Colleagues,
NCHERM-Affiliated Consultant Brian Van Brunt has passed along a terrific new resource. http://www.campusmentalhealth.com/
Regards,
Brett Sokolow
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
NCHERM Announces Campus Sexual Misconduct Investigation Trainings
For Immediate Release
September 24th, 2010 – Malvern, PA – The National Center for Higher Education Risk Management (NCHERM) announces a series of Campus Sexual Misconduct Investigation Trainings to be held in November 2010. NCHERM and ACPA co-sponsored three national Institutes on Sexual Misconduct in July of 2010 attended by over 300 college and university administrators across the country. One of the clear needs emerging from these events was a training program addressing the creation and operation of an effective investigation model for campus sexual misconduct, including sexual assault and harassment. NCHERM has designed the upcoming events to address this need for both student and employee-related misconduct.
The Investigation Trainings will be divided into two thematic sections. In the morning, participants will focus on the question of how to develop or refine the right model. The afternoon session will focus on the training skills investigators need and will finish with a case study to deploy those skills. Three of the foremost nationally-known experts on this subject, NCHERM partners Brett A. Sokolow, Saundra K. Schuster and W. Scott Lewis, will serve as trainers for these events.
Why Is This Training Needed Now?
For years, campuses have sought models of resolution for campus sexual misconduct complaints that provide fairness, balance, and a measure of satisfaction with the fairness of the process for the participants. We’ve tried adversarial hearings. Administrative hearings. Shuttle diplomacy. Mediation. Restorative justice. And, hybrids of each of these. For the most part, these approaches to addressing sexual misconduct have been ineffective because we’re trying to fit campus sexual misconduct into a student conduct/discipline framework like hazing, a roommate conflict, or some similar developmental challenge.
Campus sexual misconduct is more accurately seen not as a conduct issue, but as a civil rights/ discrimination matter. We need to take a page from HR and create a civil rights investigation model for addressing campus sexual misconduct. Civil rights investigations are not police-led investigations, and are not the same as investigating student conduct violations. They require a very specific, highly specialized skill-set. But, where do you to get the training you need on how to develop, implement and operate a civil rights investigation model for campus sexual misconduct? This event is designed for you.
This training will benefit you, whether you work in student affairs or student conduct and need a new model, or work in campus law enforcement or HR, and need to sharpen your civil investigation skills. In fact, anyone investigating any type of civil rights complaint will benefit from this training, including those investigating hate crimes, gender bias, racial, religious, ethic, and other discriminatory acts against any group or protected class. Prosecutors, sex crimes investigators, magistrates, victim advocates and judges are welcome too. We’ll address the confluence of campus, civil and criminal processes and how we can all do our jobs cooperatively and collaboratively without obstructing each other.
For an outline of the content and to register, visit: http://www.ncherm.org/webinars.html#UML
The three, one-day events will be held at:
n University of Massachusetts Lowell in Lowell, MA on November 2nd, 2010
n Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA on November 9th, 2010
n The University of Colorado -- Boulder in Boulder, CO on November 15th, 2010
n Additionally, the University System of Georgia will be hosting three events for system campuses in December, 2010. Outside registration is not accepted.
n An abbreviated version of this training will be provided on October 14th, 2010 at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. Please check the NCHERM website for details.
For more information, please visit www.ncherm.org or contact NCHERM Client Relations Coordinator Samantha Dutill at (610) 993-0229 or Samantha@ncherm.org
September 24th, 2010 – Malvern, PA – The National Center for Higher Education Risk Management (NCHERM) announces a series of Campus Sexual Misconduct Investigation Trainings to be held in November 2010. NCHERM and ACPA co-sponsored three national Institutes on Sexual Misconduct in July of 2010 attended by over 300 college and university administrators across the country. One of the clear needs emerging from these events was a training program addressing the creation and operation of an effective investigation model for campus sexual misconduct, including sexual assault and harassment. NCHERM has designed the upcoming events to address this need for both student and employee-related misconduct.
The Investigation Trainings will be divided into two thematic sections. In the morning, participants will focus on the question of how to develop or refine the right model. The afternoon session will focus on the training skills investigators need and will finish with a case study to deploy those skills. Three of the foremost nationally-known experts on this subject, NCHERM partners Brett A. Sokolow, Saundra K. Schuster and W. Scott Lewis, will serve as trainers for these events.
Why Is This Training Needed Now?
For years, campuses have sought models of resolution for campus sexual misconduct complaints that provide fairness, balance, and a measure of satisfaction with the fairness of the process for the participants. We’ve tried adversarial hearings. Administrative hearings. Shuttle diplomacy. Mediation. Restorative justice. And, hybrids of each of these. For the most part, these approaches to addressing sexual misconduct have been ineffective because we’re trying to fit campus sexual misconduct into a student conduct/discipline framework like hazing, a roommate conflict, or some similar developmental challenge.
Campus sexual misconduct is more accurately seen not as a conduct issue, but as a civil rights/ discrimination matter. We need to take a page from HR and create a civil rights investigation model for addressing campus sexual misconduct. Civil rights investigations are not police-led investigations, and are not the same as investigating student conduct violations. They require a very specific, highly specialized skill-set. But, where do you to get the training you need on how to develop, implement and operate a civil rights investigation model for campus sexual misconduct? This event is designed for you.
This training will benefit you, whether you work in student affairs or student conduct and need a new model, or work in campus law enforcement or HR, and need to sharpen your civil investigation skills. In fact, anyone investigating any type of civil rights complaint will benefit from this training, including those investigating hate crimes, gender bias, racial, religious, ethic, and other discriminatory acts against any group or protected class. Prosecutors, sex crimes investigators, magistrates, victim advocates and judges are welcome too. We’ll address the confluence of campus, civil and criminal processes and how we can all do our jobs cooperatively and collaboratively without obstructing each other.
For an outline of the content and to register, visit: http://www.ncherm.org/webinars.html#UML
The three, one-day events will be held at:
n University of Massachusetts Lowell in Lowell, MA on November 2nd, 2010
n Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA on November 9th, 2010
n The University of Colorado -- Boulder in Boulder, CO on November 15th, 2010
n Additionally, the University System of Georgia will be hosting three events for system campuses in December, 2010. Outside registration is not accepted.
n An abbreviated version of this training will be provided on October 14th, 2010 at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. Please check the NCHERM website for details.
For more information, please visit www.ncherm.org or contact NCHERM Client Relations Coordinator Samantha Dutill at (610) 993-0229 or Samantha@ncherm.org
Monday, September 13, 2010
2nd Annual NaBITA Conference on Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment
For Immediate Release
September 13th, 2010 – Malvern, PA – The National Behavioral Intervention Team Association (NaBITA) announces its 2nd Annual Conference to be held from December 1st – 3rd, 2010 at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA. 175 participants gathered for an impressively substantive conference last year, and this year’s event will be both bigger and better. What’s new this year?
• New host location – Tulane University
• Our first pre-conference session
• The new four-day Campus Threat Management Institute Track
• An opening reception sponsored by Health Management Systems of America, Inc.
• Two Keynote sessions
For 2010, the NaBITA Annual Conference will have two Keynote speakers who will be contributing to a conference strongly focused on the practical mechanics, administration and application of risk and violence assessments. The conference will open with law and policy expert Gary Pavela, J.D., addressing the question, “Should students at risk of suicide be dismissed?” Former FBI Agent Mary Ellen O’Toole will give the keynote presentation on the second day, focusing on the “Mission Oriented Shooter”.
The conference will feature the pre-conference session, two keynotes, nine invited speakers, 18 concurrent sessions, and several roundtable discussions. The Conference Committee expects this combination of learning formats will create a dynamic and progressive curriculum for participants.
NaBITA is also introducing its first Campus Threat Management Institute this year. NaBITA 2009-2010 President Brett Sokolow said, “Each year, we strive to expand programmatic events and learning opportunities for our members. This year, we have created our first NaBITA Campus Threat Management Institute, allowing participants to attain a Campus Threat Manager Certificate of Completion after four days of engaging, interactive training.” Designed as an annual event, the NaBITA Institute offers an intense level of depth and training for those charged with campus behavioral intervention and threat assessment responsibilities.
The NaBITA Institute runs concurrently with the NaBITA Annual Conference, and then continues for two additional days. Institute registrants will attend the NaBITA Conference, in a special track for Institute registrants. The Conference concludes after a closing lunch panel on Friday, December 3rd, and the Institute continues for the remainder of Friday the 3rd, all day on Saturday the 4th, and then concludes at 1:00pm on Sunday, December 5th, 2010. The Institute is capped at 35 registrants. With seven faculty members, the Institute has a 1:5 faculty/participant ratio, and participants will have individual and small-group opportunities to interact with each of the expert faculty members throughout the week.
NaBITA is an organization created to support and provide professional development in the field of behavioral intervention for team members in schools, colleges and workplaces. NaBITA is committed to providing education, resources and support to professionals in schools and in the workplace who endeavor every day to make their campuses and workplaces safer through caring prevention and intervention.
For more information, please visit www.nabita.org or contact NaBITA Associate Executive Director Samantha Dutill at (610) 993-0229 or Samantha@nabita.org
September 13th, 2010 – Malvern, PA – The National Behavioral Intervention Team Association (NaBITA) announces its 2nd Annual Conference to be held from December 1st – 3rd, 2010 at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA. 175 participants gathered for an impressively substantive conference last year, and this year’s event will be both bigger and better. What’s new this year?
• New host location – Tulane University
• Our first pre-conference session
• The new four-day Campus Threat Management Institute Track
• An opening reception sponsored by Health Management Systems of America, Inc.
• Two Keynote sessions
For 2010, the NaBITA Annual Conference will have two Keynote speakers who will be contributing to a conference strongly focused on the practical mechanics, administration and application of risk and violence assessments. The conference will open with law and policy expert Gary Pavela, J.D., addressing the question, “Should students at risk of suicide be dismissed?” Former FBI Agent Mary Ellen O’Toole will give the keynote presentation on the second day, focusing on the “Mission Oriented Shooter”.
The conference will feature the pre-conference session, two keynotes, nine invited speakers, 18 concurrent sessions, and several roundtable discussions. The Conference Committee expects this combination of learning formats will create a dynamic and progressive curriculum for participants.
NaBITA is also introducing its first Campus Threat Management Institute this year. NaBITA 2009-2010 President Brett Sokolow said, “Each year, we strive to expand programmatic events and learning opportunities for our members. This year, we have created our first NaBITA Campus Threat Management Institute, allowing participants to attain a Campus Threat Manager Certificate of Completion after four days of engaging, interactive training.” Designed as an annual event, the NaBITA Institute offers an intense level of depth and training for those charged with campus behavioral intervention and threat assessment responsibilities.
The NaBITA Institute runs concurrently with the NaBITA Annual Conference, and then continues for two additional days. Institute registrants will attend the NaBITA Conference, in a special track for Institute registrants. The Conference concludes after a closing lunch panel on Friday, December 3rd, and the Institute continues for the remainder of Friday the 3rd, all day on Saturday the 4th, and then concludes at 1:00pm on Sunday, December 5th, 2010. The Institute is capped at 35 registrants. With seven faculty members, the Institute has a 1:5 faculty/participant ratio, and participants will have individual and small-group opportunities to interact with each of the expert faculty members throughout the week.
NaBITA is an organization created to support and provide professional development in the field of behavioral intervention for team members in schools, colleges and workplaces. NaBITA is committed to providing education, resources and support to professionals in schools and in the workplace who endeavor every day to make their campuses and workplaces safer through caring prevention and intervention.
For more information, please visit www.nabita.org or contact NaBITA Associate Executive Director Samantha Dutill at (610) 993-0229 or Samantha@nabita.org
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Campus Sexual Assault Study
COPS, under the DOJ, has released a new report, Acquaintance Rape of College Students. It is worthwhile.
http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/e03021472.pdf
Brett Sokolow
http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/e03021472.pdf
Brett Sokolow
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Article: Tough to Prosecute Sexual Assaults
NCHERM Managing Partner Brett Sokolow quoted in an article on Jezebel.com
http://jezebel.com/5559107/the-line-when-rape-victims-arent-perfect?skyline=true&s=i
http://jezebel.com/5559107/the-line-when-rape-victims-arent-perfect?skyline=true&s=i
Friday, June 4, 2010
Campus Sexual Assault: A Matter of Civil Rights and Title IX
Women in Higher Education recently published a nice article on Campus Sexual Assult and Title IX featuring NCHERM Partners Brett A. Sokolow, Saundra K. Schuster, and W. Scott Lewis.
It can be accessed at http://www.ncherm.org/documents/NCHERMSexualAssaultWIHEJune2010.pdf
Have a great weekend.
Brett A. Sokolow, Esq.
Managing Partner
It can be accessed at http://www.ncherm.org/documents/NCHERMSexualAssaultWIHEJune2010.pdf
Have a great weekend.
Brett A. Sokolow, Esq.
Managing Partner
Thursday, May 20, 2010
National Institutes on Responding to Campus Sexual Misconduct
For Immediate Release
May 20, 2010 – Malvern, PA – The National Center for Higher Education Risk Management (NCHERM), and College Student Educators International (ACPA) announce their collaborative sponsorship of three national Institutes on Responding to Campus Sexual Misconduct to be held in July of 2010 at sites on the East Coast, in the Midwest and on the West Coast.
Today, colleges and universities are facing an unprecedented onslaught of litigation, fierce media coverage and deeper scrutiny through government investigations. Sometimes, the allegations and media coverage are unfair, and sometimes, colleges and universities could do a better job in addressing campus sexual misconduct. These Institutes are about rising to the challenge, learning better methods, and improving campus approaches. These landmark two-day Institutes are designed to provide comprehensive training for college and university administrators, hearing boards, conduct administrators, appeals officers, sexual harassment grievance officers, and legal counsel.
NCHERM has been a national leader for ten years on issues of campus sexual misconduct. These Institutes are designed to elevate the dialogue across the country about how colleges and universities can more effectively respond to campus sexual misconduct, including harassment and sexual assault. NCHERM Managing Partner Brett A. Sokolow, Esq., explained, “We have presented standing-room-only sessions on campus sexual misconduct at a number of conferences over the past year, and the need for deeper and more comprehensive training is clear. We wanted to provide our colleagues in higher education with a thorough overview of the legal and procedural issues that campuses are facing today. A two-day Institute will allow us to really take this issue to a new level of national competence, excellence and accountability.”
Vernon A. Wall, Director of Educational Programs & Publications at ACPA, said, "ACPA is proud to partner with NCHERM in providing this outstanding resource for campus administrators and policy makers who are ready to expand the dialogue around campus sexual misconduct and provide timely and effective interventions for the campus community."
Three of the foremost, nationally-known experts on this subject, NCHERM partners Brett A. Sokolow, Saundra K. Schuster and W. Scott Lewis, will serve as Institute Faculty. The Institutes have been designed to provide each attendee with the following five learning outcomes:
· Gain an understanding of the Title IX, negligence law, FERPA and Clery Act-based legal framework that provides the underpinning of effective and compliant campus sexual misconduct remedial structures;
· Comprehensively understand the best practices for campus sexual misconduct policy development;
· Learn the essential elements and recommended best practices for conduct procedures and protocols on sexual misconduct;
· Gain knowledge of how to effectively manage the conduct proceedings in sexual misconduct cases from intake to investigation to appeal;
· Explore the substance of what training should be provided to hearing panels for these types of challenging hearings.
All three institutes will be held during the month of July. Providing this training opportunity during the summer gives administrators time to focus, and allows institutions to be well prepared as they enter the fall term.
The Institutes will be held at:
-- Drew University in Madison, NJ on July 20th and 21st;
-- Loyola University Chicago on July 26th and 27th;
-- Stanford University on July 29th and 30th
NCHERM will provide a follow-up series of sexual misconduct investigation training events for administrators and campus law enforcement throughout the 2010 fall semester.
For more information, please visit www.ncherm.org or contact NCHERM Client Relations Coordinator Samantha Dutill at (610) 993-0229 or Samantha@ncherm.org
May 20, 2010 – Malvern, PA – The National Center for Higher Education Risk Management (NCHERM), and College Student Educators International (ACPA) announce their collaborative sponsorship of three national Institutes on Responding to Campus Sexual Misconduct to be held in July of 2010 at sites on the East Coast, in the Midwest and on the West Coast.
Today, colleges and universities are facing an unprecedented onslaught of litigation, fierce media coverage and deeper scrutiny through government investigations. Sometimes, the allegations and media coverage are unfair, and sometimes, colleges and universities could do a better job in addressing campus sexual misconduct. These Institutes are about rising to the challenge, learning better methods, and improving campus approaches. These landmark two-day Institutes are designed to provide comprehensive training for college and university administrators, hearing boards, conduct administrators, appeals officers, sexual harassment grievance officers, and legal counsel.
NCHERM has been a national leader for ten years on issues of campus sexual misconduct. These Institutes are designed to elevate the dialogue across the country about how colleges and universities can more effectively respond to campus sexual misconduct, including harassment and sexual assault. NCHERM Managing Partner Brett A. Sokolow, Esq., explained, “We have presented standing-room-only sessions on campus sexual misconduct at a number of conferences over the past year, and the need for deeper and more comprehensive training is clear. We wanted to provide our colleagues in higher education with a thorough overview of the legal and procedural issues that campuses are facing today. A two-day Institute will allow us to really take this issue to a new level of national competence, excellence and accountability.”
Vernon A. Wall, Director of Educational Programs & Publications at ACPA, said, "ACPA is proud to partner with NCHERM in providing this outstanding resource for campus administrators and policy makers who are ready to expand the dialogue around campus sexual misconduct and provide timely and effective interventions for the campus community."
Three of the foremost, nationally-known experts on this subject, NCHERM partners Brett A. Sokolow, Saundra K. Schuster and W. Scott Lewis, will serve as Institute Faculty. The Institutes have been designed to provide each attendee with the following five learning outcomes:
· Gain an understanding of the Title IX, negligence law, FERPA and Clery Act-based legal framework that provides the underpinning of effective and compliant campus sexual misconduct remedial structures;
· Comprehensively understand the best practices for campus sexual misconduct policy development;
· Learn the essential elements and recommended best practices for conduct procedures and protocols on sexual misconduct;
· Gain knowledge of how to effectively manage the conduct proceedings in sexual misconduct cases from intake to investigation to appeal;
· Explore the substance of what training should be provided to hearing panels for these types of challenging hearings.
All three institutes will be held during the month of July. Providing this training opportunity during the summer gives administrators time to focus, and allows institutions to be well prepared as they enter the fall term.
The Institutes will be held at:
-- Drew University in Madison, NJ on July 20th and 21st;
-- Loyola University Chicago on July 26th and 27th;
-- Stanford University on July 29th and 30th
NCHERM will provide a follow-up series of sexual misconduct investigation training events for administrators and campus law enforcement throughout the 2010 fall semester.
For more information, please visit www.ncherm.org or contact NCHERM Client Relations Coordinator Samantha Dutill at (610) 993-0229 or Samantha@ncherm.org
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