Michigan State University is one of five universities participating in a nationwide pilot program to test innovative security measures at sports facilities and entertainment venues in areas such as parking, concessions, merchandising and ticketing, according to an article from the university.

“The U.S. Department of Homeland Security ranks stadium attacks as one of the 12 most devastating possible acts of terrorism,” the article says. “The pilot program will create a risk management standard for major collegiate and professional venues to improve security measures and increase safety for the thousands of sports and entertainment fans who attend events each year.”

It is a collaboration of the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security, or NCS⁴, at the University of Southern Mississippi and eVerifile, which helps organizations improve safety and security and meet government compliance requirements, the article says. The pilot also includes Ohio State University, Penn State University, Texas A&M and Southern Mississippi.

MSU and the other universities will test several security initiatives, including employee and vendor background screening, safety education and venue access through credentialing, the university reported.

The program comes after a meeting during which several universities joined eVerifile and NCS⁴ to discuss the security issues facing venues and the administrators that manage them, the article says.