU to competitively seek additional funding during a time when many institutions are struggling to obtain and maintain support, Rawls said.

“It means we can do business with the government at a certain level,” she said.