Prevention and Protection: Recent Episodes
United Educators
United Educators (UE), a Reciprocal Risk Retention Group, was formed by educators for educators to ensure a stable source of insurance and risk management. EduRisk™ from UE provides resources to help prevent incidents that put people and institutions at risk. Listen to advice from UE and other experts on how to protect students, staff, and faculty at your school, college, or university.
In this episode, United Educators' (UE's) Melanie Bennett interviews Karen Weaver about the higher ed athletics landscape.
In this episode, UE's Melanie Bennett and Hillary Pettegrew speak with Peter Lake from Stetson University College of Law about hazing prevention and response at colleges and universities.
In this episode, UE's Melanie Bennett interviews Jeff Noland and Miriam McKendall from Holland & Knight about the Stop Campus Hazing Act.
Listen to United Educators (UE) risk management consultants Joanne Dunlap, Hoda Hussein, Beth Kidwell, and Natalie Robinson-Babaniyi share their perspectives on risks to watch in 2026.
In this episode, United Educators’ (UE’s) Melanie Bennett interviews Jayde Bennett and Alisa Barnard from Learning Courage about risk committees and audits.
In this episode, United Educators (UE) Senior Risk Management Counsel Hillary Pettegrew and Senior Risk Management Consultant Hoda Hussein discuss recommended practices and tips to make crisis response tabletop exercises as effective as possible.
In this episode, Cathy Cocks with D.Stafford and Associates discusses practical tips for optimizing your institution's threat assessment team.
In this episode, Dr. Kurt Michael of The Jed Foundation discusses the importance of suicide postvention should a death occur on your campus.
In this episode, The Piazza Center's Steve Veldkamp and Dr. Patrick Biddix discuss hazing prevention programs following the Stop Campus Hazing Act.
In this episode, United Educators' (UE's) Melanie Bennett speaks with CampDoc's Michael Ambrose about camp health and safety.
In this episode, United Educators (UE) Director of Risk Management Research & Consulting Alyssa Keehan interviews UE Manager of Risk Research Heather Salko about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the employment process at educational institutions.
Key Takeaways:
- Understand how AI is being used in the Human Resources area
- Identify risks related to using these tools
- Take steps to mitigate the risk of using these tool
In this episode, speakers recount their experience with an institution that ceased operating and offer tips for others facing similar circumstances.
United Educators (UE) Risk Management Consultants Hoda Hussein, Beth Kidwell, and Justin Kollinger share their perspectives on risks to watch in 2025.
In this episode, UE's Melanie Bennett speaks with HEPNet's Lindsay Bond about youth protection competencies for colleges and universities.
In this episode, United Educators (UE) Senior Risk Management Counsel Hillary Pettegrew and Sarah Wieselthier from the law firm Fisher Phillips discuss the increasing number of state pay transparency laws, which generally require disclosing pay ranges in job postings.
If your state doesn't already have a pay transparency law, monitor developments, as it may be coming.
In this episode, Melanie Bennett and Robert Duston speak about the new ADA digital accessibility regulations.
This episode discusses the types of animals that employees, students, or visitors may request to bring on campus and the relevant federal laws.
In this episode, UE's Melanie Bennett interviews Jamie Forbes and Amy Wheeler from Learning Courage about how schools can create healing spaces when responding to sexual abuse.
This episode discusses some of the major areas of potential liability for employers that violate the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
This episode addresses critical requirements for educational employers in the final regulations implementing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.
Listen for a description of how contrapower harassment might manifest on campus and steps to take to eliminate it or respond if it occurs.
Listen to United Educators (UE) risk management consultants discuss risks to watch in 2024 and how they project today's conditions into future risks.
In this episode, United Educators' (UE's) Melanie Bennett interviews Amy Piccola, a Partner at Saul Ewing, about the impact of ongoing athletics benefits changes.
United Educators' (UE's) Senior Risk Management Counsel Hillary Pettegrew discusses lessons learned from higher ed claims involving alleged sexual misconduct by employees against students.
This podcast episode addresses how all educational institutions can comply with federal and state equal pay laws.
In this episode, United Educators' (UE's) Justin Kollinger and Catalyst Agency's Michelle Guobadia discuss hazing prevention in culturally-based fraternities, sororities, and other student organizations.
In this episode, UE's Melanie Bennett interviews Jamie Forbes about how Learning
Courage is helping schools prevent sexual abuse.
United Educators (UE) colleagues from the risk management department discuss lessons learned from slip and fall claims.
In this episode, United Educators' (UE's) Melanie Bennett interviews Louisiana State University’s Ashley McGowan about McGowan’s experience updating a contract review process.
In this episode, UE's Melanie Bennett interviews Marcy Huey and Rebecca Whitman about their experiences conducting youth protection program assessments.
This episode discusses new federal requirements imposed on empolyers by (1) the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and (2) the PUMP Act.
Attorneys from United Educators' (UE's) Resolutions department discuss documentation practices and the role it can play in risk mitigation efforts.
In this podcast, Eric Hartman, University of Denver, and Liza Kabanova, United Educators (UE) Risk Management Consultant, discuss the value of securing doors campus-wide.
In this podcast, UE's Melanie Bennett interviews Amy Piccola, a Partner at Saul Ewing, about the impact of ongoing athletics benefits changes.
United Educators' (UE's) Justin Kollinger interviews Gian Franco Borio, a European attorney who specializes in study away and is a member of the Florence Bar. They discuss considerations for educational institutions that send students to Europe for study away programs.
UE's Hillary Pettegrew interviews Clare Sisisky, Executive Director of the Global Education Benchmark Group (GEBG), about things K-12 schools should take into account when traveling with students, either in the U.S. or overseas.
In this episode, UE's Melanie Bennett interviews Dr. Jennifer Hirsch and Dr. Shamus Khan, creators of the Sexual Assault Prevention And Community Equity (SPACE) toolkit.
Part two of a special two-part series of podcasts features expert Jody Shipper discussing the past, present, and future of Title IX on sexual harassment.
Part one of a special two-part series of podcasts features expert Janet Judge discussing the past, present, and future impact of Title IX on athletics.
Listen to appellate counsel and a UE Resolutions expert explain the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in the case Houston Community College System v. Wilson.
UE's Melanie Bennett interviews Josh Richards and Jesse Krohn from Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr, discuss the Department of Justice's new website accessibility guidelines.
Learn about risks United Educators' (UE's) consultants predict will impact K-12 schools, colleges, and universities in the remainder of 2022.
In this episode, Nakeschi Watkins, Director of Risk Management and Insurance at Cornell University, and Paula Hope Griffin, Children and Youth Safety Program Administrator at Cornell University, discuss volunteer management for the protection of minors from sexual misconduct. This session overviews their policies and procedures regarding screening, training and reporting requirements for volunteers working with minors.
Moderated by Hoda Hussein, Risk Management Consultant, United Educators.
In this episode, UE's Melanie Bennett interviews Dr. Shamus Khan, co-author of the book Sexual Citizens and Jamie Forbes, CEO of Learning Courage.
In this podcast, two of UE's Risk Researchers discuss lessons learned from discrimination and wrongful termination claims.
In this episode, Justin Kollinger, UE Risk Management Consultant, is joined by Dr. Pietro Sasso, faculty member at Stephen F. Austin State University and faculty research fellow at the Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research and Reform at Penn State University. They discuss alcohol misuse and abuse patterns among students, how those patterns may change for at-risk students as we emerge from the pandemic, and how risk managers can support their colleagues in student affairs. This podcast will be of interest to administrators, risk management professionals, student affairs professionals, and faculty and staff working to manage student alcohol misuse.
In this episode of the Prevention and Protection podcast, Amy Piccola, a partner at Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr in Philadelphia, Andrea Brockway, counsel at Saul Ewing in Philadelphia, and Melanie Bennett, senior risk management counsel at United Educators, discuss recent changes to higher education athletics benefits.
In this episode, Dr. Nance Roy, Chief Clinical Officer of the JED Foundation, discusses the impact of the pandemic on college student mental health. Listen to this podcast to learn how your institution can prepare for and support students as they return to in-person learning during the Fall 2021 semester and beyond.
This episode discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on study abroad programs and the future of study abroad programs.
This discussion with Joe Storch and Gemma Rinefierd of SUNY's Student Conduct Institute (SCI) focuses on the impact the implementation of the 2020 Title IX regulations have had on higher education campuses. Joe and Gemma discuss SCI's work in this area as well as the pros and cons of the regulations as they relate to the response, investigation, and discipline of sexual harassment and sexual violence incidents on campus.
Listen to this podcast to learn how your institution can use these thoughts to evaluate your practices.
This discussion with Megan Farrell of Title IX Consult LLC focuses on the impact the implementation of the 2020 Title IX regulations have had on schools around the country. Megan discusses her work in this area as well as the lessons she learned in implementing the regulations at a school district and in her work with schools. These regulations relate to the response, investigation, and discipline of sexual harassment and sexual violence incidents at schools receiving federal funds.
Listen to this podcast to learn how your school can use these insights and lessons to evaluate your practices.
In this episode, Lindsay Bond, executive director of the Higher Education Protection Network (HEPNet), and Melanie Bennett, senior risk management counsel at United Educators, discuss how colleges and universities can protect minors in remote learning programs.
In this episode, United Educators risk management consultants Hoda Hussein, Justin Kollinger and Sam Swartout forecast the top risks impacting schools, colleges and universities in 2021. They discuss their insights, relevant risk trends and considerations institutions should keep in mind should these risks surface on campus.
In this episode, United Educators risk management consultant Liza Kabanova interviews three heads of schools, Penny B. Evins (Collegiate School), Terry Macaluso, Ph.D. (Eastside Preparatory School), and Mike Davis, Ph.D. (Colorado Academy), about the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic on K-12 independent schools. They discuss lessons learned, on-campus success stories, and the value of a proactive risk management process throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
United Educators risk management consultants Liza Kabanova and Justin Kollinger discuss lessons learned during research for the 2020 edition of the book "An Accountability Guide for University and College Boards." Topics covered include the value of ERM programs today, new and emerging risks, and practical lessons for senior administrators and boards looking to start or refresh ERM programs.
United Educators risk management consultants Liza Kabanova and Justin Kollinger discuss the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic in education – as well as new and emerging risks.
In this episode, Jamie Forbes, CEO of Learning Courage, and Melanie Bennett, risk management counsel at United Educators, discuss how schools can protect children in a remote learning program from sexual misconduct.
In this episode, Heather Salko, senior risk management counsel at United Educators (UE) interviews Alyssa Keehan, UE's director of risk research about whether waivers and assumption of risk forms are a valuable risk management tool, when to use these forms, and some tips for writing them.
In this episode of the Prevention and Protection podcast, Quincy McLaughlin, associate head of school and head of upper school at Greenhills School in Michigan, explains how K-12 schools can train volunteers to prevent and report student sexual misconduct.
In this episode, Scott Warner of Husch Blackwell discusses considerations higher education institutions should keep in mind when planning for students to return to campus in the wake of the COVID-19, or coronavirus, pandemic.
In this episode, attorney Ellen Babbitt discusses managing the risks of higher ed academic program changes driven by economic pressures; these range from eliminating majors to closing institutions. Ellen and her colleagues at Husch Blackwell wrote UE’s recently released publications on the topic, including an overview guide and four detailed checklists.
This discussion with Jody Shipper of Grand River Solutions focuses on tips to employ and pitfalls to avoid when conducting your Title IX investigations remotely while campuses have moved to online work and instruction during the COVID-10 pandemic of 2020. Listen to how your institution can continue to conduct high quality investigations that remain compliant with Title IX.
This discussion between Robb Jones, former senior vice president and general counsel for resolutions, and Heather Salko, senior risk management counsel, both of United Educators, analyzes two recent Title IX court decisions in the Sixth Circuit. These case developments have an impact in that federal circuit but likely will have an impact in other circuits as well. Listen to how these court decisions may change Title IX on your campus.
In this episode, United Educators risk researcher Christine McHugh interviews senior resolutions counsel Rhonda Hurwitz about the recent class action settlement agreement related to concussion management and medical monitoring. The discussion explains the lawsuit that led to the settlement, the settlement’s provisions, and the benefits for institutions which comply with the provisions by the May 18, 2020, deadline.
In this episode of the Prevention and Protection podcast, United Educators attorney Kimberly Cole interviews Dr. Leah Cox, vice president for inclusion and institutional equity at Towson University, about the role that campus diversity and inclusion offices can play in managing campus protests.
Most claims brought against UE members will be dismissed or settled before going to trial. Many settlements are achieved through mediation, allowing the parties to negotiate through a neutral third party. In part two of this two-part episode of the Prevention and Protection podcast, Joan Morrow, a mediator with extensive experience mediating cases involving educational institutions, shares her insights on making mediations effective.
Most claims brought against UE members will be dismissed or settled before going to trial. Many settlements are achieved through mediation, allowing the parties to negotiate through a neutral third party. In part one of this two-part episode of the Prevention and Protection podcast, Joan Morrow, a mediator with extensive experience mediating cases involving educational institutions, shares her insights on making mediations effective.
The Safe Sport Authorization Act, signed into law in early 2018, protects athletes from abuse with new reporting and training requirements for amateur sports organizations. In this episode of the Prevention and Protection podcast, Phil Catanzano, a senior counsel and member of the Education Team at the Holland & Knight law firm, explains the act and recommends actions for schools and colleges.
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.
Listen in as Heather Salko, senior risk management counsel at United Educators and David Wolowitz, partner and head of the Education Practice Group at McLane Middleton discuss sexual misconduct in independent schools.