Colleges consider a new 'blueprint' for responding to sexual assault

The documents in Montana's settlement offer precision not found in other recent resolutions of sexual-misconduct investigations by the Education Department, says Brett A. Sokolow, chief executive of the National Center for Higher Education Risk Management, a law and consulting firm. This settlement can guide colleges on how and whom to train, with what content, and how frequently, he says. 

Read more: http://chronicle.com/article/Colleges-Consider-a-New/140503/?key=GW8lI1NuZyAQZHBgYWlCMmsHaXJsYxp1YyEeP31xblpTEA==

Vulnerable Students

Daniel Swinton, senior executive vice president at the NCHERM Group, a law and consulting firm that advises schools and colleges on safer schools and campuses, said that it’s difficult to speculate on which departments may be more prone to instances of sexual assault by faculty, since it’s so underreported as a crime in general.

But faced with allegations, he said, institutions have an obligation to take “reasonable and targeted” measures to stop the harassment or abuse, prevent its reoccurrence and remedy its effects. 

Read more: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/07/30/could-music-students-be-more-risk-sexual-misconduct-professors#ixzz2aXX1CJg4 

Keeping Kennesaw State Safe

Scott Lewis, a partner with the National Center for Higher Education Risk Management (NCHERM) and president of the National Behavioral Intervention Team Association (NaBITA), said Kennesaw State's comprehensive team approach is what schools should be doing. While there are more than 4,000 universities and colleges in the country, only a small percentage have looked for ways to keep their teams properly trained and up-to-date by joining professional organizations, such as NaBITA, he added.

Kennesaw State's approach is among the recommended best practices, said Brian Van Brunt, [senior vice president for professional program development at NCHERM and NaBITA President-Elect and Advisory Board member]…Behavioral teams should meet regularly and avoid keeping information in departmental silos, which could keep others from understanding all of the risks...It isn't enough for a team to simply review a case and make a decision about a student's risk. They need to make sure students access the services available.

Read more: http://editiondigital.net/publication/?i=166011

Looking the Other Way?

Daniel Swinton, senior executive vice president at The NCHERM Group, a law and consulting firm that advises schools and colleges on safer schools and campuses…called the case “disturbing,” and [said it] could have major legal ramifications for the university, depending on who the unspecified employees alerted to claims about Miller, turn out to be. Responsible employees under Title IX – those who have authority to address and remedy on such claims – are mandated reporters. 

Read more: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/07/16/uconn-launches-investigation-its-own-handling-child-sex-abuse-allegations-against#ixzz2ZDKs8HWO 

VAWA reauthorization imposes new requirements on college

The NCHERM Group, SCOPE and ATIXA were featured in the Campus Security Report article, VAWA reauthorization imposes new requirements on colleges. For information on purchasing a recording of the co-sponsored webinar referenced in the article, click here.