Alyssa Keehan, director of risk research, interviews Heather Salko, senior risk management counsel, about the UE student mental health claims study.

When court cases are nearing trial, United Educators (UE) often employs a trial consulting firm to conduct a mock trial to gain insights into how the case may play out before a jury. These insights help defense counsel adjust their trial strategy and work with witnesses to present the best possible defense of UE's members. In this episode of Prevention and Protection, trial consultant Jill Huntley Taylor explains the process behind mock trial exercises and how using mock juries can help strengthen a school's legal defense as a claim heads to trial.

Indemnification provisions in contracts used by institutions can either help or harm, depending on how they are worded. Careful review of every contract is important to understand whether the indemnification provision is beneficial to your college or university. This episode of Prevention and Protection offers tips on how to avoid common indemnification problems as you enter into contracts on behalf of your institution.

United Educators' (UE) new claims study, Educator Sexual Misconduct at Independent Schools: Insights From UE Claims, examines trends in independent school educator sexual misconduct claims received between January 2011 and December 2016. In this episode of Prevention and Protection, UE's Alyssa Keehan, director of risk research, and Melanie Bennett, risk management counsel, discuss findings from the study.

Phone and computer evidence can provide clarity in Title IX investigations. In this episode of Prevention and Protection, Melanie Bennett, risk management counsel, speaks with Kelsey Feeheley, claims counsel, about UE's Title IX claims involving technology and the lessons they provide.

The NCAA passed a policy in 2017 requiring its member schools to train student athletes and athletics staff about sexual violence prevention. In this podcast, UE's Alyssa Keehan interviews Janet Judge, a partner at Holland & Knight and a national title IX athletics expert about the contents of the new NCAA policy and how colleges can comply.

The recent #MeToo movement focused national attention on social media postings documenting sexual abuse. In this podcast, UE's Melanie Bennett interviews David Wolowitz, a partner and co-chair of the Education Practice Group at McLane Middleton, about independent school response to student social media disclosures of sexual harassment.

UE’s Heather Salko speaks with Jeffrey Nolan, an attorney at the firm of Dinse, Knapp & McAndrew, about "trauma-informed" investigations—what they are, and how to institute them in Title IX and VAWA-related investigations. Jeff discusses ways to ensure fairness to both the complainant and the respondent during trauma-informed investigations and how institutions can evaluate trainers and training programs to use these techniques in their sexual misconduct investigations.

College parties are a hotbed for a variety of calamities such as fights, falls, and sexual assaults. In this episode, Alyssa Keehan, director of risk research at UE, and Lisa Barnett, a claims attorney who has handled many of UE's claims arising from college parties, discuss strategies for managing the risks of this activity.

Joe Vossen of United Educators is joined by attorney Shamus O’Meara to explain the security design response to the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn. Learn about design standards for new school buildings, practices for assessing existing school buildings, and crisis planning considerations.

Jeffrey Nolan, a partner at Dinse, Knapp & McAndrew in Burlington, Vt., and UE senior risk management counsel Heather Salko discuss service animals and emotional support animals on campus.

In 2016, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released a review from its Select Task Force on the Study of Harassment in the Workplace. In this episode of Prevention and Protection, two attorneys in UE's risk management department summarize the findings related to risk factors contributing to workplace harassment and provide some guidance on how you can combat harassment if these risk factors exist in a workplace.

Higher education institutions and K-12 schools sometimes implement RIFs, or reductions in force, for economic or other reasons. In this podcast, senior risk management counsel Hillary Pettegrew and senior claims counsel Sarah Braughler from UE offer recommendations on how to conduct RIFs to minimize both potential liability for the school and pain for employees.

In this episode of Prevention and Protection, Alex Miller, UE’s associate vice president for risk research and programs, and Alyssa Keehan, director of risk research at UE, discuss the future of Title IX in campus sexual violence under the Trump administration.

In this episode of Prevention and Protection, Melanie Bennett, United Educators (UE) associate risk management counsel, and Alyssa Keehan, UE director of risk research, discuss claims related related to fraternities and sororities. Listen to the podcast to learn the types of claims which occur most frequently and how to manage associated risks on your campus.

Alyssa Keehan, director of risk research at United Educators (UE), speaks with Josh Richards, a partner with Saul Ewing LLP about his experience defending colleges and universities in lawsuits brought by students accused of sexual assault. Topics addressed include recent legal developments, trends, and lawsuits.

Listen in as Bill Anderson, a partner at the Crowell & Moring law firm, joins the Prevention and Protection podcast to explain how crumb rubber is made, the health concerns, ongoing investigations, and how schools are responding.

In 2016, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released long-awaited guidance on retaliation in the workplace. It provides an overview of the current state of the law and the EEOC's position on various aspects of workplace retaliation. In this episode, two attorneys in UE's risk management department summarize the guidance, including the EEOC's position on best practices to avoid retaliation following an allegation of discrimination or harassment.

Many international travelers undertake activities unrelated to a study abroad trip before, during, and after the program. In this episode of Prevention and Protection, Joe Vossen, risk management counsel and Hillary Pettegrew, senior risk management counsel discuss personal deviation insurance for study abroad programs.

Heather Salko, senior risk management counsel, and Dena Kaufmann, senior claims counsel, discuss ProResponse™, a crisis response service available to United Educators (UE) members that carry both general liability and educators’ legal liability coverage with UE.

Joe Vossen, UE risk management counsel, interviews Dina Marsie-Hazen, a UE claims analyst, to discuss trends in accident investigations, specifically slip and fall claims. Listen to the podcast to learn sound accident investigation procedures.

United Educators’ Heather Salko, senior risk management counsel, and Tracy McPherson, senior claims counsel, discuss the basics of the mediation process.

UE's Melanie Bennett, associate risk management counsel, and Erica Ellis, e-learning instructional designer, discuss the importance of technology accessibility at educational institutions.

UE’s Joe Vossen, risk management counsel, and Hillary Pettegrew, senior risk management counsel, discuss the importance of pre-departure orientation for independent K-12 schools that are sending students overseas.

In this episode, UE’s Alyssa Keehan, director of risk research and Joe McCullough, senior claims advisor, discuss our unique “Cool Head, Warm Heart” crisis response philosophy.