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Nolan to Co-Present Four New Training Programs Offered by United Educators in 2015

By Dinse May, 2015

Program Designed to Prevent Violence and Address Title IX and VAWA Compliance

Bethesda, MD (May 18, 2015) — New training programs designed to help institutions develop a cross-disciplinary approach to prevent and respond to sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and stalking are being offered by United Educators (UE), the nation’s leading provider of risk management solutions for higher education. Unique to this training is the emphasis on use of campus threat assessment teams to address these offenses. The “Title IX, VAWA, and Threat Assessment” trainings will be offered in four cities and feature an interactive format to help institutions comply with Title IX and VAWA training requirements.

“Keeping victims safe while preventing and responding to sexual assault, stalking, dating or domestic violence requires a coordinated approach involving administrators representing multiple functions,” said Marisa Randazzo, PhD, Managing Partner, SIGMA Threat Management Associates and one of the two presenters.

As an international expert on threat assessment, targeted violence, and violence prevention, Dr. Randazzo will conduct the training with Jeffrey Nolan, a partner with Dinse, Knapp & McAndrew, P.C. Nolan’s firm represents institutions of higher education, advising them on issues and assisting with the development and implementation of policies and training programs.

“Risks are diffused and reports are investigated more effectively when threat assessment teams can work closely with Title IX coordinators, student affairs, human resources, campus safety, and legal affairs to evaluate any ongoing threats and implement safety plans where necessary,” said Randazzo.

Nolan said, “This will help satisfy Title IX coordinator training requirements provided in the April 24, 2015, ‘Dear Colleague’ letter as well as VAWA training requirements for officials who conduct disciplinary hearings. Participants will leave with actionable plans and a better understanding of the perspectives and responsibilities of other team members. The overall impact will be a safer campus environment.”

This unique approach will help administrators prevent and resolve incidents of sexual violence and assault on college campuses. “Administrators need multiple tools to assess and address the complex issues they face,” said Constance Neary, UE’s vice president for risk management. “Attending training as a multidisciplinary team enables administrators to be better equipped to prevent and resolve incidents of sexual violence.”

Training sessions are scheduled for Baltimore on June 18-19; Boston, July 28-29; Chicago, Oct. 8-9; and Atlanta, Nov. 3-4.

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United Educators (UE), a reciprocal risk retention group, is a licensed insurance company owned and governed by nearly 1,300 members representing thousands of schools, colleges, and universities throughout the United States. Members range from small independent schools to multicampus public universities.

UE was created in 1987 on the recommendation of a national task force organized by the National Association of College and University Business Officers. Our mandate is to provide schools, colleges, and universities with a long-term, stable alternative to commercial liability insurance. EduRisk™ from United Educators provides members with risk management resources to help prevent incidents that put people and institutions at risk. And, when claims do occur, UE protects our schools, colleges, and universities with education-specific coverage and an experienced claims management team. This prevention and protection philosophy enables UE to reduce the overall cost of risk for our policyholders.

United Educators is rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best and was named a Ward’s 50 company in 2013 and 2014.

NEWS

Nolan presents several sessions at UVM Conference

By Dinse November, 2014

Jeff Nolan of Dinse’s Higher Education Practice Group presented three sessions at the University of Vermont’s national Legal Issues in Higher Education Conference in October, 2014. Jeff co-presented the keynote update on recent developments in higher education law, co-presented a session on the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (“VAWA”) and Title IX, and co-presented a session on the relationship between VAWA obligations to respond to dating violence, domestic violence and stalking and the work of campus threat assessment teams.

NEWS

Nolan Presents National Webinar on Sexual and Dating Violence and Campus Threat Assessment

By Dinse October, 2014

During September, 2014, Jeff Nolan of Dinse’s Higher Education Practice Group co-presented a webinar sponsored by United Educators and the University Risk Management and Insurance Association. Colleges and universities from around the country participated in the webinar, which suggested that institutions should consider involving their campus threat assessment teams as appropriate when responding to reports of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking that are likely to be received given the requirements of the recently-enacted Violence Against Women Act amendments to the Clery Act.

NEWS

Nolan presents seminars on sexual violence prevention, threat assessment and workplace violence prevention

By Dinse May, 2014

In April, 2014, Jeff Nolan of Dinse’s Higher Education and Employment practice groups presented a session on Campus SaVE Act implementation and training at the University Risk Management and Insurance Association’s Northeastern Regional Conference in Wellesley, Massachusetts, a session on workplace threat assessment and reintegration of “scary” employees into the workplace at the BLR Safety Summit in Atlanta, Georgia, and a session on threat assessment and the law at the Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety Threat Assessment Conference in Richmond, Virginia.

Nolan presents Campus SaVE Act seminar and leads discussion group

By Dinse March, 2014

Jeff Nolan of Dinse’s Higher Education Practice Group recently participated in the National Association of College and University Attorneys’ Spring Conference in Miami, which focused on “Student Sexual Misconduct: Addressing Institutional Culture and Compliance.” Jeff co-presented a session on the changes to institutional policies and practices required by the Campus SaVE Act, which went into effect March 7, 2014 and requires colleges and universities to respond to and provide training regarding domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. Jeff also co-led a discussion group regarding how institutions should work with local law enforcement where on-campus misconduct may also implicate the criminal justice system.

Nolan Co-Authors Chapter in International Handbook of Threat Assessment

By Dinse January, 2014

A chapter co-written by Jeff Nolan of Dinse’s Higher Education Practice Group (with co-authors Gene Deisinger, Ph.D. and Marisa Randazzo, Ph.D.) titled “Threat Assessment and Management in Higher Education: Enhancing the Standard of Care in the Academy” was published in December, 2013 in the International Handbook of Threat Assessment. This peer-reviewed Handbook, which compiles chapters covering the basics of threat assessment and management, threat assessment in specific fields of practice such as higher education and schools, and best and promising practices in threat assessment and management operations, was published by the Oxford University Press.

Nolan Presents on Disability Law and Sexual Violence Issues

By Dinse November, 2013

In October, 2013, Jeff Nolan of Dinse’s Higher Education Practice Group presented three sessions to a national-draw audience at the University of Vermont’s Legal Issues in Higher Education conference. Jeff did two presentations regarding how colleges and universities should respond to complaints of sexual violence on campus in light of the Campus SaVE Act (effective March, 2014), and one presentation regarding how institutions should work to accommodate students with autism spectrum disorders and other cognitive disabilities. In November, 2013, Jeff did a presentation at the University of New Hampshire for the Northern New England Chapter of the College and University Personnel Association regarding new issues that employers are likely to face given the expansion of mental disorders outlined in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (“DSM-5”).