June 26, 2019
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SPARC
SUNY Announces New SPARC Upgrade
 
In April 2017, the State University of New York (SUNY), in collaboration with the City University of New York (CUNY), launched the Sexual and Interpersonal Violence Prevention and Response Course (SPARC), an online training system to assist colleges and universities in training students, especially more difficult to reach or underserved populations including non-traditional, distance education, part-time, and military students.
 
In April and May 2019, SPARC 2.0 was launched, a significant upgrade that is easier to customize, comes with a user guide, and easy-to-follow implementation videos and webinars. Two different systems were created by the working group, Albany and Oneonta, and both have been upgraded. SPARC contains important training requirements under Title IX, the Clery Act as amended by the Violence Against Women Act and, for New York State colleges and universities, Education Law 129-B. The content includes cutting-edge education and training techniques as well as resources developed by the working group or used by permission that address the important topics in a clear manner. The two systems cover the topics differently and are of different length and depth. Campuses may use all of one system  or the other, or may pick and choose from each.

TRAC
SUNY and CUNY have also launched Training in Reducing Alcohol Consumption (TRAC), an independent, cutting-edge alcohol education program. TRAC uses modern training techniques to educate students about alcohol use, rather than simply telling them all drinking is bad.
 
SPARC and TRAC are designed to run as a course in any learning management system (such as BlackBoard, Canvas, BrightSpace, etc.) and, due to continued funding from SUNY, CUNY, and a federal grant, these systems are available to any college or university at no cost. All content is subject to a  creative commons license, which means that institutions are free to use, customize, adapt, and re-share the content created by the working group, with proper attribution, for non-commercial purposes. The content may not be sold.
 
If you are already a participating campus, you may download the customizable files from the password protected website. If your campus is interested in registering as participating institution, please fill out this form. Campuses may also access the SPARC Training Academy's free webinars to assist them as they customize content.  Please contact Project Coordinator Joseph Storch with specific questions.

An additional reminder that the SUNY  SPECTRUM Conference is taking place July 9 and 10 at the Albany Capital Center. The conference is devoted to preventing and responding to sexual and interpersonal violence against sexual and gender minorities and will provide training for campus faculty, staff, law enforcement, medical professionals, and community and state agency service providers. It is designed to enhance participants' knowledge and skills allowing them to provide the most trauma-informed, and culturally-competent response and care when incidents do occur. Pre-conference options are also available on July 8 and can explored via the online schedule.

IACP Recruitment Survey
 
Add your department's voice to the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) survey on recruitment. The IACP is seeking to better understand the challenges faced by law enforcement in the recruitment, hiring, and retention of employees as well as obtain examples of innovative techniques and best practices in the recruitment of police officers.
 
The survey is available until July 15, 2019 and responses are not limited to IACP members. Only one person from your department need respond. If you have any questions, please contact Madeline McPherson, project coordinator.

4th of July
Safety Tips for the July 4th Holiday

Although some colleges and universities are closed for the summer, many have summer programs, courses, or year-round schedules that mean students are on campus during the summer months. It's important to share safety tips with your campus community for the July Fourth holiday, especially since fireworks, heat, impaired driving, and other risks go hand-in-hand.
 
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends all motorists designate a sober driver if they plan to drink and to never drive impaired, whether by alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescription or certain over-the-counter drugs that have the potential to impair drivers. Share these recommended actions from NHTSA with your campus:
 
  • Before drinking, plan how you will get home. Designate a sober driver or select another transportation option.
  • If a friend or family member is impaired by alcohol or drugs and planning to drive, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get home safely.
  • Be alert and distraction-free, and if you see an impaired driver, call 911 as soon as it is safe to do so.
  • Buckle up. Wearing your seat belt is your best defense against an impaired driver.
  • Before you go out, download NHTSA's SaferRide mobile app. It lets you share your location so a taxi or friend can pick you up. The app is free and available for Apple and Android devices.
 
The National Safety Council (NSC) provides a wealth of information on all types of fireworks but recommends you leave fireworks to the experts. Recognizing that some states have legal fireworks, the NSC provides the following tips:
 
  • Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol.
  • Anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eyewear
  • Never light them indoors.
  • Only use them away from people, houses and flammable material.
  • Only light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting.
  • Never ignite devices in a container.
  • Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks.
  • Soak unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding.
  • Keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don't go off or in case of fire.
 
Students also need to be aware of heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Both conditions can escalate rapidly, especially when people do not remember to hydrate with enough water and instead replace with alcohol. The NSC has a free First Aid Quick Reference app available for Apple and Android devices that can help identify signs and symptoms. Search for the National Safety Council to find the app. You can also find more information on their website .
 
For additional information, including statistics and pet safety, read our " Fireworks and Independence Day Safety " article. We hope you all have a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend!

Professional Development Opportunities

Title: Fireworks Safety Webinar
Organization: Federal Emergency Management Agency
Date: July 11, 2019 at 1:00 PM ET
Location: Online
Fee: Free
 
Title: 2019 CARE Conference
Organization: International Association of Chiefs of Police
Dates: August 8-9, 2019
Location: Anaheim, CA
Fee: Registration fee
 
Title: Title IX Investigation Techniques
Organization: Homeland Security Training Institute
Date: September 4, 2019
Location: Glen Ellyn, IL
Fee: Registration fee

For additional trainings and events, access our searchable online calendar

Virtual Professional Development
Through our Virtual Professional Development initiative, you can access free, online educational opportunities.
Campus Public Safety Online
Learn about our free webinar series, register for upcoming webinars, and view archived recordings on demand.
Emerging Issues Forum Reports
Download, print, and share findings from critical issues forums of campus public safety leaders, subject matter experts, and practitioners.

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This project was supported by Grant No. 2013-MU-BX-K011 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the US Department of Justice.
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