Risk Management Strategies for Student Organizations Transcript

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​​Transcript:

Risk Management Strategies for Student Organizations

In response to student deaths and injuries related to hazing in student organization functions, House Bill 2639 was enacted by the 80th Texas legislature.

Faculty advisors and members of student organizations must attend risk management training beginning in the fall of 2008.

Course contents:

• Behavior at student organization events
• Alcohol and drugs
  
• Hazing
• Sexual harassment and abuse
• Firearms, weapons and explosive devices
• Emergency procedures
• Local and foreign travel
• Adoption of a risk management policy
  

Behavior at Student Organization Events

Freedoms With Responsibility

​The purpose of policies about student conduct and discipline are to provide guidelines for the educational environment of the district. Such an environment presupposes both rights and responsibilities. Free inquiry and expression are essential parts of this freedom to learn, to grow and to develop. However, students must exercise these freedoms with responsibility.

Providing an enjoyable environment for learning and socializing requires all participants to:

• Adhere to the student code of conduct and
• Obey the law and show respect for properly constituted authority

Students shall refrain from:

• Intentionally causing harm to any person
• Interfering with normal college activities
• Substantially interfering with the freedom of expression of others
• Destruction, damage or theft of property
  

Drug Free Schools and Communities Act

To satisfy the requirements of the act, DCCCD is committed to creating an educational environment free from use or distribution of illicit drugs and abuse of alcohol.

Alcohol Policy

Use or possession of alcohol is prohibited on college premises or as part of a college function with the exception of:

• Specific beverage-related courses within the El Centro Food Services program or
• The international Sommelier Guild's diploma program at Bill P​riest Institute​
  

Controlled and Illegal Drugs

Use or possession of any illegal drug or controlled drug without a prescription is strictly prohibited on college campuses or in any college-sponsored activity.

Counseling and Treatment

Information and confidential referrals concerning counseling and treatment programs for drug and alcohol abuse may be obtained from:

• Counseling and/or Advisement Center
  
• Health Center and
• Human Resources Office
  

Hazi​​ng

The Education Code defines hazing as any intentional act directed against a student that endangers the mental or physical health of a student for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into or maintaining membership in any organization.

Hazing includes:

• Physical activity, such as exposure, confinement, calisthenics or other activity that causes unreasonable risk of harm
• Any type of physical brutality
  
• Consumption of a food, liquid, alcohol, drug or other substance that could adversely affect mental or physical health

​Hazing includes:

• A​ny activity that intimidates or threatens the student with ostracism, that subjects a student to extreme mental stress, shame or humiliation, or
• Any activity that induces, causes or requires the student to perform an action that violates the penal code

​Hazing

Overcoming Hazing

Achieve team building through activities or traditions that carry a positive message, such as

• Volunteer work
• A community project or
• Training for a 5K run

Sexual Haras​​sment and Sexual Abuse

Sexual Harassment

The district shall exercise reasonable care to prevent and promptly correct any sexually harassing behavior and develop preventative or corrective measures to address sexually harassing behavior.

Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment.

Sexual harassment of students includes:

• Engaging in sexually oriented conversations for personal sexual gratification
• Telephoning students at home or elsewhere to solicit inappropriate social relationships
• Physical contact that would reasonably be construed as sexual in nature and
• Enticing or threatening students to engage in sexual behavior in exchange for grades or other school-related benefit

Sexual Harassment​

• Sexual harassment of any kind will not be tolerated.
• All complaints of sexual harassment will be taken seriously and investigated thoroughly.

​Report any incident of sexual harassment to:

• Campus Human Resources Office and
• The vice president of instruction
  

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse is the forcing of undesired sexual acts by one person upon another.

Types include:

• Forced physical sexual behavior, such as rape or sexual assault
• The use of a position of trust to compel nonconsensual relations without force
  

Report any incident, allegation or rumor of sexual abuse immediately to campus police or other law enforcement.

Prohibited Weapons

A student shall not intentionally, knowingly or recklessly possess or go onto school premises with any prohibited weapon.

Penal Code 46.03 (a) — Prohibited weapons are defined as follows:

• A firearm
• An illegal knife: one with a blade over 5 1/2 inches
• An explosive weapon: any explosive or incendiary bomb, grenade, rocket or mine
• ​A switchblade knife: any knife with a blade that opens automatically
• Knuckles: any instrument that is designed for inflicting injury by striking a person with a fist enclosed in the knuckles
  
• A chemical dispensing device: other than a small chemical dispenser sold commercially for personal protection
• A club: any instrument designed for striking a person, including a blackjack, nightstick or mace

Emergency Procedures

• You can reach campus police by dialing 911 from any campus phone.
• In the event of a life, safety or criminal emergency, notify campus police immediately.

District campuses utilize three basic response procedures to cover most incidents:

• Emergency evacuation
• Severe weather shelter in place
• Intruder lockdown
  

Emergency Evacuation

Familiarize yourself with evacuation routes beforehand. They are either posted or available through campus police.

You may be notified of the need for evacuation by:

• Horn blasts and strobes from the fire alarm
• By a general announcement or
• By an employee

If it is safe to do so, take your personal belongings with you, but remember ... life is always more important than property.

• Assist disabled persons or others in need.
• Remain calm but walk quickly
  
• Leave the building via the evacuation route
• Once outside, move at least 200 feet away from any building or to an established rally point.

Do not reenter the building for any reason until advised by fire, police or campus employees that the building is safe for reentry.

Shelter in Place

• In the event of inclement weather, such as a tornado or an earthquake, you will be advised to shelter in place.
• Proceed directly to a Safer Zone.
• interior rooms away from windows have been designated Safer Zones.
• Remain until given the all clear.
  

Safer Zones are marked with a tornado symbol.

Familiarize yourself with these locations before an emergency occurs.

Intruder Lockdown

• In the event of a violent intruder or other police activity, stay in your classroom.
• If you are in a common area, move into a classroom or office.
• Campus faculty or employees will lock the doors.
• Remain in the room until given instructions by emergency personnel.​

Local and Foreign Travel

Student Field Trips

Prior to a sanctioned field trip, students must submit a completed Field Trip Participation Consent form.

• Make sure the emergency contact information is accurate and current.
• List any known medical conditions.
  
• Bring an adequate supply of required medications
  
• Important: Advise your emergency contact of the destination and duration of your trip.

Student Foreign Travel

A travel insurance policy is required when traveling outside of the U.S.

They generally cover:

• Trip cancellation
• Medical treatment
  
• Emergency evacuation
  
• Accidental death

Student Foreign Travel

• Prior to traveling, obtain any needed vaccinations.
• Inform your emergency contact of the destination and duration of your trip.
• Leave a copy of your passport and IDs with your emergency contact.