Edu Risk Solutions Blog

Prevention and Protection Podcast: Recent Developments in Title IX Caselaw

This episode of the Prevention and Protection podcast discusses two recent court cases that may impact how Title IX investigations and hearings are conducted on campus.

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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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Student Gambling Policies

According to the National Center for Responsible Gaming, about 75% of college students gambled in the past year. This blog offers insights on whether to institute a gambling policy and what variables to consider.
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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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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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Powerpoint Summary of Safeguarding Our Schools From Sexual Predators: What Public and Charter School Leaders Should Ask

This powerpoint summarizes the key questions detailed in UE's publication Safeguarding Our Schools From Sexual Predators: What Public and Charter School Leaders Should Ask
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Safeguarding Our Schools From Sexual Predators: What Public and Charter School Leaders Should Ask

Investigations by schools have revealed decades of educator sexual abuse involving scores of victims. Read this publication for key questions principals, district superintendents, and school board members should ask and suggestions for creating a culture of prevention and reporting.
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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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Safeguarding Universities from Sexual Predators: A United Educators Symposium

This report summarizes the symposium attendees’ conversations about challenges, details possible solutions the participants suggested, and provides high-level risk management action steps derived from the attendees and from UE research.
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Powerpoint Summary of Safeguarding our Schools from Sexual Predators: What Independent School Heads and Trustees Should Ask

This powerpoint summarizes the key questions detailed in UE's publication Safeguarding Our Schools From Sexual Predators: What Independent School Heads and Trustees Should Ask
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Powerpoint Summary of Safeguarding our Communities from Sexual Predators: What College Presidents and Trustees Should Ask

This powerpoint summarizes the key questions detailed in UE's publication Safeguarding our Communities from Sexual Predators: What College Presidents and Trustees Should Ask
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Campus Sexual Misconduct and Student Social Media Posts

The #MeToo movement has created a proliferation of social media posts by alleged sexual assault victims. In the context of campus sexual misconduct proceedings, higher education institutions, which must balance the rights of victims against those of accused students, should review their student conduct codes and educate students on the risks of posting about sexual misconduct allegations.
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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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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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Trust Betrayed Video

This short video explores reasons serial sexual abuse can remain unexposed at higher education institutions, how to recognize the warning signs of sexual abuse, and concrete steps for reporting incidents or suspicions.

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Safeguarding Our Schools From Sexual Predators: What Independent School Heads and Trustees Should Ask

Recent historical investigations by schools have uncovered decades of educator sexual abuse to scores of victims. Read this publication for key questions school leaders should ask and suggestions for creating a culture of prevention and reporting.
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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.

K-12 Public Schools Large Loss Report 2019

The K-12 Public Schools Large Loss Report 2019 summarizes major damage awards and settlements of $250,000 or more that affected public K-12 schools in 2017 and 2018. The cases include a $36.1 million jury award in a school bus incident, a $15.7 million settlement in a sex abuse lawsuit, and a $1.1 million award for an athletic injury.
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Using Physical Restraints on Students

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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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: Scenarios: Workplace Sexual Harassment and Assault Claims

Left unchecked, sexual harassment and sexual assault in the higher education workplace violate federal and state law, damage employee morale and productivity, and can seriously injure an institution’s reputation. Review common issues that arose in the 102 claims UE studied.

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.

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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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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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.

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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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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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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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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