Share Your Risk Management Successes
United Educators (UE) partners with our 1,300 member institutions to keep their students and institutions safe, reassure their communities, and encourage staff, faculty, and students to participate in efforts to reduce risk. Every risk management success comes with lessons learned, and our members generously share their experiences and advice with others in the education community.
We’ve told a few of these risk management stories on our Member Spotlight section of UE.org. Have you faced similar challenges? What can you learn from your peers’ achievements? What can other institutions learn from you?
Schools, colleges, and universities in urban areas should take a look at how Georgetown University maintains security on its Washington, D.C., campus. While Georgetown uses technology to boost safety, it balances that with human interactions such as community policing so the campus remains a safe, inviting place for students and visitors. “You can have a lot of technologies in place, you can have a lot of systems, but really it’s that community interaction that means the most,” said Jay Gruber, Georgetown chief of police. Is your campus safe enough? Can your students help make it safer?
No matter where your campus is located, a crisis could strike at any time, and your community—and, sometimes, the world—will scrutinize your response. Emory University Hospital frequently tested its crisis communications strategy. That preparation was critical when the Atlanta hospital in 2014 was the first to care for Ebola-infected aid workers brought home from Africa. Emory used its plan to reduce the fears associated with treating these patients in the U.S. Recognizing the enormity of the task, it hired a public relations team to help. “It is important to realize when outside help is needed,” said Nancy Seideman, associate vice president of media relations for Emory University. Are you ready for a crisis? Do you understand your capabilities and have a backup plan in case you need external support?
It doesn’t take an international disaster to challenge schools and campuses. Sometimes it’s the perennial risks that require a new, concerted mitigation plan. Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, like many institutions, wants to improve its management of head injuries. SMU is exploring an enterprisewide approach to prevent traumatic brain injuries, recognize and manage symptoms, and educate faculty, administrators, and students. Participants include risk managers, sports medicine specialists, recreational sports administrators, legal staff, and faculty members. “We attempt to make sure each student athlete has an understanding of concussions, and I believe that our sports medicine staff has created a positive environment that encourages dialogue and reporting when injuries occur,” said Mike Morton, director of sports medicine. Is your concussion management centered in your athletics department? Is that limited approach working?
If you have a risk management triumph that could benefit other schools, colleges, and universities, we’d love to hear about it. Contact jbritt@ue.org to share your success.
By Julie Britt, Communications Associate