Edu Risk Solutions Blog

Preparing for Fall Training

The start of the academic year is often a peak time for United Educators (UE) members to launch training initiatives for faculty, students, and staff. We recommend you start preparing for that training now, to leverage the advanced configuration capabilities available in our new learning portal.

Problems Arising From Tenure Denials: A Review of Recent Claims

Tenure denials often result in claims from the unsuccessful candidate. Institutions can take steps along the way to manage the reaction to an unsuccessful outcome and help both the institution and an unsuccessful candidate cope and move on. This claims review examines the types of claims unsuccessful tenure candidates bring and lessons learned from those claims. The publication also examines how institutions can avoid these claims with clear tenure policies, training faculty on that policy, and conducting a fair and impartial review process.
Continue Reading >>

Training Children on Sexual Violence Prevention

Sexual assault among youth in K-12 schools is often a hidden, but chronic problem. Experts recommend that educators introduce the concepts of consent and sexual violence prevention early and add to this curriculum over time. Learn more about the recommended prevention topics for each age group in this blog.
Continue Reading >>

New Learning Portal, New Courses

United Educators (UE) understands that addressing offenses such as sexual violence and discrimination is a top priority for colleges and universities, and our online training offers a cost-effective way for members to address this important issue. To help your institution navigate today’s complicated regulatory environment, UE has several new courses to train your institution in our new EduRisk Learning Portal.
Continue Reading >>

Webinar: Introducing EduRisk’s New Learning Portal

This webinar offers a firsthand look at our new learning portal and details steps to get started with the new platform.

Continue Reading >>

New Learning Portal Launching This Month

Your training needs are our priority, and we’re pleased to announce the launch of our new Learning Portal that will deliver an improved experience for learners and powerful tools for administrators.
Continue Reading >>

Prevention and Protection Podcast: EEOC Enforcement Guidance on Retaliation

In 2016, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released long-awaited guidance on retaliation in the workplace. In this episode of Prevention and Protection, two attorneys in UE's risk management department summarize the guidance, including the EEOC's position on best practices to avoid retaliation following an allegation of discrimination or harassment.
Continue Reading >>

Checklist for K-12 Sexual Misconduct Policies

K-12 independent schools, public schools, and districts, use this resource to review or create sexual misconduct policies and procedures.
Continue Reading >>

Protecting Children: Training to Prevent Sexual Misconduct

Independent schools should consider the recommendations in this checklist for identifying and adequately training those who are likely to make or receive reports of misconduct.
Continue Reading >>

Communication: Key to Training Success

As a training administrator, you’re well aware that effectively communicating with your learner population is essential for running a successful training initiative at your institution. Learn what information should be shared.
Continue Reading >>

Protecting Children: Reporting and Addressing Suspected Misconduct

Independent school administrators should use this checklist to ensure their institution has appropriate policies to encourage reporting of suspected sexual misconduct.
Continue Reading >>

Member Success Spotlight: Villanova University

With increasing pressure on institutions to mitigate risk through ongoing student, staff, and faculty training, Jennifer Derry, director of training and staff development at Villanova University, recently shared with United Educators (UE) reasons why Villanova utilizes EduRisk to accomplish their institution’s training goals.
Continue Reading >>

New Title IX Resources Support K-12 Schools

The White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault released new policy and training resources for K-12 school districts, continuing its efforts to end bullying, sexual harassment, and sexual violence in schools. UE recommends that schools consider using these free comprehensive resources to fulfill their Title IX compliance obligations. Independent school administrators should also incorporate this guidance into policies and training sessions.
Continue Reading >>

Mosaic: The Latest Training Opportunity From EduRisk

Through our EduRisk division, United Educators develops online training programs designed to serve as critical learning opportunities for key areas of risk faced by member institutions. Have you had the opportunity to review our latest offering, Mosaic: Prevent Discrimination and Harassment Together?
Continue Reading >>

Webinar: Expert Q&A: Ask a Title IX Coordinator: Session 3

This webinar features nationally known Title IX expert Jody Shipper addressing questions about investigating and adjudicating sexual misconduct complaints, addressing confidentiality concerns, handling Title IX compliance issues in a small office, training students and employees, and more.
Continue Reading >>

Introducing Mosaic: A New Harassment Prevention Course for Higher Education

United Educators (UE) understands that preventing workplace harassment and discrimination is a top priority for colleges and universities, and our online training offers a cost-effective way for members to address this important issue. Learn about our newest course within the EduRisk Workplace Harassment Learning Program, Mosaic: Prevent Discrimination and Harassment Together.
Continue Reading >>

Managing Campus Protest in a Time of Culture Change

Campus protests around racial equity recently gripped colleges, and many institutions are wondering whether nationwide demonstrations over racially charged killings by police will affect their campuses. To prepare, administrators and presidents should take actions to address concerns and reduce the potential for campus unrest. Read Insights to learn more.
Continue Reading >>

Tips for Effective Training

Fall is a peak time for United Educators (UE) members to kick off training initiatives. As you gear up for the start of the fall semester and a new season of training, this list of new resources and best practices can help you enhance the EduRisk training experience at your school or campus.
Continue Reading >>

Pokémon GO: Security Concerns for Educational Institutions

Educational institutions face security concerns as a result of the popularity of Pokémon GO and similar augmented reality games, in which a real-world environment is supplemented by computer-generated images and sound. Campuses are likely to experience distracted unaffiliated individuals (as well as students and staff) coming on their grounds while playing. Read this Insights blog to learn steps institutions can take to manage risks.
Continue Reading >>

Bolster Title IX Compliance With a Campuswide Communications Plan

UE recommends that every institution develop a collaborative approach to communicating Title IX policies and compliance initiatives. Adopting campuswide Title IX communications plans starting with senior leadership creates a culture of respect and promotes compliance with federal requirements for preventing and responding to sex discrimination.
Continue Reading >>

Preventing Greek Organization Hazing

In most states, hazing is a criminal offense. Forty-four states have anti-hazing laws. Despite these prohibitions, the practice continues. In a study of 162 United Educators Greek claims received from 2010 to 2014, 12 percent of the claims came from hazing incidents—most occurring at a pledging or initiation event. Read this Insights blog to get ideas for preventing hazing on your campus.
Continue Reading >>

Course Enhancements for the Upcoming Academic Year

This June, in preparation for the new academic year, we will refresh the entire suite of EduRisk Learning Portal courses.
Continue Reading >>

Sexual Misconduct Adjudication: The Single Investigator Model

Single investigator adjudication models for sexual misconduct are trending throughout higher education. It is not always clear what the single investigator model encompasses, although the term is regularly used to reference adjudication models that do not involve a hearing panel, but model details can vary across institutions. Read our Insights blog to learn the advantages of this model and see UE's recommendations.
Continue Reading >>

Educator Sexual Misconduct Policy and Audit Guide

This guide was developed to assist educational organizations in establishing a comprehensive risk management program to protect children from sexual misconduct. Prevention strategies, responses to incidents, and special issues are covered.
Continue Reading >>

Theater Production Safety

Each year, United Educators receives a number of claims arising from theater productions. Falls from stages, injuries from props, and fires are just some of the perils. Yet, with proper planning, your institution can enhance theater production safety.
Continue Reading >>

Webinar: Expert Q&A: Ask A Title IX Coordinator

This webinar features an expert addressing Title IX questions posed by audience members.

Protecting Children: Checklist for Supervisors

This checklist provides guidance for supervisors to screen and monitor employees who work with minors.
Continue Reading >>

Improving Athletics Compliance in Higher Education

At many institutions, athletics sits as an island mostly disconnected from the college’s compliance efforts. Administrators often struggle to integrate the institution’s athletics department into its compliance program. Yet, institutions should view athletics programs as allies that can help lead and shape the compliance culture. This Insights blog offers recommendations for improving compliance.
Continue Reading >>

New Protecting Children Learning Program Now Available!

According to a recent claims study, United Educators (UE) and its members spent $15.2 million to address claims of sexual misconduct against minors in a recent five-year period. In nearly one in three of the UE claims, the perpetrator had more than one victim.
Continue Reading >>

Trauma-Informed Investigations

The April 2014 Not Alone report from the White House Task Force to Protect Students From Sexual Assault suggests school officials undergo trauma-informed training. A trauma-informed approach helps eliminate preconceptions or misconceptions about how a victim “should” behave.
Continue Reading >>

Managing Risks of Operating Vehicles Abroad

Vehicle crashes are the No. 1 one killer of Americans traveling abroad, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the State Department. Car and bus crashes are the biggest risk to international travelers from our schools, colleges, and universities.
Continue Reading >>

EduRisk Learning Programs: Evaluating Impact

United Educators (UE) strives to help our members create safer learning communities by providing risk management resources intended to promote positive culture change. To further that mission, we regularly solicit feedback on our effectiveness.
Continue Reading >>

At Risk Abroad: Lessons From Higher Ed Claims

United Educators recently reviewed 10 years of study abroad higher education claims. In general, study abroad claims reported to UE concerned the following broad categories of injuries: sexual misconduct, injury or illness, death, and other.
Continue Reading >>

Greeks and Risk: Lessons From Claims

UE conducted a five-year study of 162 claims to extract best practices and recommendations for dealing with Greek organizations. This publication highlights the risks presented and the steps institutions can take to reduce injuries arising from Greek activities.
Continue Reading >>

Are You Sacrificing Your Reputation to Protect Sacred Cows?

What are the sacred cows at your institution? Every college or university has programs and people that are a great source of alumni and student pride. But while they are an important part of the campus experience, these revered traditions or people can present risks when boards turn a blind eye to any issues that their existence raises.
Continue Reading >>

Avoid the “False Confidence” Trap: Promote Athlete Education on Concussions

Excelling in athletics requires a high degree of self-confidence and fearlessness. In most sports, individuals who train rigorously and take risks usually emerge as the top athletes on their teams and during competitions. Yet the culture honoring bravery can be misplaced when health and safety standards are not taken as seriously as win-loss records and performance statistics.

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.
Continue Reading >>

Concussion Awareness Learning Program

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.
Continue Reading >>

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.

Continue Reading >>

Avoiding Supervisory Pitfalls

Arm new and experienced supervisors with useful knowledge to help recognize good supervisory practices while providing examples of common pitfalls to avoid.

Continue Reading >>

Youth Athletics Learning Program

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.

Mini-Courses in Workplace Harassment Prevention: Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners

Online learning is hot—and at UE, this is particularly true in the area of workplace harassment prevention. More than 115,000 individuals at UE member institutions have taken advantage of our harassment prevention training, at no additional cost to UE members.

Mosaic Online Courses

mosaic Online Courses

How Do I Get Faculty and Staff to Take the Course?

United Educators (UE) understands the challenge of ensuring faculty and staff completion of risk management and compliance-related courses and training. Overloaded calendars and increased responsibilities for teaching and other duties often compete fortime and impede your efforts.

New Training Addresses Issues of Student Respect and Harassment

United Educators' latest learning program can positively impact students and help educational institutions meet new legal and regulatory requirements. START (Student Title IX and Respect Training) provides comprehensive resources for campus and schooladministrators, trainers, facilitators, teachers, and 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.
Continue Reading >>

Apologies and Expressions of Empathy

Public statements of apology, empathy, or regret by presidents or high-ranking officials at colleges and schools appear to be increasingly common. Such institutional statements may be connected to catastrophic events, alleged crimes, or conduct pertaining to students, employees, and others that is perceived to be offensive.
Continue Reading >>

Legacy Learning Portal Retiring June 30

Earlier this year, United Educators debuted a new learning portal to offer education institutions an enhanced, streamlined, and personalized training experience.
Continue Reading >>

RRB Title IX and Beyond Confidentiality

Blogs

Share This: