Creating A Safe, Inclusive Community At the University of Mount Saint Vincent

The Customer

The University of Mount Saint Vincent is a private Catholic university in New York City’s Riverdale neighborhood. Founded in 1847, it serves around 3,200 students from 28 states and nine countries and offers over 75 nationally recognized academic programs.

The Challenge

Addressing students’ mental health needs. Mental health concerns among college students are rising nationwide, and the University of Mount Saint Vincent is no exception. Students are experiencing stress and anxiety as they navigate challenges ranging from academics to the difficulty of balancing classes with responsibilities such as working or taking care of children or younger siblings. The University has a fantastic (and busy) staff of care personnel to support students’ mental health needs. It was looking for ways to leverage its existing resources and investments to supplement this work.

Supporting the University’s diverse population of students by creating a safe, inclusive community that “goes beyond compliance and feels like home.” Its mission statement describes the University of Mount Saint Vincent as an “academically excellent, authentically inclusive, independent university” that “foster(s) an understanding of our common humanity, a commitment to human dignity, and a full appreciation of our obligations to each other.” University leaders are continually focused on finding ways to continue to build and reinforce an inclusive community, and they want to align their resources to support education and prevention efforts around issues of diversity, inclusion, belonging, hazing, bullying, and more.

The Choice

The University of Mount Saint Vincent has been using Vector Solutions’ safety and wellness courses for staff and students because the program is effective in broadening understanding of and bolstering prevention efforts around issues such as mental well-being, inclusion, sexual assault prevention, substance misuse, and more. The courses are part of a comprehensive well-being initiative led by the Student Affairs Department, including a robust counseling program, training peer mentors, and engaging in strong partnerships with community organizations.

The Vector courses for students are assigned in the fall or as part of the summer curriculum for students who start the year in the summer. The Vector courses for staff are assigned as part of employee training. The courses are helping the University:

• Provide students with in-classroom and out-of-classroom prevention education on critical safety and wellness topics. Because the courses are online, they can be taken in class or assigned for students to complete independently.
• Tailor prevention efforts to different groups of students. For example, if a desire exists to focus on training programs for athletes, Vector provides course options that meet that goal.
• Track trends and gain insight into students’ views and perceptions about common issues college students face, which can help inform programming decisions.

The Impact

The University of Mount Saint Vincent has been a leader in campus prevention efforts, earning every year since the program began in 2020 for its efforts to support safety, well-being, and inclusion. By providing services and support on multiple levels, the University can help students navigate challenges and reinforce the University’s values and mission of providing a safe, inclusive, welcoming environment for all students.

The CPN Seal of Prevention is an evidence-based standard for campus leadership that rises from the many challenging dynamics in higher education today and distinguishes campuses using rigorous, high-impact digital prevention programs. The criteria for earning the CPN Seal of Prevention were developed from research-informed best practices and later translated into technology metrics and quality standards. Recipients reflect the top ten percent of colleges and universities nationwide that have demonstrated their commitment and investment to student well-being.

The University of Mount Saint Vincent was awarded the seal due to multiple initiatives, including programming, workshops, and training that break down barriers, foster discussion, and determine what steps need to be taken to continue toward a safe, inclusive, and successful college experience; and for making it a priority that all new and returning students participate in a series of online prevention trainings on topics like sexual violence, alcohol and drugs, mental health, and belonging. This training is foundational to building a shared understanding of the values and expectations embraced at Mount Saint Vincent.

“Mount Saint Vincent has always been committed to keeping our community members healthy and safe,” said University President Susan Burns in a statement about the 2023 CPN Seal of Prevention. “There are far too many college students whose academic and personal success have been impacted by the devastating effects of sexual assault, high-risk drinking, and discrimination. The Mount’s goal is to promote a different vision of campus culture—one that is supportive, respectful, inclusive, and safe—and through our participation in Vector Solutions’ online prevention programs, we are empowering our students with the skills needed to create a campus where everyone can thrive.”

About Vector Solutions

Vector Solutions provides expert-authored online courses for both staff and students, addressing a wide variety of important topics related to safety, well-being, and inclusion in higher education. The engaging courses combine academic and industry research, expert insights, best practices in online learning, and feedback from industry partners.

For Students:

Vector’s student courses empower students to make safe and healthy decisions so they can be safe and successful in college. The courses include surveys and pre- and post-course assessments that provide institutions with data about students’ attitudes and behaviors around topics and help inform programming decisions. The courses feature powerful scenarios and engaging content and are available in 20 languages.
Course topics include:

• Alcohol and Drug Misuse Prevention
• Sexual Assault Prevention
• Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging
• Wellness and Safety
• Athletics
• Career Readiness & Personal Development
• Fraternity and Sorority Life

For Faculty and Staff:

Vector’s courses expand knowledge and build critical skills for faculty and staff, empowering them to create respectful and engaging workplaces. The courses help higher education institutions cultivate a safe, healthy, and welcoming campus environment that supports employee satisfaction, productivity, and retention. The courses also help institutions meet federal and state training compliance requirements. Courses include:

• Harassment, Discrimination and Sexual Assault Prevention
• Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging
• Athletics
• Human Resources and Workforce Management
• Security and Risk Mitigation
• Health and Human Safety
• Environmental Health and Facilities Management
• Facilities Maintenance