Transcript STUDENT ORGANIZATION RISK MANAGEMENT TRAINING UNT Student Activities Center WHY RISK MANAGEMENT? In 2007, the 80th Texas Legislature added section 51.9361 to the Texas.

STUDENT ORGANIZATION
RISK MANAGEMENT TRAINING
UNT Student Activities Center
WHY RISK MANAGEMENT?
In 2007, the 80th Texas Legislature added
section 51.9361 to the Texas Education Code
regarding risk management training of officers
and advisors of student organizations
 It requires the University cover 7 different topics
related to risk management
 It requires advisors to attend risk management
training once and specified officers to attend
annually
 Requires you to report on the training’s
content at a meeting of the full membership
of the organization/club
 There will be a quiz
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TOPICS TO COVER
(1) possession and use of alcoholic beverages and illegal
drugs, including penalties that may be imposed for
possession or use;
(2) hazing;
(3) sexual abuse and harassment;
(4) fire and other safety issues, including the possession
and use of a firearm or other weapon or of an explosive
device;
(5) travel to a destination outside the area in which the
institution is located;
(6) behavior at parties and other events held by a
student organization;
(7) adoption by a student organization of a risk
management policy.
(1) POSSESSION AND USE OF ALCOHOLIC
BEVERAGES AND ILLEGAL DRUGS
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Texas law states that one must be 21 or over to possess or
drink alcohol
Being at a University with a mixture of students above and
below legal drinking age, this causes problems for students
and student orgs when underage students decide to drink
As a result, UNT has created specific policies for drinking
on campus
Therefore, a student AND student org is not only subject to
criminal and/or civil proceedings regarding violations of the
law (both alcohol and illegal drug), but also university
proceedings through the Dean of Students
 If found in violation of the law, you could face a number
of sanctions, from community service to jail time
 And if found in violation of the Code of Student Conduct
(“Code”), you could face sanctions ranging from a
warning through expulsion
(1) POSSESSION AND USE OF ALCOHOLIC
BEVERAGES AND ILLEGAL DRUGS [CON’T]
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University policy prohibits the unlawful possession,
use, or distribution of alcohol and illegal drugs on all
university property AND as part of any official
university activity, except as expressly permitted by
law and university policy or regulation (e.g., official
tailgating; at events, with appropriate permission)
 Student organizations desiring to sell, serve or
consume any type of alcoholic beverage on campus
must obtain permission at least 10 business days
in advance via the Alcohol Use Request form, with
the exception of the Union, Gateway Center, and
Apogee, all 3 of which arrange presence of alcohol
and distribution.
 If your org desires to have alcohol at an on-campus
event, refer to Policy 10.14 “Use of Alcoholic
Beverages,” for more info.
(2)
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HAZING
“Hazing” means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act,
occurring on or off campus of an educational institution, by one
person alone or acting with others, directed against a student,
that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a
student for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into,
affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership
in an organization. The term includes:
 any type of physical brutality, such as whipping, beating,
striking, branding, electronic shocking, placing of harmful
substance on the body, or similar activity
 any type of physical activity, such as sleep deprivation,
exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space,
calisthenics, or other activity that subjects the student to an
unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the
mental or physical health or safety of the student
(2) HAZING [CON’T]
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Definition (continued)
 any activity involving consumption of a food, liquid,
alcoholic beverage, liquor, drug, or other substance that
subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or
that adversely affects the mental or physical health or
safety of the student
 any activity that intimidates or threatens the student with
ostracism, that subjects the student to extreme mental
stress, shame, or humiliation, that adversely affects the
mental health or dignity of the student or discourages the
student from entering or remaining registered in an
educational institution, or that may reasonably be expected
to cause a student to leave the organization of the
institution rather than submit these activities; and
 any activity that induces, causes, or requires the student to
perform a duty or task that involves a violation of the State
Penal Code
(2) HAZING [CON’T]
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A student’s willingness to participate in any of
these activities does not mean that an activity is
not considered hazing, nor is it a defense to any
charges of violating UNT policy or state law
(2) HAZING [CON’T]
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Hazing is not only a violation of Code, but also
violation of state law
A
student violates this policy and state law
if he or she:
engages in hazing;
 solicits, encourages, directs, aids, or attempts to aid
another in engaging in hazing;
 recklessly permits hazing to occur; or
 has firsthand knowledge of the planning of a specific
hazing incident involving a student at the UNT, or
has firsthand knowledge that a specific hazing
incident has occurred, and knowingly fails to report
that knowledge in writing to the Dean of Students or
other appropriate university official.
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(2) HAZING [CON’T]
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A student could be expelled from UNT for being
found in violation of hazing, and is also subject
to civil and criminal sanctions for violating
state law, which include:
Offense of failing to report is a Class B misdemeanor (fine
up to $1000 and/or up to 180 days in jail).
 A violation that does not cause serious bodily injury to
another is a Class B misdemeanor (fine of $500-$1,000
and/or 90-180 days in jail).
 Any other offense that causes serious bodily injury to
another is a Class A misdemeanor (fine of $1,000-$5,000
and/or 180 days-one year in jail).
 Any offense that causes the death of another is a state jail
felony (fine of $5,000-$10,000 and/or 1-2 years in jail)
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(2) HAZING [CON’T]
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An organization violates this policy and state
law if it:
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condones or encourages hazing, or
if an officer or any combination of members, pledges,
or alumni of the organization commits or assists in the
commission of hazing
An organization could be suspended from UNT
for being found in violation of hazing, and is
also subject to civil and criminal sanctions for
violating state law, which include:
A misdemeanor offense punishable by: a fine of $5,000$10,000; or
 If the court finds that the offense caused personal injury,
property damage, or other loss, of at least $5,000 to up to
double the amount lost or expenses incurred because of the
injury, damage, or loss
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(2) HAZING [CON’T]
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The university may grant immunity from
university-imposed sanctions for a violation of
this policy to each student who voluntarily
testifies against an individual who, or
organization that, violates this policy.
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Any person who reports a specific hazing incident involving
a student to the Dean of Students or other appropriate
official of the university, is immune from universityimposed sanctions that might otherwise be incurred or
imposed
Same goes with criminal prosecution. A person will be
granted immunity from prosecution for reporting it
(2) HAZING [CON’T]
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Resources
Dean of Students website: deanofstudents.unt.edu
 Student Activities
 UNT Hazing Hotline: 940-369-STOP (7867), or call
911 in emergency
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(3)
SEXUAL ABUSE AND HARASSMENT
It is a violation of the Code to engage in acts of
sexual misconduct, sexual abuse, sexual
harassment, sexual exploitation, sexual violence
or sexual coercion as defined by state,
international and federal law and university
policy
 Sexual Harassment is defined in Code as:
unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature including
but not limited to unwelcome sexual advances,
requests for sexual favors, sexual violence and
other verbal, nonverbal or physical conduct or a
sexual nature
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(3) SEXUAL ABUSE AND HARASSMENT
[CON’T]
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If not related to employment status, students should
report harassment violations to the Dean of Students.
If you or anyone in your org becomes the victim of
sexual assault, abuse, or violence, notify the police
immediately and go to the hospital for an
examination.
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Victims may choose to have someone take them to the
hospital or a police officer can meet them at their
location to provide transportation.
The police officer will need to obtain a statement
describing the details of the assault.
A counselor from the Denton County or Dallas Rape
Crisis centers will be contacted to meet with victims at
the hospital. The counselor will talk with victims and
inform them of their options involving counseling
(4)
FIRE AND OTHER SAFETY ISSUES
University policy requires students and student
orgs to follow fire and safety code within
buildings, which means enforcing a fire capacity
within rooms (e.g., for meetings or events).
 University Policy now prohibits camping on
University Property, with a few exceptions (e.g.,
tailgating). For more info, see Policy 18.1.24.
 University policy and state law prohibit carrying
weapons onto university property and onto
property utilized for university programs or
activities, even if off-campus
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(4) FIRE AND OTHER SAFETY ISSUES
[CON’T]
It is a violation of the Code to have unauthorized
use or possession of ammunition, explosives, or
other objects that are dangerous or flammable or
that could cause damage by fire or explosion to
persons or property
 Also a violation of the Code to tamper with or
misuse security or safety equipment (e.g., fire
alarms)
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(5) TRAVEL
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18.4.5 Student Travel Policy application:
 Activities or events that are located more than 25 miles
from the campus, and
 The travel is: (a) required by the student organization;
or (b) funded by and requires use of a vehicle owned or
leased by the university
Policy discusses different safety precautions for different
modes of travel (car, plane, etc.), including
 Common sense
 Following the law (e.g., wear seat belts)
 Maintaining van capacity at 10 individuals
 Upholding sleep requirements and mileage per day
limits
If the travel meets the criteria of the policy, an org must
obtain written approval for the travel from its UNT
faculty/staff advisor or the department head responsible
for funding or organizing the travel before the date of the
event or activity
(6) BEHAVIOR AT PARTIES AND OTHER
EVENTS HELD BY A STUDENT ORGANIZATION
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Event Application
 At least 15 business days prior to the event
if the event is considered at least a little risky
to people or facilities, which may include:
expecting more than 100 people in attendance,
 serving food and/or beverages,
 selling tickets for admission,
 inviting off-campus guests,
 handling hazardous materials (fire, sledge hammer, etc.),
 serving alcohol,
 involves any kind of physical activity (dancing, flag football,
basketball tournaments etc.),
 inviting minors
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(6) BEHAVIOR AT PARTIES AND OTHER
EVENTS HELD BY A STUDENT ORGANIZATION
[CON’T]
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Some of these Event Applications will be sent to
the Event Safety Committee for review.
 When that happens, you’ll need to attend an
ESC meeting.
 The purpose of the ESC is to ensure that all
org events with possible risks associated with
them are executed in the safest way possible.
 In the meeting, the ESC will determine
stipulations that the org will need to comply
with in order to hold the event.
 This could include things like hiring police or
purchasing event insurance.
(7) ADOPTION BY A STUDENT ORGANIZATION
OF A RISK MANAGEMENT POLICY
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According to state law, organizations should adopt a
risk management policy or plan.
This should include standards to guide the
organization in reducing risks at community service
activities, socials, when traveling, and any other
activity that your specific org is likely to encounter.
 Sample event: Hosting a skit night open to anyone
 Identify risks that occur for each activity
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Identity ways to reduce risks/prevent potentially
harmful things from happening
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Ex: Injury on stage or even in audience
Ex: Check equipment prior to use, make sure cords are taped
down
Create a plan for what to do if something harmful
does happen
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Ex: Info on nearest hospital, training event staff on exit
locations, first aid kit
(7) ADOPTION BY A STUDENT ORGANIZATION
OF A RISK MANAGEMENT POLICY [CON’T]
We live in a society that loves to sue, and
unfortunately, if something bad happens, the
person is likely to sue the org, and officers of the
org.
 In a court of law, if you can show that you made
an effort to reduce risks and followed protocol
listed within your plan, your personal and
organizational liability will be decreased.
 Your national organization or Student Activities
can help you create a risk management plan if
you don’t already have one.
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WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE CODE
AS IT RELATES TO RISK MANAGEMENT
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Code of Student Conduct applies to students and
student orgs
A student group will be responsible for the actions
and conduct of its members, when one or more of
its members, acting in the capacity of their
membership, commit a violation of the Code.
 Student groups found in violation of the Code will
be subject to disciplinary procedures and sanctions
in the same manner as individual students, except
that student groups cannot be permanently
removed from the university.
 For orgs, sanctions from violation of the Code
include from warning to loss of registered
status/ability to have socials to suspension.
For individual students, sanctions include a warning
to expulsion.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE CODE
AS IT RELATES TO RISK MANAGEMENT [CON’T]
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Code applies to conduct that occurs on
university premises, at university activities
and also to conduct that may occur off
campus that could adversely affect the
university community and/or pursuit of the
university’s educational mission or that could
create a hostile environment for a student on
campus
QUESTIONS?
Student Activities Center
Stovall 117 (as of August)
940-565-3807
[email protected]
QUIZ TIME
Complete the quiz by copying and pasting the
following link into your web browser
https://orgsync.com/8394/forms/102648 by the given
deadline
 Must pass with a score of at least 70% to earn
credit
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