The University of Southern Maine was selected by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as a recipient for its Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention grant. The one-time grant, totaling more than $400,000, will be used to create a Behavioral Threat Assessment Management model for the university.

The initiative stemmed from what USM Police Chief Gráinne Perkins witnessed at the Oct. 25 shooting in Lewiston, according to university officials.

The shooting had a significant impact on USM’s Lewiston campus, Perkins said.

“By training everyone to recognize warning signs and act early, we can create a safer, more proactive campus community where different teams—like mental health professionals, administrators, and law enforcement—work together effectively,” Perkins said in a press release.

University officials say they expect the initiative to be up and running as soon as next month.