United Educators Fund

Prevention and Protection Podcast: Recent Changes to Higher Education Athletics Benefits

Amy Piccola, a Partner at Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr, Andrea Brockway, Counsel at Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr, and Melanie Bennett, Senior Risk Management Counsel at UE, discuss recent changes to higher education athletics benefits.
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Guide for On-Campus Operations

In these unprecedented times, schools and colleges continue to struggle with how to provide educational services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on current recommendations, this guide provides risk management recommendations to inform the decision on whether to resume on-campus operations and the process for resumption.
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Webinar: Review of Department of Education’s July 2021 Q&A on the Title IX Regulations

In this 30-minute webinar, Josh Richards, a Partner with Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr, and a Title IX expert, highlights issues of significance for school officials in the recently released Q&A from DOE’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
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Prevention and Protection Podcast: The Future of Study Abroad Programs and the Impact of the COVID-19 Global Pandemic

This episode of Prevention and Protection discusses the future of study abroad programs and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Employee Burnout Is a Risk Management Issue

Employee burnout, on the rise due to the pandemic, extends beyond strategic risk into a concern for liability risk managers.
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Considerations for Conducting In-Person Camps

If you're holding an in-person camp this summer, follow these CDC recommendations to increase safety and reduce liability.
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Webinar: Higher Education Employment Issues: During and After the Pandemic

In this webinar, experts discuss some of the major employment issues higher education institutions have grappled with during the COVID-19 pandemic — and those they’re likely to face as the crisis recedes and campuses continue to open up.
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Student Mental Health

About 40% of current college students will suffer a significant mental health issue, one reason why institution leaders revealed in a recent survey that student mental health is their top concern. This course examines the impact of mental health issues on campus.
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Dispensing COVID-19 Vaccines on Campus

This article highlights useful considerations for planning a vaccine distribution effort on campus.
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Avoid Negligence Claims Arising from Sexual Misconduct During Study Abroad

The 2020 Title IX regulations made clear that Title IX doesn’t apply to people outside the United States. But a recent court case should serve as a reminder that students who experience sexual harassment while studying overseas can bring costly claims of negligence against their K-12 school, college, or university.
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Webinar: COVID on Campus: What's Next?

During this webinar, experts discuss pandemic response recommendations, vaccination suggestions, fall 2021 planning, and employment considerations. The speakers also address Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations, ACHA guidelines, and United Educators (UE) recommendations.
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Prevention and Protection Podcast: Protect Minors in Remote Learning Programs

In this episode, Lindsay Bond, executive director of the Higher Education Protection Network (HEPNet), and Melanie Bennett, senior risk management counsel at United Educators, discuss how colleges and universities can protect minors in remote learning programs.
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Prevention and Protection Podcast: Forecasting Risks for 2021

In this episode, United Educators risk management consultants Hoda Hussein, Justin Kollinger and Sam Swartout forecast the top risks impacting schools, colleges and universities in 2021. They discuss their insights, relevant risk trends and considerations institutions should keep in mind should these risks surface on campus.
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Understanding the PREP Act and Potential Liability Immunity for COVID-19 Countermeasures

As part of COVID-19 prevention efforts, your institution may incorporate testing or consider providing or requiring vaccines for staff and students who qualify.

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Insights: Understanding the PREP Act and Potential Liability Immunity for COVID-19 Countermeasures

This article summarizes useful measures institutions can take to position themselves for immunity under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act with regard to COVID-19 medical countermeasures.
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Coronavirus FAQs Part 4: Vaccinations, Study Abroad, COVID-19 Policies

Here are UE’s answers to some of the most pressing member questions about mandatory vaccinations, student activities, study abroad, and testing associated with COVID-19.

Title IX Supportive Measures, Remedies, and Sanctions: After the Regulations

Use this checklist to ensure your institution is providing appropriate support and sanctions to those involved in the Title IX grievance process.
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Large Loss Report 2021

The Large Loss Report 2021 summarizes major damage awards and settlements of more than $500,000 that affected K-12 schools, colleges, and universities in 2020.
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Manage Higher Ed Faculty Who Resist Disability Accommodations Requests

When faculty members refuse or fail to implement approved accommodations for students with disabilities, it could lead to claims being filed against your institution.
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Coronavirus Response Resources for Colleges and Universities

To help colleges and universities during the COVID-19 pandemic, United Educators (UE) has compiled the following list of links to education-specific resources and federal guidance.
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Checklist for Sexual Harassment Investigations

This checklist highlights best practices and regulations requirements for conducing investigation of student and employee complaints of sexual harassment, sexual abuse, sexual assault, dating or domestic violence, and stalking.
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Protecting Children Learning Program for K-12

This learning program will help educators and adults at K-12 schools learn how to recognize, prevent, and report sexual misconduct. It includes online courses for educators, a short video for employees that don’t work directly with children, as well as checklists, guides, and publications.

Prevention and Protection Podcast: Protect Children in K-12 Remote Learning Programs

In this episode of Prevention and Protection, Jamie Forbes, CEO of Learning Courage, and Melanie Bennett, risk management counsel at United Educators, discuss how schools can protect children in a remote learning program from sexual misconduct.
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Concussion Benchmarking Report: K-12 Schools

Concussion injuries present a high-level risk to United Educators’ (UE's) members, and efforts to protect student-athletes are continually evolving. In 2019, 236 K-12 members participated in a survey about their athletic-related concussion practices. Use the responses to these survey questions to assess your school’s athletic concussion prevention and response practices.
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Prevention and Protection Podcast: Understanding Waivers and Assumption of Risk Forms

In this episode of the Prevention and Protection podcast, Heather Salko, senior risk management counsel at United Educators (UE) interviews Alyssa Keehan, UE's director of risk research about whether waivers and assumption of risk forms are a valuable risk management tool, when to use these forms, and some tips for writing them.

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Prevention and Protection Podcast: Training Volunteers in K-12 Schools to Protect Minors

In this episode of Prevention and Protection, Quincy McLaughlin, associate head of school and head of upper school at Greenhills School in Michigan, explains how K-12 schools can train volunteers to prevent and report student sexual misconduct.
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Webinar: Unpacking the Final Title IX Regulations, Part 2: More Q&A With Josh Richards

As a follow up to Unpacking the Final Title IX Regulations, Q&A With an Expert, Josh Richards of Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP continues to answer questions about the final Title IX regulations issued by the Department of Education in May 2020.
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Webinar: Coronavirus: Recommendations for Resuming On-Campus Operations

In this webinar, Jean Chin, chair of the American College Health Association (ACHA) COVID-19 Task Force, and Hayley Hanson, partner at Husch Blackwell, respond to common questions about returning to campus during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Planning and Executing Your Return to Campus: Considerations for Leaders in Education

United Educators partnered with Deloitte to publish this resource to address process questions senior leaders must consider when making key decisions. Recommendations include topics such as implementing a COVID-19 response team, tabletop exercise processes, planning for key reopening activities, a sample decision-making framework, and a roadmap for recovery and resuming campus operations.
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Prevention and Protection Podcast: Effects of the Pandemic — Preparing for Students’ Return to Higher Ed Campuses

In this episode of the Prevention and Protection podcast, Scott Warner of Husch Blackwell discusses considerations higher education institutions should keep in mind when planning for students to return to campus in the wake of the COVID-19, or coronavirus, pandemic.
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Webinar: Unpacking the Final Title IX Regulations, Part 1: Q&A With an Expert

In this webinar, Joshua W.B. Richards of Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP highlights significant provisions of the final Title IX regulations issued by the Department of Education in May 2020. The speaker also responds to audience questions about the regulations, which take effect Aug. 14, 2020, for all educational institutions subject to Title IX.
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Coaches Abusing Athletes in K-12 Schools: Lessons From UE's 2014-2018 Claims

Physical and emotional abuse by coaches is a far too common occurrence in athletics. This claims study examines coaching abuse in schools and derives lessons for school administrators.
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ED Releases Title IX Regulations Governing Sexual Misconduct: Guidance for K-12 Schools

This publication provides K-12 institutions with an overview of the Title IX regulations published by the U.S. Department of Education in May 2020 governing a school's response to allegations of sexual harassment. Also included are steps schools must take to comply with the regulations between now and the effective date in August 2020.
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ED Releases Final Title IX Regulations Governing Campus Sexual Misconduct: Guidance for Higher Education

This publication provides institutions with an overview of the Title IX regulations released by the Department of Education along with recommended steps institutions can take to comply with the regulations’ requirements.
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Webinar: Coronavirus: Answering Your Questions

In this webinar, speakers from the American College Health Association (ACHA) COVID-19 Task Force and an employment law attorney with expertise in higher education respond to common COVID-19 questions and discuss how K-12 schools and higher ed institutions can navigate the outbreak.

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Waivers: Getting One Consent at a Time

Informed consent should be a prerequisite for participation in voluntary activities. This Insights piece provides waiver recommendations and links to UE's resources for drafting releases.
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Fitness Center Safety and Supervision

Fitness centers at K-12 schools and institutions keep students healthy and active, but they can also create the potential for serious injuries. Read this Insights piece for findings from a review of UE's fitness center claims and safety and supervision best practices.
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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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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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Responding to the Measles Outbreak

The 2019 measles outbreak infected at least 500 people in 20 states, including students at schools and colleges. Read this Insights piece for measles prevention recommendations and tips to develop an effective crisis response plan.
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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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Avoiding Pitfalls When Resolving Discrimination Claims

Educational employers routinely use settlement and severance agreements to end employment relationships or resolve employment-related disputes, sometimes using templates drafted years ago. Recently, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has brought enforcement actions challenging common provisions in such agreements.
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Concussion Awareness Learning Program_legacy

Responding appropriately to concussions has become a critical component of keeping athletes safe. This learning program is designed to educate coaches, staff, and students on recognizing and responding to the symptoms of concussions.
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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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Youth Athletics Learning Program_legacy

Keep athletes safe by recognizing and responding to common hazards in sports programs including concussions and heat illness.

Guideposts for Teachers to Maintain Healthy Relationships with Students

Are teachers at your school properly prepared to maintain healthy relationships with students? In addition to institutional rules and regulations, are they alert to roles, boundaries, power, and accountability in their relationships with students? This guide provides practical guidelines for maintaining appropriate relationships with students.

Preventing Genetic Discrimination in Employment

A relatively new form of discrimination, genetic discrimination occurs when a person with a gene that causes or increases the risk of a disease or condition is treated differently. Many individuals fear that employers will attempt to reduce health care costs by terminating employees with genetic markers for costly disorders. Since a person's genes are unchangeable, and everyone is at risk of being a victim, the public favors remedies for victims of genetic discrimination.
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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Learning Program for Higher Education

This course collection seeks to encourage dialogue and understanding between different races, religions, ages, gender identities, and people with disabilities at your institution.
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Your Campus and COVID-19: The Road Back

This course explores some of the challenges associated with, and strategies for approaching, reopening colleges and schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more about COVID-19 and what faculty, staff, and students should expect, and do, as in-person operations resume.

Coronavirus FAQs Part 3: Emergency Response and Campus Operations

United Educators (UE) understands that the coronavirus (COVID-19) is causing unprecedented challenges for schools, colleges, and universities. As schools face both short- and long-term challenges related to students being away from school, staff adapting to online instruction, and revered traditions unable to continue, we’re here to help. Here are UE’s answers to some of the most common member questions about managing the risks associated with COVID-19.

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