Edu Risk Solutions Blog

The Four Steps to Proactively Manage Risks

Learn the four repeatable steps of enterprise risk management (ERM), a proactive and collaborative process that empowers campus leaders to discuss and manage risk at the scale of the institution rather than at the level of a single functional area or department.
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Higher Ed Checklist: Reporting Campus Sexual Misconduct: Elements of a Policy

Establishing a sound campus reporting structure is critical for addressing the risk of campus sexual misconduct, yet many campuses do not include details about reporting in their Nondiscrimination/Title IX/Sexual Misconduct Policy. This checklist guides higher education administrators in evaluating or drafting their sexual misconduct reporting policy.
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Prevention and Protection Podcast: New Concussion Management Requirements for NCAA Institutions

In this episode of the Prevention and Protection podcast, United Educators (UE) risk researcher Christine McHugh interviews UE senior resolutions counsel Rhonda Hurwitz about the recent class action settlement agreement related to concussion management and medical monitoring. The discussion explains the lawsuit that led to the settlement, the settlement’s provisions, and the benefits for institutions which comply with the provisions by the May 18, 2020, deadline.

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New Concussion Management Requirements for NCAA Institutions

Colleges and universities nationwide face new athletic concussion compliance requirements if they wish to be released from liability under a recent settlement agreement in a federal medical monitoring class action lawsuit. This summary explains the settlement compliance obligations that institutions must meet to certify compliance by the May 18, 2020 deadline.
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Background Check Fundamentals

This publication helps human resources administrators assess the soundness of their background check screening sources, practices, and policy. More institutions are implementing background checks for all employees, contractors, volunteers, and other individuals affiliated with the school, to protect community members and the institution’s resources, improve the quality of hires, and reduce organizational risk.
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K-12 Checklist: Nondiscrimination Policies and Grievance Procedures Relating to Sexual Harassment

This checklist covers items that K-12 schools should consider when creating or revising nondiscrimination policies and grievance procedures related to sexual harassment of employees, students, and other minors. It is based on federal legal requirements and United Educators' recommendations derived from research and claims experience.
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Higher Ed Checklist: Nondiscrimination Policies and Grievance Procedures Relating to Sexual Harassment

This checklist covers items that higher education institutions should consider when creating or revising nondiscrimination policies and grievance procedures related to sexual harassment of employees, students, and minors participating in institution-sponsored programs. It is based on federal legal requirements and United Educators' recommendations derived from research and claims experience.
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Supportive Measures, Remedies, and Sanctions Regarding Campus Sexual Harassment

Educational institutions must issue the appropriate supportive measures, remedies, and sanctions when sexual harassment is reported. This checklist identifies steps institutions should take once a report of sexual harassment is received to support the complainant, the respondent, and the broader study body.
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Assessing Extracurricular Modifications for Public School Students With Disabilities

Extracurricular activities enhance a student's education, teaching skills they would not otherwise receive inside the classroom. Making these opportunities available to all students with disabilities, is an important goal. To determine appropriate extracurricular activity modifications, public school administrators should ask themselves the four questions in this piece.
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Best Practices: Investigations of Sexual Violence and Harassment

A checklist highlighting best practices for conducting investigation of student and employee complaints of sexual harassment, sexual abuse, sexual assault, dating or domestic violence, and stalking.
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Website Accessibility: How Recent Liability Trends May Affect Your Institution

An increasing number of website accessibility lawsuits are targeting colleges. Institutions can use this summary of recent liability trends and UE recommendations to better understand the current legal climate and to improve the accessibility of their websites.
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K-12 School Districts and the Department of Education’s Proposed Title IX Regulations

This overview of proposed Title IX regulations released by the Department of Education along with recommended steps to take toward compliance between now and final implementation is designed for public K-12 institutions.
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Best Practices: Title IX Coordinator Roles and Responsibilities Regarding Campus Sexual Harassment

This checklist includes United Educators' recommended best practices pertaining to the role of Title IX Coordinator, which is required for all higher education institutions and K-12 schools that accept federal funds.
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“Operation Varsity Blues” Reinforces Need for High Schools to Review Counseling Practices

This piece provides guidance on how schools should audit their college counseling practices to help prevent admissions fraud.
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Checklist for Camps on Campus

This checklist provides camp directors step-by-step guidance to help minimize risks and increase the likelihood of a safe experience for campers.
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Golf Carts on Campus

Educational institutions use golf carts to transport students and visitors, patrol the campus grounds, and perform campus maintenance activities. A United Educators (UE) claims review found that between 2012 to 2016 golf cart accidents on campuses resulted in over $1.6 million in losses. Implementing a few key practices can help educational institutions avoid or reduce such costly claims.
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How Institutions Can Respond to “Operation Varsity Blues”

In the wake of the "Operation Varsity Blues" college admissions scandal, this piece recommends actions institutions should take to prevent admissions fraud.
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Action Guide for Improving Sexual Abuse Prevention and Response Efforts: K-12

This guide is intended to help United Educators (UE) members strengthen their efforts to prevent and respond to sexual abuse.
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Action Guide for Improving Sexual Abuse Prevention and Response Efforts: Higher Education

This guide is intended to help higher ed United Educators (UE) members strengthen their efforts to prevent and respond to sexual abuse.
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Research on Human Subjects: Is Your Institution Complying With Federal Rules?

Federal law mandates that Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) pre-approve research on humans. Because of their complex research programs, most large research universities have well-developed IRB protocols, but many smaller institutions do not. IRBs review research proposals to ensure they meet safety standards, do not present conflicts of interest, and properly obtain consent from research subjects. Federal agencies have suspended government-funded human subject research at institutions that failed to follow IRB protocols.
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Addressing Sexual Violence in MOUs Between Campuses and Law Enforcement

Building strong partnerships between administrators and local law enforcement agencies should be a key component of every institution’s plan to reduce the risk of sexual violence. In this piece, UE provides recommendations for addressing sexual violence in a general campus safety memorandum of understanding.
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VAWA-Campus SaVE Act Federal Training Requirements for Students

Most higher education institutions are subject to VAWA—also known as the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination (SaVE) Act—which requires institutions to train students on sexual violence issues. This resource explains the training mandates and provides UE’s recommendations and suggestions to help institutions meet them.

VAWA-Campus SaVE Act Training Requirements for Employees

Most higher education institutions are subject to VAWA—also known as the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination (SaVE) Act—which requires institutions to train employees on sexual violence issues. This resource explains the training mandates and provides UE’s recommendations and suggestions to help institutions meet them.
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Safe Use of Drones on College and School Campuses

Schools and colleges regularly use drones for education, campus security, and promotional videography, but the increased presence of drones on campus adds to the potential for liability. Learn how to register drones and create comprehensive campus drones policies.
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Identifying Campus Security Authorities

Allegations of inaccurate Clery Act statistics have been a frequent source of bad publicity for colleges and universities. A common cause of inaccurate Clery data is confusion over who qualifies as a CSA.
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Workplace Harassment in Higher Ed: Tips: Training Faculty on Workplace Sexual Harassment

Many institutions find it difficult to educate faculty about workplace sexual harassment, but UE’s claims experience shows this training is critical. Discover recommended actions that can help schools reach faculty and some administrators.

Workplace Harassment in Higher Ed: Key Findings: Losses and Lessons From Workplace Sexual Harassment and Assault Claims

Of the 102 claims UE analyzed, 87 percent alleged sexual harassment, and 49 percent included retaliation claims. Nearly a quarter (21 percent) involved serial perpetrators, and 13 percent alleged sexual assault. View other highlights from these claims and see UE’s recommendations for mitigating similar risks.

Data Breach Prevention and Response: A Guide for Business Officers

This guide to data breaches for risk managers and business officers identifies common computer network vulnerabilities at educational institutions. It provides checklists for planning security and response, detection of breaches, exposure assessments, and system restoration and recovery.
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Accommodating Students with Disabilities in Clinical Programs

Managing students with documented disabilities in clinical programs can present unanticipated difficulties. If a student is “otherwise qualified”—i.e., meets the academic requirements—to participate in the degree program, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act require institutions to provide reasonable accommodations for his or her disability.
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Invisible Disabilities at the 25th Anniversary of the ADA

July marks the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the law prohibiting discrimination against people with disabilities at public and private educational institutions. The U.S. Department of Commerce estimates that more than 90 percent of disabilities are invisible—in other words, not observable or apparent. Examples include learning disabilities and attention deficits, autism spectrum disorders, mental or psychiatric impairments, and chronic diseases.
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Webinar: Confronting Campus Sexual Assault: An Examination of Higher Education Claims

This webinar reviews the findings from UE’s study of student sexual assault claims and explores how colleges and universities can respond to and prevent sexual violence.

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Resources for Confronting Campus Sexual Assault

The Campus SaVE Act: A Compliance Guide

This guide is designed to help your institution navigate the extensive new requirements of the Campus SaVE Act, which takes effect in March 2014.
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Title IX and Beyond: FAQs on Federal Laws and Guidance

These FAQs summarize major provisions of the Campus SaVE Act and federal guidance from 2014 and 2011 on Title IX, provide general compliance recommendations, and alert members to future developments that may increase the compliance burden.
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Confronting Campus Sexual Assault

This report discusses the key findings of UE’s sex assault claims study and looks at perpetrator and victim characteristics, circumstances of the assault, response from the institution, and resulting litigation.
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Webinar: Reducing Risk in Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Situations

This webinar explores integrating campus threat assessment with Campus SaVe functions to address issues that are unique to domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.
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Campus Sexual Violence Elimination (SaVE) Act Learning Program

A new federal law affects students and anyone who works for a college or university. This learning program examines the new law: what it is, why it's needed, how it affects you, and ways to get help for yourself or others.

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Webinar: Preventing Student Sexual Violence - Transforming Campus Culture

This webinar features one university's approach to transforming campus culture to prevent student sexual violence.
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Preventable Claims: Understanding the Family and Medical Leave Act

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides eligible employees up to 12 workweeks of unpaid leave per year to address medical issues or care for loved ones, but the complicated law can raise costly liability concerns for educational institutions.

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Managing the Risks of Athlete Concussions in Independent Schools

Concussions are a significant safety concern in youth sports. Schools must take steps to protect student athletes from these dangerous head injuries and to respond appropriately when an injury occurs. From educating staff about concussions to documenting treatment, learn to safeguard your students and your school.
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Managing the Risks of Athlete Concussions in Public Schools

Concussions are a significant safety concern in youth sports. Schools must take steps to protect student athletes from these dangerous head injuries and to respond appropriately when an injury occurs. From educating staff about concussions to documenting treatment, learn to safeguard your students and your school.
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Title IX Coordinators Learning to Cope With 'Dear Colleague' Letter

Title IX coordinators at three United Educators member campuses discuss challenges and offer suggestions for complying with the Department of Education’s 3-year-old “Dear Colleague” letter.

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Borrow Title IX Policies With Care

One size does not fit all when it comes to Title IX policies. If you borrow ideas from another institution, make sure they’re appropriate for your campus.

New Federal Requirements for Missing Student Notification: Get Ready

Are your institution’s missing student plans up to snuff? New regulations on notification requirements from the U.S. Department of Education take effect July 1. They implement the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) and mandate that all colleges and universities participating in the Title IV federal student financial aid program and providing on-campus student housing must do the following:

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