Blogs

Large Loss Report 2019

The Large Loss Report 2019 summarizes major damage awards and settlements of more than $250,000 that affected schools, colleges, and universities in 2018. The most frequent and costliest cases involved sexual abuse claims, many of which had multimillion-dollar settlements in the wake of the #MeToo movement. Educational institutions can use this report to assess their risk management practices and insurance coverage.
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Safeguarding Our Communities From Sexual Predators: What College Presidents and Trustees Should Ask

Universities have faced sexual predator scandals involving scores of victims, and some leaders were uninformed. Presidents and trustees can safeguard their communities by asking key questions and following these suggestions for creating a culture of prevention and reporting.
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Department of Education Releases Proposed Regulations Regarding Campus Sexual Misconduct

This Insights blog provides institutions with an overview of the draft proposed Title IX regulations released by the U.S. Department of Education, along with recommended steps institutions can take toward compliance between now and final implementation.
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Michigan Court Disapproves Single Investigator Model at Public Institution

A court ordered the University of Michigan to provide a hearing for a student accused of sexual misconduct, even though the university used a single investigator model that did not include hearings. The court held that due process required the public institution to hold a hearing with an opportunity to question witnesses.
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Managing Risks Associated With Faculty Use of Social Media

College and university faculty have increasingly found themselves in the center of firestorms due to their use of social media. This article explores actions institutions can take to help manage the risks associated with faculty social media usage.
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Educator Sexual Misconduct at Independent Schools: Insights From UE Claims

United Educators (UE) reviewed the 45 educator sexual misconduct claims reported by independent schools between 2011 and 2016 to identify trends and derive lessons. Review the claims study and its supplemental resources to learn how to create a strategy for addressing educator sexual misconduct.
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Independent K-12 Schools Large Loss Report 2018

The Independent K-12 Schools Large Loss Report 2018 summarizes major damage awards and settlements of $250,000 or more that affected independent K-12 schools from 2011 to 2017. Institutions and brokers can use this report to assess risk management programs and coverage needs at K-12 independent schools.
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#MeToo in Higher Ed: Sexual Misconduct Allegations

Since 2017, many higher education institutions have felt the effects of the #MeToo movement in the form of social media posts claiming that the poster or someone else experienced sexual harassment or assault at the school or by a school employee. This blog offers advice for responding to these allegations.
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Prevention and Protection Podcast: Technology in Title IX Investigations

In this episode of Prevention and Protection, Melanie Bennett, risk management counsel, speaks with Kelsey Feeheley, claims counsel, about UE's Title IX claims involving technology.

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Impressions

Help college students recognize sexual assault—what it is, how to help prevent it, and how to report it—and inform them about support resources, both on and off campus.
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Title IX and Beyond: Revising Nondiscrimination Policies and Grievance Procedures

This resource, part of the Title IX and Beyond series, covers the topics that educational institutions should address when reviewing and revising their nondiscrimination policies and grievance procedures on student sexual violence and harassment.
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Title IX and Beyond: Investigations

This checklist, part of the Title IX and Beyond series, covers the topics that educational institutions should address when conducting student sexual violence and harassment investigations.
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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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Preventing Relationship Violence and Stalking

The Campus Sexual Violence Elimination (Campus SaVE) Act requires higher education institutions to implement education and prevention programs to address dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. Studies indicate that relationship violence, which includes domestic and dating violence, is a concern for college-age populations. 
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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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Title IX and Beyond: Interim Measures, Remedies, and Sanctions

This checklist, part of the Title IX and Beyond series, identifies steps institutions should take once a report of sexual violence is received to protect both the victim and the broader student body.
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Large Loss Report 2015

The Large Loss Report 2015 summarizes major damage awards and settlements exceeding $250,000 that affected schools, colleges, and universities in 2014. Cases include a $1.28 million settlement in a sex discrimination lawsuit against a university, a $75 million settlement with the NCAA to settle class action lawsuits for head injuries, and a $139 million settlement in a K-12 sex abuse case—the largest settlement of its kind.
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Title IX and Beyond: Federal Training Requirements for Students

The federal government has imposed student training requirements relating to sexual violence on educational institutions under both Title IX and the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination (SaVE) Act.
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Title IX and Beyond: Federal Training Requirements for Employees

The federal government has imposed employee training requirements relating to sexual violence on educational institutions under both Title IX and the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination (SaVE) Act.
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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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Complying With the Campus SaVE Act

The Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act (Campus SaVE Act), which became effective in March, creates new compliance obligations for higher education institutions. Part of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA), the law comes at a time of multiple high-profile government investigations of campus response to sexual misconduct allegations and a recent White House Task Force report on protecting students from sexual assault.

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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Preventable Claims: Excessive Use of Force by Campus Police

Many schools and universities have revised policies, increased the use of armed guards, and implemented other security measures to better protect students, faculty, and staff. However, it is critical that institutions understand the inherent risks in working with campus and third-party security forces; the use of excessive force when dealing with a suspected threat can pose an additional safety risk in a volatile situation.

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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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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.

Engaging Men to Prevent Sexual Violence

Men are an integral part of moving campus culture away from tolerance of sexual violence. While most men do not commit acts of violence, males perpetrate the majority of sexual assaults on women and other men. An institution’s sexual violence prevention program should focus not only on reducing women’s risk of becoming victims, but also on encouraging men to stand up against sexual violence.
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Training Bystanders to Prevent Sexual Assaults

In situations that may lead to sexual assaults, there are often opportunities for someone—other than the victim or perpetrator—to say or do something to prevent the assault. In fact, one study found that bystanders were present in nearly a third of reported sexual assaults. Recent legal developments have made bystander training more than a “good idea”; it is now a requirement.
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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.

Criminal Background Checks of Incoming Students

Background checks can be a useful screening tool for incoming students if institutions develop policies and procedures to ensure legal compliance and fairness to applicants and students.
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Safety Holds

Safety holds use physical restraint to restrict a student’s freedom of movement when he or she poses an imminent and serious physical threat to him or herself or others. When used correctly, the holds diffuse potentially dangerous situations, such as a student attempt to use a weapon or otherwise injure himself or others, some experts say.
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Best Practices for Operating Campus Child Care Centers

Many educational institutions operate day care centers for the children of faculty, staff, or students. Although the centers provide significant benefits, they also generate liability risks. To minimize risks, centers must follow state licensure regulations and follow detailed guidelines developed by experts in the field. In addition, the following best practices will help institutions develop policies and actions to protect a vulnerable population:
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Reporting Suspected Child Sexual Abuse

Recent high-profile incidents at educational institutions have re-focused attention on preventing sexual abuse of children. In UE's experience, employees often fail to report “red flags” or suspicions because they do not understand their reporting obligations. The following summarizes important aspects of reporting procedures to ensure legal compliance and protect children from harm.
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Student Dance Events

Student dances can be a healthy way for students to unwind, but without proper attention and planning, these social events can quickly get out of hand. United Educators has received claims related to student dances that included physical and sexual assaults, alcohol and substance abuse, and slips and falls. College policies governing student dances can help to ensure student safety and mitigate risks to the institution.
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Student Gambling Policies

According to the most recent National Annenberg Survey of Youth, more than half of all college-age men and one third of college-age women gamble once a month. Researchindicates that students are more susceptible to developing “disordered” gambling habits than the general adult population, and they show an increase in related problematic behaviors, such as substance abuse.
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Stalking Prevention and Response

Stalking and related violence against students is a growing concern on many college campuses. According to a recent U.S. Department of Justice study, 14 out of every 1,000 people age 18 or older are victims of stalking every year. The study found that two-thirds of victims received unwanted phone calls and messages, and approximately one-third of victims also received unwanted letters or emails, were the target of rumors, were followed or spied upon, or found the stalker showing up unexpectedly or waiting for him or her.
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Further Resources for Threat Assessment Guide

Campus Security The following federal, state, and professional organizations issued reports examining campus security in the aftermath of the Virginia Tech shootings. These reports are recommended reading particularly for those institutions located in the states that have issued a report.
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Reducing Risk in Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Situations PowerPoint

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Resources for Reducing Risks in Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Situations

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Preventing Student Sexual Violence PowerPoint

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Title IX Advisory Series

This series of six Title IX Advisories can help colleges and universities focus attention on the most important aspects of Title IX compliance.
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Student Sexual Violence and Abuse

A collection of UE’s higher ed and K-12 resources on Title IX, VAWA and protecting minors.

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Workplace Harassment: Fundamentals for Higher Education

Train employees to prevent workplace harassment—it's both a legal mandate and the right thing to do. This learning program includes numerous resources for diverse learners.
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Show Some Respect! Prevent Harassment

Students who feel that they are part of a respectful learning environment are more engaged at school, and have a better self-concept and physical well-being. Harassment by peers, on the other hand, can interfere with students’ learning—negatively affecting the capability to pay attention in class, concentrate on studies, or worse. This course will help students identify, report, and prevent harassment.
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Lasting Choices: Protecting Our Campus From Sexual Assault

Lasting Choices gives higher education administrators an effective way to educate students on preventing and reporting sexual assaults.
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Intervene

All members of a campus community are collaborative partners in the cultivation of campus health and well-being. Intervene demonstrates to students how bystander intervention can be used as a strategy to address a variety of campus issues.
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Healthy Relationships

Though often unreported, dating violence and harassment affect a significant percentage of today’s adolescents and young adults. This course will help students identify characteristics of healthy and unhealthy relationships and know how to respond to an abusive relationship.
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