At risk students can be difficult to identify. Getting them to accept assistance can be even more difficult. How can we reach out to these students? How do we develop both voluntary and involuntary leave policies? What treatment options are most effective? Should we get parents involved - and, if so, when? These questions and more face college administrators daily in meeting the needs of at-risk students.

Accommodating students with disabilities in higher education is a collaborative effort between faculty, students, disability services, and staff. Coordinated efforts and support from departmental, administrative, facilities, and other student services personnel can also enhance the overall accessibility of the post-secondary environment for students with disabilities.

Grim fiscal pictures are in the forefront as Student Affairs Divisions across the country try to do more with less. Students are demanding quality programming be provided to them, yet college and university budgets seem to get slimmer each year. In an effort to keep one step ahead of the budget crunches, the Division of Student Affairs at West Chester University of PA has created a model for Resource Enhancement.

Does your campus have programs and policies in place to address the issue of workplace violence? How are you communicating with campus constituents to reassure them that support and security are available in potentially threatening situations?

The effects of the April 16th shooting tragedy at Virginia Tech, where a student killed 32 people and injured scores of others, have left campuses reeling. In a society where we hear about violent acts all the time, this one hits so close to home.

While it's nearly impossible to control or contain an individual determined to unleash violence of this magnitude on a college campus, we can be prepared to communicate the message, "Remain in place!" quickly, clearly and effectively. Clear procedures "known and practiced widely on campus" are critical.

Chances are that we all have at least one book by Dr. Margaret J. Barr or Dr. Art Sandeen on our office bookshelves. As pillars of the student affairs community, they have both contributed a great deal to our field's knowledge base - and to our own personal curiosities.

Sexual assaults are one of the most devastating campus crimes. Victims require immediate support and emotions run high. People want answers and campus safety officials are often the ones they turn to.

The tremendous success of freshman year programs and final year programs has caught the attention of student affairs professionals. The result has been an important understanding that every year of the collegiate experience presents special developmental challenges and important decisions for every student.

Civility continues to be an issue on our campuses. As campuses grow in complexity and communication styles evolve, the issue of civility continues to generate a buzz on campus.

Write grant proposals that get dollars for your organization or clients!

As part of The Patriot Act, colleges must comply with the SEVIS system (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System). The Federal Government requires that your campus submit data on international students, exchange students, international scholars and others who visit your campus from other countries.

Campus communities are considering their future and the future of the world around them. The conclusion: a definitive voice that says, "Campuses must start leading the way for building sustainable campuses."

For many students and parents, orientation is an opportunity to get acclimated not only to college life but to campus climate and culture. Although each campus is unique, there are some common issues and trends all campuses and orientation staffs are likely to find themselves tackling over the next few years. Whether you're considering a top to bottom orientation redesign or you're looking for ways to spice-up an existing program you need new ideas, new concepts and new inspirations. Get those ideas, concepts, inspiration and motivation by learning about what's working around the country.

The 2004 Reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act required all school districts to develop written Local School Wellness Plans or Policies (LSWPs) by no later than July 1, 2006. While many children's health advocates and organizations see this requirement as commitment to the health and well being of school-age students nationwide, they also expressed concern over the lack of funding to implement the strategies and programs outlined in the required LSWPs.

Pandemic flu preparations continue to be a top priority concern for campus administrators across the country. Scientists and world health experts continue to warn of the virility and dangers of new influenza strains.

Campus communities are considering their future and the future of the world around them. The conclusion: a definitive voice that says, "Campuses must start leading the way for building sustainable campuses."

What was unthinkable even just a few years ago has become a modern day reality for career counseling professionals on college campuses. Parents have become a part of the career counseling process.

While the prospective college student has always brought parents in tow, most college administrators will readily admit that parental involvement has reached all time highs.

Hazing is an ever-present danger and ever-present risk on college campuses. Often cloaked in the disguise of "tradition"� hazing is a continuing concern for campus administrators.

MRSA: methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus - a growing concern in schools, community environments, college residence halls and locker rooms everywhere.

Colleges are constantly finding themselves in new and complex legal situations. In an ever –litigious environment and a constantly changing legal landscape it's critical that campus administrators keep current on the latest on the state of law in higher education.

As the importance of parents programs grow, so does the importance of assessing those programs to ensure they are achieving maximum reach, maximum effectivieness and maximum efficiency.

Judicial Affairs is a critical component on every college campus. Please join your colleagues for a nationwide discussion on the state of judicial affairs and judicial affairs trends on college campuses today.

Student organizations have long sought to bring in speakers (and plan events) from a great variety of backgrounds with a great diversity of views. As educators we recognize the value of hearing diverse voices, diverse opinions and a variety of views.

Sophomores are often referred to as the "forgotten" students, left to their own devices after time and attention has been lavished upon them during their first year. Unmet needs, from exploring issues of "purpose" to academic confusion, can lead to retention problems. As many institutions are discovering, sophomore success takes intentional effort.

Recent surveys released in the last week show that both students on campus now as well as the next generation of students who will be arriving in the next five years are all dealing with a complex range of mental health and related substance abuse issues. The sheer numbers of students and the array of issues are unlike those we have seen in previous generations:

The drug education is there. The health affects are widely known. The school policies have strict consequences. And yet, students continue to take incredible risks.

Some alarming headlines coming out of Virginia this week reinforce the fact that the risk of a deadly communicable disease outbreak on campus is very real - mumps, meningitis, or even avian flu could easily flourish on any campus.

Does your institution have barriers to the educational process for your students with disabilities? What are the implications and liabilities for your institution? Does your institution have inaccessible buildings and grounds? What does the law require?

According to the Harvard School of Public Health "Bed bugs are increasingly becoming a problem within residences of all kinds, including homes, apartments, hotels, cruise ships, dormitories and shelters."

The death of a student can be a tragic reality of campus life. The loss is an emotionally difficult situation for students, parents, faculty and all campus constituents to work through.

A disturbing trend has developed on college campuses over the past few years. Students are arriving with complicated and serious mental health issues. These issues proliferate in a variety of ways. From anti-social behaviors to dangerous substance abuse, administrators are being presented with an ever-changing and highly dramatic landscape of mental health issues. Students now regularly use psychotropic medication and present with a wide variety of behaviors associated with mental health issues.

With training underway and the fall semester right around the corner, it's a good time to get your supervisory staff together for a summer training supervision clinic; a good time to review supervision strategies and a good time to ensure that the fall semester is a healthy and productive experience for both employee and supervisor.

For years campus administrators have grappled with hazing in Greek lettered organizations. That hazing "tradition" and "initiation" ceremonies have for years been spreading to other groups on campus. The flow of traffic includes; students, faculty, administrators, coaches, support staff, contractors and others. Overall it's a large number of people who service, do business with or interact with your institution.

In an era where there are growing compliance issues as well as more expensive legal actions, it is important that campus administrators consider implementing, strengthening and broadening background checks.

Avian flu has moved west across Asia and Europe. Experts predict the virus to continue moving west and reach the US and Canada by this fall. There are growing fears that a mutated, more communicable form of the virus can develop. Communicable diseases often flourish on college campuses which means colleges and universities are at a greater risk.

Every day a new set of issues, concerns, liabilities and legal precedents are set in relationship to cyber communities.

Sites like Facebook and Myspace are rapidly evolving, attracting more and more users. Cyber communities are rapidly developing into a new social and communication platform for college students.

With this new platform comes a whole new set of legal issues, judicial concerns and potential liabilities for every college.

Suicide issues are becoming more common and more complicated on college campuses. As the issues become more complex, the stakeholders become broader and the outcomes more public, college administrators must be more aware, more vigilant and more intentional with prevention and intervention in suicide issues.

For many students and parents, orientation is an opportunity to get acclimated not only to college life but to campus climate and culture. Although each campus is unique, there are some common issues and trends all campuses and orientation staffs are likely to find themselves tackling over the next few years. These trends include the development and of learning outcomes and the assessment of campus programs. In addition, with a changing student demographic more and more campuses are finding the need to better serve millennial parents through special programs (beyond a simple parent orientation). Issues of technology, the push from some state legislatures for dual enrollment or concurrent degree programs, and a focus on educating high achieving students also impact orientation and first year programs.

Year after year those of us in student affairs are continually finding ourselves trying to do more with less. Budgets are shrinking, but the needs of our students are increasing. It is a challenge each semester to figure out how to fund programs that our students need and desire. While most institutions of higher learning have been relying on their development offices to fundraise for academe, it is only recently that development and fundraising focused on student affairs has become popular.

Student Affairs administrators are finding prescription drugs to be at the heart of more and more "incidents" on campus. Whether it's a student who is non-compliant with their psychotropic medication or another student who has "pharmed" out (a kind of drug dealing) their own prescription to other students, pharmaceutical medications are a factor on campus.

Digital marketplaces are moving faster than colleges can keep up with. It's imperative that your institution know what the legal ramifications are for how these sites are used on campus, how campuses respond to their use and what the myriad of legal and judicial ramifications are.

Hazing has become a major concern for educators. From band-camp rituals to fraternity and sorority pledging, initiating new members - and the dangerous activities that group leaders design - has become a pervasive concern on college campuses. Students and group members may think their rituals are simply "tradition" and simply "harmless fun" however, each year has seen an increase in hazing accidents, deaths and a rise in hazing related litigation.

With a busy semester now in the history books, it's a good time to get your supervisory staff together for a mid-year supervision clinic. A good time to review supervision strategies and a good time to ensure that the next semester is as healthy and productive for both employee and supervisor.

As student populations shift and parents become a larger stakeholder in the orientation process it's critical that orientation directors take a fresh look at their goals, themes and programs.

The growing popularity of online communities has given students a new way to express themselves, network, meet new friends, and maybe even find the love of their life. These online communities have also helped to build community on many campuses.

Judicial violations are always changing. Stalking and harassment via technology is on the upswing. New drugs are showing up on campus. Alcohol amnesty policies require that we consider additional nuances. Parents and lawyers are frequently on the other end of the phone. As the issues keep changing, we need to keep up.

Imagine a drug that could heighten your physical and mental performance, give you the energy to pull those "all nighters", and even help you lose weight. What makes meth even more appealing is that it's less expensive and more accessible than cocaine.

It's not just backroom poker games anymore. Gambling has gone online, making it an easy-access, appealing pastime for students - a pastime with multiple pitfalls and the potential for addiction. Problem gambling can overcome anyone from athletes to students on the dean's list. According to the National Council on Compulsive Gambling, 2 million U.S. adults are estimated to meet the criteria for pathological gambling in a given year. Another 4-8 million meet the criteria to be considered problem gamblers.

A disaster can strike at anytime. Even with warning the outcome cannot be predicted as evidenced by Hurricane Katrina's devastation. A proactive approach to planning, practicing, and evaluation can minimize the devastation that an emergency situation can cause.

Higher education institutions have seen an increase in the number of students with disabilities in the past few years. On college campuses today, approximately one in 11 students has a disability-three times the number reported in 1978 according to George Washington University's HEATH Resource Center.

Today's students, particularly the incoming first-year class, are part of a growing phenomenon--they had highly-scheduled childhoods and are the first generation to be linked to their families 24/7 by cell phones and email. Their parents, super-involved in their student's K-12 school lives, are ready to "hover" about on your campus. Their involvement is critical to student success, but many will have a difficult time drawing the line between appropriate and inappropriate parental behavior.

As a campus administrator, you need to be planning now for ways to involve this powerful group of parents. You'll want to address their needs and concerns, and to garner their support-all while ensuring that they learn to treat their students as adults by respecting student rights and staying in the bounds of college procedures.

The death of a student can be a tragic reality of campus life. The loss is an emotionally difficult situation for students, parents, faculty and all campus constituents to work through.

How is civility demonstrated on your campus? Do students arrive on time for class, turn off cellular phones, beepers and other electronic devices when class starts, and participate in discussions when it is appropriately their turn? How about faculty and staff? Do they demonstrate civil behavior that students can model, or take time to talk one-on-one with students whose behaviors negatively affect life in and out of the classroom?

Five issues; a million possible ways they can compromise the well being of your school's housing. When not addressed, they can negatively impact your budget, the health of your residents and your valuable time.

Campus safety continues to be a primary leader in driving campus policy, creating institutional guidelines and forming campus guidelines. High-profile events in educational environments, the changing role of security since September 11th and evolving legislative movements and legal decisions make campus security an ever-evolving area. Join a panel of campus security experts to discuss emerging issues in campus security.

On today's campuses, college students are being hit, controlled, stalked and verbally abused - all in the context of their dating relationships. According to the Dating Violence Resource Center, 20% of teen girls and young women have experienced some form of dating violence. Men experience it, too. And it's happening right under our noses.

More and more students are carrying emotional baggage along with their belongings on move-in day. Students are arriving with complicated, serious mental health issues. It's no surprise then that today's residence hall staffs are contending with multiple mental health concerns while campus counseling centers are overwhelmed by the volume of student traffic.

Civility has eroded on our campuses. Where you once thought you could expect considerate behavior from students you now know that growing numbers of students have little sense of common courtesies.

The social norms approach is widely used as an effective alcohol and other drug prevention strategy and there is increasing empirical support for its effectiveness. This audio conference will review the current state of evidence for the social norms approach and discuss some of the challenges facing practitioners who want to utilize it.<

In just 30 seconds or less lives can be changed - and lost - in the wake of a fire. By taking proactive steps, educating your students and staff, and planning effectively you can reduce fire risks and, ultimately, save lives.

It has harmful physical, psychological and legal consequences, and yet marijuana use and abuse at college is on the rise. Students believe the myths and have little fear of the consequences. Meanwhile, meaningful prevention efforts are hampered by today's more accepting culture.

Parent and family programs are becoming an important component of every student affairs programs. These programs give you an opportunity to reach out to important stakeholders and build relationships. But, what works best? How can you design programs from maximum efficiency and effectiveness? What kind of resources and information are parents and families looking for?

Student judicial affairs continue to be an important part of the educational process and the building of community on a college campus.

Some International educators are describing the current environment as a crisis. Global politics, border tightening and more competition has made international recruitment a tough challenge. International students are an invaluable asset to the college community. They add perspective and diversity to the academic community. It's imperative that we continue to draw students from a variety of countries and continents. And despite the global environment there are still many students who want to study in the U.S. But how you best connect with those prospects?

Community Colleges are a critical piece of the higher education system, and students in the community college system present administrators with a unique set of challenges and opportunities.

Benchmarking is a valuable and important tool for measuring effectiveness and progress. Student affairs practitioners are now finding that benchmarking is a viable tool to use - one that helps student affairs show real data with real results. More importantly, benchmarking gives student affairs practitioners the data they need to implement important and effective change.

The emotional baggage students lug along to college seems to be getting heavier and heavier. It’s no surprise that today’s residence hall staffs are contending with multiple mental health concerns while campus counseling centers are overwhelmed by the volume of student traffic. Students are struggling with psychological disorders and we need to know how best to serve them – and the community at large.

Student affairs practitioners see the value of the whole campus experience – both inside the classroom and outside. Faculty members have the opportunity to make a huge impact on campus culture and tone.

International studies and study abroad programs are experiencing increasing levels of difficulty. Federal regulations and programs like SEVIS are putting a stranglehold on international offices and creating administrative headaches

Campuses and educators continue to look for ways to help students understand that their education is more than a classroom experience. Increasingly, student affairs administrators are expected to take the lead in helping students develop their character, improve student’s decision making processes, help students understand ethics and teach students about their civic responsibilities.

The "uppers" of old have been joined by a new generation of stimulants. Prescription meds used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy and depression are being misused by some of today’s students in search of a boost. They want energy to study all night or the temporary sense of euphoria that may come from stimulant use. Athletes sometimes turn to stimulants as well. And the results are not good.

The entertainment industry is fighting hard to protect and preserve their copyrights. Sitting squarely in the sights of the entertainment industry are colleges and college students.

Blackouts, hurricanes, tornadoes, terrorism, student deaths . . .

Recent months have shown us that crises can occur in many forms and take many shapes. In recent years campuses have been struck with unexpected challenges. From hurricanes blowing on shore to blackouts that leave campus dark, campus leaders need to be certain that their emergency planning is considered and complete.

College campuses are prime breeding grounds for communicable diseases. Because the college campus is a close knit community of people who interact on a daily basis, and a significant portion of those community members share living spaces, colleges are especially susceptible to communicable diseases.

Greek advisors sometimes carry the burden of liability for the organization they advise. Litigators and the courts are testing new boundaries in determining how the university and the advisor might be held responsible for the actions of a greek organization or even individual members in a greek organization.

Social norms campaigns are increasingly receiving attention for their success in addressing alcohol use and other problems on campus. Do social norms marketing campaigns effectively combat campus alcohol abuse? This continues to be a hot topic for researchers, college administrators, counselors, faculty and others interested in steering students clear of harmful drinking behaviors.

The Supreme Court has rendered a split decision on Affirmative Action programs. Or, more appropriately, the implementation of Affirmative Action programs.

The Court, which heard two University of Michigan based cases, upheld a graduate school Affirmative Action policy. The 5-4 ruling endorsed a program at the University of Michigan Law School meant to ensure a "critical mass" of students of color on campus, the Associated Press reported. The program is not an illegal quota, the Court said.

Colleges have been under increased scrutiny by The Environmental Protection Agency – resulting in large fines for some institutions.

How can you avoid being fined by the EPA? What environmental hazards exist on your campus? What are the newest regulations for environmental compliance? Why are environmental agencies focusing on higher education?

Commuter students are a vital part of our total campus community and yet they somehow become a hidden majority.

The challenge for student affairs administrators is how to render useful and valuable service to commuter students. How you you create the services and programs that commuter students need to succeed?

The Greek community is a vital part of your campus structure. It’s also one of the most controversial and risky activities on campus. Greek communities are facing a whole host of new opportunities and new challenges. Is your campus prepared to respond to these opportunities and challenges?

Research has shown that today’s parents want to be more involved and expect more from the Institution. Recognizing that parents are a vital part of the community, the Institution needs to find ways to satisfy this important group. Parent Partnerships - a 90 minute audio conference - will help you map out new ideas and new strategies for your parent relations.

Fire is one of the most prevalent dangers your campus faces every day. Fire destroys property, shakes the community and endangers lives. We all know that proactive action, educational efforts and good planning can help reduce fire risks and, ultimately, save lives.

Studies indicate that club drug use is on the rise. Today’s students see club drugs as a harmless, recreational outlet. The truth is that club drugs have dangerous consequences. Educators across the country are searching for ways to educate and inform students while also trying to understand the club drug phenomenon.

Being prepared is the key to effectively handling the tragedy of a student death on campus. Coordination of campus services, cooperation between offices and quick action from the student affairs professionals are critical to helping a campus grieve and heal.
The Student Death on Campus Audio Conference CD is a great resource for helping learn what it takes to be prepared for such a tragedy.

A recent report by the Education Center and the University of Cincinnati showed that approximately 40% of the colleges in the United States do not fully comply with the requirements of the Clery Act.
Non-compliance by your institution can mean significant problems. Are you certain that your institution is doing everything it can to be in compliance?

The FBI has specifically warned colleges and universities that campuses may be seen as "soft targets" and could be targets for a terror attack.
Colleges may make attractive targets because they:

• are state and federally funded
• are sometimes religiously affiliated
• are important political institutions
• house political pundits, economic theorists and religious scholars
• house research and lab experiments
• are generally open and easily accessible
• represent a symbol of the power, prestige, economics and influence of the U.S.

With the on-going conflict in the Middle East and continued terrorist threats against our nation, colleges need to plan proactively for the safety and security of the students, faculty and staff who are traveling. College community members travel for many reasons (conferences, study abroad, guest lectures, etc.). Consider the following:
- Students, staff and faculty traveling abroad may be the most "at risk."
- Americans can be targets anywhere in the world.
- Following the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 air travel was shut down for several days.
- In these turbulent times countries once considered safe may present greater risks than before.
- The FBI has said that colleges and universities may make attractive "soft" targets for terrorists.
- Anti-American sentiment is running high across the globe.

Affirmative action is on the lips of politicians and the minds of college professionals. As political pundits publicly debate this important topic and we all await the Supreme Court hearings – what can your campus do?

Any decisions or changes in the status of Affirmative Action policies will have deep and significant impacts on our campuses. The Affirmative Action CD from the PaperClip Communications’ audio conference on this topic is a great resource to have as you consider your own affirmative action policies.

This new system redefines the role between higher education and The Immigration and Naturalization Service. SEVIS compliance has been placed on a "fast track" by the federal government and is raising major issues of concern for Student Affairs, International Student Offices, Human Resources, ESL Programs and others.

Campuses across the country began compliance with the Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act which amends the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and the Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. This new Prevention Act has implications for all colleges and universities. In an effort to help colleges and universities with the compliance process, PaperClip Communications hosted an audio conference. The information from this conference is still relevant and of value today.