Brought to you by United Educators
Blogs

Blogs

  • Insights Learning Link
       

    Filter by

    Share This:

    • Share on Facebook
    • Share on Google Plus
    • Share on Linkedin
    • RSS

    The New Digital Normal on Campus

    This blog summarizes steps institutions can take to evaluate their current social media team, craft and enforce a social media use policy, and respond to a social media crisis, bringing the institution in line with the "new normal" of a social media-driven world.
    Continue Reading >>

    Reviewing Your School's Performance Management System

    Effective employee performance depends, in part, on the ability of the school to provide timely and meaningful feedback as part of an overall employee performance management system. This blog provides tips on how to evaluate your current system and implement necessary changes or improvements.
    Continue Reading >>

    Preventing and Responding to Tenure Denial Claims

    Tenure denials often result in claims from the unsuccessful candidate. Institutions can take steps along the way to manage the reaction to an unexpected outcome and help both the institution and the candidate cope and move on. This blog summarizes UE’s 2017 review of claims unsuccessful tenure candidates brought and lessons learned from those claims.
    Continue Reading >>

    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 >>

    Charging Back the Cost of Risk

    This blog addresses considerations for higher education institutions when contemplating whether to charge the costs associated with risk management and claim defense to the responsible campus departments.
    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 >>

    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 >>

    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 >>

    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 >>

    The Family Medical Leave Act Liability Hot Spots

    The Family Medical Leave Act Liability Hot Spots

    The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides benefits to employees in need, but it is difficult to understand and susceptible to abuse. This United Educators (UE) analysis of common FMLA mistakes provides best practices that can help your institution avoid a costly mistake.
    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 >>

    Member Spotlight: Grinnell College Makes ERM a Priority

    Most higher education institutions haven’t embraced the concept of enterprise risk management (ERM), according to recent research. Instead, they tend to tackle one hazard at a time, which is less likely to identify and resolve damaging risks. Grinnell College is trying to change that—one small liberal arts college at a time—beginning at home.

    Continue Reading >>

    Managing Fan and Player Violence at Sporting Events

    Managing Fan and Player Violence at Sporting Events

    The high tensions that accompany athletic rivalries can lead to violence that cause injuries and property damage. This United Educators (UE) bulletin discusses ways to manage athlete and fan behavior before, during, and after a game to avoid a potentially costly and public riot.
    Continue Reading >>

    ERM: Making Progress a Priority

    The Association of Governing Boards (AGB) and United Educators (UE) have worked together on risk management for more than 15 years producing short white papers, a book written by UE’s president, and two comprehensive national surveys on enterprise risk management (ERM). The issue continues to be of significant importance to AGB and UE as we work to help you ensure the long-term success of this country’s colleges and universities.   


    Continue Reading >>

    Identifying Risks With a Spotlight and a Flashlight

    Last week, I attended two events that helped me understand how leaders are thinking about the emerging risks faced by higher education. The first was the launch of a leadership development program sponsored by Georgetown University and Arizona State University and the second was the EACUBO workshop where I spoke on the current state of enterprise risk management (ERM). 


    Continue Reading >>

    A Collective Risk Register for Higher Ed

    I just returned from the EACUBO/Cornell Administrative Management Institute (AMI), held on the beautiful Ithaca campus each summer. My role in the week long seminar was to weave together the variety of risk issues administrative managers face and share an ERM framework for addressing these risks. Having just written Risk Management: An Accountability Guide, I had a great opening for our discussion.
    Continue Reading >>

    The Long-Term Impact of the Freeh Report

    As a risk management and governance report, the Freeh Report stands out for providing guidance, reflection, and a road map for administrators and trustees as they consider ways to improve communication, establish accountability, and reduce risks. And Penn State (PSU) has made great strides since the report was first published, strengthening security to protect minors, improving the structure of the board, conducting training on the Clery Act, and making a significant commitment to train the entire PSU community on abuse awareness.

    Continue Reading >>

    What Did the Recession Teach Us?

    As the economy recovers, albeit more slowly than any of us would want, I wonder: will we look back on the great recession with the comfort and perspective of hindsight and judge education as over-reacting to the risks, ignoring the opportunities? Did some colleges and universities miss opportunities for investments, hiring faculty, expanding into new enrollment markets or other strategic and, yes, courageous moves? Did higher education fail to understand the societal shifts that were changing the behavior of students and their families? Looking inward instead of focusing a clear eye on the environment is a risk.

    Continue Reading >>

    10 Takeaways From the ERM Session at AGB

    I just returned from the AGB national conference where my book was formally introduced. A few takeaways from the roundtable session on ERM attended by trustees, college presidents, and general counsels and moderated by Michael Somich, Duke University and Raina Rose Tagle, Baker Tilly (both were great moderators):

    • The Board's most important role in risk management? Changing the culture so everyone cares about management of risk. 

    Continue Reading >>

    Risk Management and Governing Boards

    AGB just published a book I wrote, Risk Management: An Accountability Guide for University and College Boards.

    An interesting story of how it came to be. Back in the 1990s when risk management focused on buying insurance and safety concerns, AGB approached UE to help trustees understand their role in the risk management process. A 16-page pamphlet was produced. Ten years later, in 2008, AGB asked UE to respond to consistent and persistent requests from governing boards on what they should be doing about risk management. The result was a national survey on the state of risk management and a 28-page pamphlet, which is one of the most downloaded documents on the AGB website.


    Continue Reading >>

    Increasing Use of Whistleblower Hotlines

    Increasing Use of Whistleblower Hotlines

    Whistleblower hotlines for reporting misconduct on campuses have become increasingly popular, but questions about how to best manage them have led to confusion. This report discusses issues related to hotlines and how to choose the best option for your institution.
    Continue Reading >>

    Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Resources

    Reference Materials Implementing Enterprise Risk Management: Practical Guidance for Boards and Campus Administrators United Educators Roundtable Thursday, September 17, 2009 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time Reference Materials Contents Speaker Biographies ..........................................................................


    Continue Reading >>

    E-Discovery Resources

    1Reference Materialswww.ue.orgBe Prepared for E-DiscoveryUnited Educators RoundtableWednesday, June 9, 20101:00 p.m. Eastern Time2 ContentsSpeaker Biographies 3Roundtable Agenda 4Pilot Testing Case Studies 5Sample Record Retention Schedule 6Sample ESI Content Maps 7E-Discovery Toolkit 10Additional Resources 21Reference


    Continue Reading >>

    Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Best Practices Summary

    2009 Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges and United Educators Enterprise Risk Management: Best Practices for Boards, Presidents, and Chancellors In private industry, boards and chief executives routinely consider risk in strategic planning, but a new survey by the Association of Governing Boar


    Continue Reading >>

    Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Best Practices Worksheet

    Worksheet for Oversight of Systematic Risk Assessment 2009 Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges and United Educators 2009 Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges and United EducatorsWorksheet for Oversight of Systematic Risk AssessmentThis information is excerpted from “The


    Continue Reading >>

    Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) PowerPoint

    Using This Presentation The Family and Medical Leave Act Liability Hot Spots Risk Research Bulletin, July 2008 Background FMLA allows up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave in a 12 month period for one or more of the following reasons: Birth and care of an employee s newborn child Placement of an adopted or a foster child wit


    Continue Reading >>

    Managing Greek Organizations PowerPoint

    Using This Presentation Claims Lessons in Managing Greek Organizations on Campus Risk Research Bulletin, September 2008 UE Claims Study Causes of Injury versus Causes of Monetary Loss UE Claims Study Fatalities Lessons from the Claims Lesson 1: Require fraternities and sororities to maintain general liability insuran


    Continue Reading >>