Researchers from Duke University, Wake Forest University, and the University of North Carolina published a report on the effects of alcohol on the adolescent brain. The report examines the differences between the developing adolescent brain and the brain of an adult and evaluates how these differences affect the way the body reacts when alcohol is consumed. To access the report, click here.

The University of California, Los Angeles Higher Education Research Institute published a report summarizing the results of a nationwide survey on college students' commitment to activism and civic engagement. The survey of 141,198 full-time, first-year students found that levels of interests in politics and civic engagement are higher than ever before, with the rising cost of college and hostile racial climates on campus contributing to this increased activism. To learn more, click here.

The National Safety Council provides a variety of free, downloadable materials -including posters and fact sheets - to prepare universities to participate in National Safety Month, which will take place in June 2016. Materials are organized by weekly topics: Stand Ready to Respond, Be Healthy, Watch Out for Dangers, and Share Roads Safely, and users can sign up to have materials e-mailed to them as they become available. To learn more, click here. 

Brown University released a new plan outlining a set of actions aimed at making Brown more diverse and inclusive. The plan prioritizes recruiting and retaining faculty, students, and staff who have been historically underrepresented in higher education; increasing scholarly resources to support education and research on issues of race, ethnicity, inequality, and justice; expanding programs to support the academic achievement of historically underrepresented students; improving data collection of school climate; and establishing clear and transparent processes for monitoring progress. To access the report, click here.

The Clery Center for Security on Campus released a video to help personnel understand their role and responsibilities under Title IX. The video features the voices of sexual assault survivors and campus safety and student affairs professionals, and provides an introduction to Title IX, processes for sharing information with the Title IX coordinator, and best practices for responding to a report. To learn more, click here.

Higher Education for Higher Standards released a report celebrating the nationwide efforts that have increased community college access by promoting college readiness for all students. The programs highlighted in the report have improved outcomes for all students by implementing interventions to help low-performing and unprepared students catch up to their peers; streamlining postsecondary placement practices to smooth student transitions; and redesigning first-year experiences to meet student needs. To access the report, click here.