Colleges, universities, and organizations that prioritize comprehensive and high-impact digital prevention strategies in critical areas such as mental health, diversity, substance misuse, sexual violence, and hazing deserve recognition. Even more importantly, these investments must be visible to their campus community and elevated to prospective students and parents.
The Campus Prevention Network synthesized two decades of prevention research and practice to establish a meaningful quality standard for online prevention programs. Each year, we evaluate over 1,000 colleges, universities, and national organizations against evidence-based prevention principles to determine the quality of their digital programming. Campus Prevention Network customers are evaluated automatically, and institutions not currently using Campus Prevention Network courses may also apply for consideration.
Prevention Principle
Programs have a theoretical justification, are based on accurate information, and are supported by empirical research.
Criteria Description
Programs are based on evidence and theory and/or have been demonstrated to be efficacious based on peer-reviewed research.
Prevention Principle
Programs are tailored to the community and cultural norms of the participants and make efforts to include the target group in program planning and implementation.
Criteria Description
Programs provide options to include campus-specific images, content, and resources; programs are regularly updated to reflect evolving social contexts and learner needs and perspectives.
Prevention Principle
Programs are initiated early enough to have an impact on the development of the problem behavior and are sensitive to the developmental needs of participants.
Criteria Description
Programs are strategically and intentionally deployed to address specific population needs at known high-impact times.
Prevention Principle
Programs are implemented at the population-level, provide enough intervention to produce the desired effects, and provide follow-up as necessary to maintain effects.
Criteria Description
Programs are deployed at the population level. Developmentally appropriate ongoing programs are available throughout the student lifecycle.
Prevention Principle
Programs have clear goals and objectives and make an effort to systematically document their results relative to the goals; prevention efforts are informed by local data.
Criteria Description
Programs include integrated surveys to assess efficacy and gather institution-specific insights on community strengths and focus areas.
Prevention Principle
Multicomponent interventions that address critical domains (e.g. family, peers, community) that influence the development and perpetuation of the behaviors to be prevented.
Criteria Description
Programs cover a range of key prevention topics. Program content, design, and approach is consistent across topics, addresses and reinforces interconnections, and covers all social-ecological levels (individual, relationship, community, and societal).
Prevention Principle
Program staff support the program and are provided with training regarding the implementation of the intervention.
Criteria Description
Program administrators participate in implementation trainings and ongoing professional development.
Prevention Principle
Programs provide exposure to adults and peers in a way that promotes strong relationships and supports positive outcomes.
Criteria Description
Programs provide examples of prosocial behaviors, avoid negative assumptions, and include positive engagement opportunities.
Prevention Principle
Programs involve diverse teaching methods that focus on increasing awareness and understanding of the problem behaviors and on acquiring or enhancing skills.
Criteria Description
Programs include a variety of learning approaches that increase and improve knowledge and awareness, attitudes and beliefs, and behaviors and skills.
Check out the FAQs to learn more about the CPN Seal of Prevention.
The Campus Prevention Network is proud to partner with Parchment, the world's leading digital credential service, to elevate and differentiate campuses committed to excellence in campus prevention efforts. The CPN Seal of Prevention will be visible to prospective students and their parents through Parchment's College Profile Pages and Student Choice Survey.
These tools - used by millions of students to learn about campuses that align with their interests, needs, and values - will tie great prevention work directly to recruitment, enrollment, and long-term institutional success. Prospective students are encouraged to add institutions with the CPN Seal of Prevention to their college list when using Parchment in their college search process.
The Campus Prevention Network synthesized two decades of prevention research and practice to establish a meaningful quality standard for online prevention programs. Each year, we evaluate over 1,000 colleges, universities, and national organizations against evidence-based prevention principles to determine the quality of their digital programming. Campus Prevention Network customers are evaluated automatically, and institutions not currently using Campus Prevention Network courses may also apply for consideration.
Learn more about the opportunity to receive the CPN Seal of Prevention or an Impact Award at your college, university, or organization.
The CPN Seal of Prevention is a designation given to institutions committed to comprehensive, evidence-based digital prevention strategies on issues of wellness, safety, and inclusion. The CPN Seal elevates the visibility of campuses that demonstrate evidence of meeting this commitment. The profile of Seal-awarded institutions is exceptionally diverse, spanning almost all 50 states, the majority of the top 50 in the US News & World Report Best Colleges ranking, dozens of community and technical colleges, and nearly 30 national fraternity and sorority organizations.
We know institutions that emphasize wellness, safety, and inclusion see improved student outcomes across the lifecycle - from enrollment and engagement to academic achievement and retention. The CPN Seal of Prevention recognizes the outstanding digital prevention education efforts of these institutions, and elevates these commitments to students and parents as essential to consider during the college search process. In fact, institutions that achieved the Seal have, on average, a ten percent higher first-year retention rate than those that did not earn this designation.
The Campus Prevention Network's subject matter experts, a group of professionals with decades of collective prevention experience, spent months researching and reviewing prevention best practices to identify the key components of the Seal of Prevention.
The criteria for the CPN Seal are based on the Principles of Effective Prevention Programs published by Nation, et al. (2003). Refer above for details.
It's easy for Campus Prevention Network customers to be considered each year for the CPN Seal; we will automate the evaluation process through our technology platform.
A campus or organization that is not currently a Campus Prevention Network customer can submit an application to determine whether their prevention technology meets the criteria of this recognition.
Seal-awarded institutions and organizations will receive a package of promotional materials to help share the news, including items like: a digital image of the Seal; press release template; and social media sharing templates. In addition, all eligible institutions will be recognized on Parchment through our partnership, including Parchment's College Profile Pages and annual Student Choice Survey.
Institutions earning the CPN Seal of Prevention will be recognized on Vector Solutions website, included in an annual press release, and acknowledged at the Annual CPN Summit. Qualifying campuses will be promoted via Parchment's College Profile Pages and annual Student Choice Survey. The CPN Seal of Prevention will also be featured on the US News & World Report Best Colleges ranking page.
Campuses will have the option to decline the CPN Seal of Prevention prior to final determination and will not be included in any promotional materials.
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