Risk and the need to manage it has always been a part of school life. No matter what type of school or organization you are a part of, if you make agreements or have contracts with anyone, you need to have a force majeure clause. When I talk to people about their contracts (such as … Continue reading School Risk and Force Majeure
Author: mcolpitts
Dr. Matthew W. Colpitts is currently the Head of School and President of Ventures Academy, a unique high school for students who want to create startup businesses while in school! He is also currently on the Board of Directors for Studio East, a non-profit for youth theatre and performing arts education.
Previously, he served at Léman Manhattan Preparatory School as the Director of Residence Life & Campus Safety where he lead the educational, operational, and student support aspects of the boarding program and security for the whole school. Matt has been an educator, administrator, and leader in higher education and K12 independent schools for over 10 years serving in the areas of residence life, university housing, student conduct, campus safety and security, emergency management, enrollment management, and student affairs. Matt has also served in educator-leader roles at diverse educational institutions including Clark University, Landmark College, Southern Oregon University, Utah State University, and Interlochen Center of the Arts. He also does independent risk and safety management consulting.
A first-generation college student from rural Maine, Matt is a proud graduate of Clark University in Worcester, MA with a B.A. in English and Philosophy. He holds an Ed.D. from Fielding Graduate University where he researched emergency management in educational institutions. Outside of school, Matt enjoys reading, traveling, and learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
It's been a while since we heard about #activeshooters in #schools. Unfortunately, as we reopen (which is good overall) there will be increases in school-based incidents. In fact, there have already been smaller-scale ones (https://lnkd.in/eucyYSe) Are schools safe? The answer is yes. If we look at the data, we will see that shootings occur and each of these … Continue reading Post COVID Lockdown: Active Shooters and Threat Assessment
Teachers, administrators, student affairs people, and others in education have experienced new types of stress during this pandemic. One form of stress that is new to educators of all types is “Zoom fatigue” and “COVID fog.” I know I have experienced both of these a few times! Some other stressors that may be going unrecognized … Continue reading Educators & Pandemics: Mental Health and Fatigue
What is the future of FEMA - and emergency management overall - under the Biden administration? There are several experts and associations making suggestions for what President Biden should do. IAEM and Disasterologist Dr. Samantha Montano have some good ones on their websites. My list includes most of what they have, except I am not … Continue reading FEMA and President Biden
During a few consulting and advising sessions, we have been recommended that clients include a “Use of Likeness” clause in their contracts, handbooks, enrollment agreements, etc. We crafted the one below and had it approved by legal counsel. This kind of waiver can save you a lot of headaches later on. Please note that depending … Continue reading Use of Likeness Clause Template
Below you will find copy and pasted images as well as a PDF version for a Bomb Threat Checklist and Suspicious Package guidance. These are taken from the NYPD's Counter Terrorism Bureau. There are others that you can find but these are simple and easily printable. Every phone in your organization that can take calls … Continue reading Bomb Threat Checklist and Suspicious Package Guidance – NYPD
By Eesha Kashif It is clear that for the past few months, schools and universities have been deeply uncertain regarding the course of action they are to take regarding their fall 2020 reopening plans. While some colleges announced that they had no intent to resume in-person classes for fall 2020 and were going to continue … Continue reading Residence Halls Are Open! Sort Of… A Tale of a Liberal Arts University in New England
By Eesha Kashif There is a lyric from an old song that goes “Do you know what it’s like to not know a single thing about yourself and it’s all your fault”. Thanks to the unprecedented circumstances in light of the outbreak of COVID 19, I have been reflecting deeply on the ways in which … Continue reading Title IX: New Rules and Realities
Many aspects of student life will look and feel very different during this academic year. One very important aspect that campus and system leaders must scrutinize carefully is campus dining. Before considering the details of how to manage the dining services, campuses need to investigate if their dining operations fall under the education guidance, health … Continue reading School Dining Services During COVID-19
Our friends and colleagues at NASPA’s Culture of Respect, the organization’s signature initiative for addressing campus sexual violence, recently introduced the Title IX Technical Assistance Project (T9TAP), a service that provides individualized support and technical assistance in implementing the new Title IX rule. Along with robust technical assistance, T9TAP also helps colleges and universities think beyond simple … Continue reading Title IX Technical Assistance Project (T9TAP) – NASPA’s Culture of Respect
GoodIvy Consulting | Safety & Security for K12, Higher Education, & Business 