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. 

The NCHERM Group/ATIXA Model Policy and Procedure for Civil Rights Equity Grievance Resolution for all Faculty, Students and Employees

The NCHERM Group and ATIXA have developed an approach called the One Policy, One Process Model permitting all discrimination complaints (age, race, sex, gender, nationality, etc.) to be resolved using one institution-wide policy, and one stand-alone resolution process, applied to all complaints involving faculty, students and staff. Visit our website to learn more.

Brian Van Brunt, Ed.D. joins Violence and Gender Editorial Board

The NCHERM Group is proud to announce that Brian Van Brunt, Ed.D., Senior Vice President for Professional Program Development, has joined the Editorial Board of the timely and important new peer-reviewed journal, Violence and Gender. The quarterly, open, in print and online journal will make its debut in late 2013 as the newest of Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., Publisher’s many peer reviewed publications related to cutting edge topics and emerging areas of fundamental research.

Male-perpetrated violence such as the tragedies at the Boston Marathon, Sandy Hook School and Columbine are increasing in their number, nature and impacts. The motives, conditions and circumstances for such behaviors are poorly understood. The purpose of Violence and Gender is to provide comprehensive investigation of the gender basis, root causes and contributing factors of violent acts with the goals of identifying risk factors and early onset behaviors that are red flags for this type of violence. The goal of the Journal will be to better understand, predict and prevent acts of violence through the critical examination of biological, genetic, behavioral, psychological, racial, ethnic and cultural factors as they relate to the gender of perpetrators of violence. Violence and Gender will be a “must-read” information source for all related disciplines impacted and interested in acts of violence.
 
Beginning with its premier issue, Violence and Gender will be available to library and institutional subscribers in 40 countries. Additionally, the content will be free online to 104 developing nations identified by the World Health Organization.

Michelle Issadore, M.Ed. and Daniel C. Swinton, J.D., Ed.D. comment on new OCR guidelines

Michelle Issadore, M.Ed. and Daniel C. Swinton, J.D., Ed.D. comment on new OCR guidelines in Holding Colleges Accountable, a June article in Inside Higher Ed. Issadore makes note that recent changes have been in response to student assembly and that students are becoming more informed about their rights under Title IX and the Clery Act, and they're organizing." Swinton discusses how the principles and approaches outlined in the recent Montana Resolution Agreement are "transferable to many institutions."