Through the Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, FEMA provides an array of funding for planning projects and mitigation activities, including two grant programs: The Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program and post-disaster Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. States are the conduit through which most FEMA funds flow and set the priorities for allocating funds for mitigation projects. Without a mitigation plan, some smaller academic institutions may be unable to recover from a major disaster. Institutions that have developed a plan and implemented mitigation actions are able to resume operations more quickly. Mitigation activities that some universities have adopted include improved building practices, sound land-use management, and flood insurance that protects financial investment in flood-prone buildings. Academic institutions should ensure that they are included in any grant proposals their communities submit to FEMA. The grants can fund the development of mitigation plans; the retrofitting of structures; the relocation of buildings; and programs that increase disaster awareness among faculty, staff, and students. Although a university can apply directly for such funding, partnering with the community provides another possible funding avenue. Virginia State University (VSU) in Petersburg, VA is presented as a case study of how one academic institution partnered with FEMA to prepare for, respond to, and recover from Hurricane Isabel, which hit the campus on September 18, 2003.