|
Volume 1 / Issue 1
August 21, 2013
|
|
|
|
WELCOME. |
The National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE) provides technical assistance, support, training, and resources aimed at improving the conditions for learning in a range of academic environments - from early childhood to college and university settings (K-16).
The focus of NCSSLE's higher education support is to assist institutions of higher education (IHEs) - including community colleges, technical colleges, and 4-year institutions - and their surrounding communities with proactively strengthening their learning environments and addressing problems of violence, mental and behavioral health, and substance abuse. Such support can help these institutions to improve enrollment, retention, and graduation rates and ensure their students academic success and are career-ready.
The NCSSLE Higher Education e-Digest addresses campus and community engagement, health, safety, and security. Regular contents will include news from the U.S. Department of Education (ED), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (DHHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and other partner agencies, salient research summaries, examples of effective field practices, announcements submitted by IHEs and other subscribers, and relevant upcoming events. The Higher Education e-Digest will also highlight NCSSLE resources and the availability of ongoing services, including technical assistance, products, and tools.
This inaugural issue of the e-Digest is being delivered to subscribers of the former ED-funded Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse and Violence Prevention's HEC/News subscriber list. Following the launch of the new NCSSLE website, the e-Digest will also be sent to subscribers who sign up via the "Higher ED e-Digest" button on the NCSSLE home page. You may immediately unsubscribe from the Higher Education e-Digest at any time by simply clicking the "SafeUnsubscribe" link at the bottom at the bottom of this message.
Learn more about resources for IHEs on the revamped NCSSLE site! |
|
 |
NEW FEDERAL RESOURCES
Civic Learning and Engagement in Democracy
As part of President Obama's education agenda, the Department of Education (ED) envisions a nationwide commitment to preparing all students and young adults for citizenship as informed, engaged and responsible members of our society. The Administration has released a Road Map for civic learning, "Advancing Civic Learning and Engagement in Democracy." This document serves as a call to action to reinvigorate civic learning and engagement for students, families, communities, education leaders, business, labor, philanthropy and government. The Road Map outlines nine steps ED is undertaking to increase civic learning and engagement across our country.
Developing High-Quality Emergency Operations Plans for IHEs
A new report, "Guide for Developing High-Quality Emergency Operations Plans for Institutions of Higher Education," is available through the Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools Technical Assistance Center. The report g uides the development of high-quality emergency operations plans for institutions of higher education. It incorporates lessons learned from recent incidents, and responds to the needs and concerns voiced by stakeholders following the shootings in Newtown, CT and Oak Creek, WI, and tornadoes in Oklahoma and Missouri. The guide can be used to create new emergency plans as well as to revise and update existing plans and align emergency planning practices with those at the national, state, and local levels. |
FROM THE CENTER
Resources from ED's Higher Education Center for Alcohol, Other Drug Abuse, and Violence Prevention
You can find resources produced by the former U.S. Department of Education's Higher Education Center for Alcohol, Other Drug Abuse, and Violence Prevention (HEC) throughout the NCSSLE website! Additional HEC resources, products, and tools will be added in the coming months. Visit the Higher Education section of the NCSSLE website.
Archived Webinar Now Available: Tools for Implementing Evidence-based Interventions to Reduce Alcohol Problems Now Available
NCSSLE hosted a webinar in June entitled, "Safer Campuses and Communities: Tools for Implementing Evidence-based Interventions to Reduce Alcohol Problems." Based on a translation research project funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), the Prevention Research Center developed a suite of Safer Campuses and Communities resources, including background materials, tools, and procedures to help campuses and communities develop and implement targeted interventions for alcohol problem prevention. The resources can help change the culture of dangerous drinking and related problems, protect the health and safety of students and community members alike, and ultimately improve the quality of learning environment for students.
|
UPCOMING WEBINARS
Community Coalitions Working Collaboratively Across Secondary and Postsecondary Education to Address Underage Drinking
September 18, 2013, 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm EST
Hosted by NCSSLE as part of the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking (ICCPUD) Preventing Underage Drinking Webinar series
Alcohol is the most commonly used substance among adolescents and young adults - and the use and abuse of alcohol is linked with numerous negative social, health, and economic outcomes among young people. Communities with secondary and post-secondary institutions have unique challenges to control illegal use of alcohol among this population. Collaborations between high schools, colleges, and the community are critical to meet these challenges.
This webinar will review successful collaborative approaches for preventing underage drinking in communities with both high school and college students to 1) enforce the minimum legal drinking age; 2) enact and enforce policies to reduce youth commercial access to alcohol; 3) enact and enforce policies to reduce youth social access to alcohol; and 4) create comprehensive changes in institutional policies (e.g., of alcohol establishments, media outlets, and schools) and public policies aimed at reducing youth access to alcohol. Register for the webinar.
Social Host Laws: The Good, the Bad, and the Changes
September 19, 2013, 3:00pm - 4:15 pm EST
Sponsored by Underage Drinking Enforcement Training Center
The State's interest in the problem of providing alcohol to minors in a social setting is not new. Since the 1990's local and state governments have passed laws designed to hold those who provide alcohol, or enable the consumption by providing an environment in which a minor can consume alcohol, responsible for their conduct. These "social host" laws are often different and unique to the communities they serve. Our program will take a retrospective look back at the different social host approaches used by cities, counties and states. We will look at laws that have survived as well as those that have been struck down by the courts and discuss where these laws are headed and the challenges proponents of social host legislation face in the future. Register today.
|
|
RECENT RESEARCH
New Research on Civic Engagement Behavior
Ishtani, T.T., Lipperman-Kreda, S., Paschall, M.J., Marzell, M., & Battle, R. (July/August, 2013). Journal of College Student Development
New Research on First-Year Students
Cabrera, N., Miner, D., & Milem, J. (August, 2013).
Research in Higher Education
New Research on Campus Climate
Tetreault, P.A., Fette, R., Meidlinger, P.C., Hope, D. (July, 2013).
|
REGIONAL AND STATE MEETINGS
Alcohol, Campuses, and Communities: Partnering for Solutions Monday, October 7, 2013 This one-day symposium on dangerous drinking among college students will take place in State College, Pennsylvania and is sponsored by: Penn State Division of Student Affairs, The Partnership: Campus and Community United Against Dangerous Drinking, and the Penn State Future Fund. Sessions will consist of the current research in this multidisciplinary field as well as best practices and innovative, evidence-based programs.
Featured speakers include: Tom Workman (Principal Communication Researcher and Evaluator, Health Program, American Institutes for Research), Bob Saltz (Senior Research Scientist, Prevention Research Center), Ralph Hingson (Director, Epidemiology and Prevention Research, NIAAA- Tentative), Aaron White (Program Director, College and Underage Drinking Prevention Research, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, NIAAA- Tentative), and Linda Major (Office of Student Involvement, University of Nebraska, Lincoln).
The full program of speakers, registration, and travel and lodging information is available on the website. Register today.
|
|
Engagement | Safety | Environment
|
|
|
The Center is funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Safe and Healthy Students within the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. It is operated by the American Institutes for Research in collaboration with Child Trends; Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning; EMT Associates; the Silver Gate Group; and Vision Training Associates.
|
|
|
|
|
