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The “At Risk” Training for College Faculty

At Risk provides basic training to campus “gatekeepers” (natural helpers; the community’s “eyes and ears”) in identifying and responding to distressed students. Key gatekeepers on a college campus include faculty, advisors, coaches, residence life staff; anyone in a student support role.

These people spend many hours providing service to students.  Ironically, that’s the very reason that it can be challenging to get them into a face-to-face gatekeeper training program.  The demands on their time are already substantial.  As a result, many campuses are providing faculty and staff with several options for learning gatekeeper basics

Created by Kognito Interactive, At-Risk allows participants to train on line, on their own schedule, in their own home or office and in about 45 minutes.  This is the first simulation based training to be added to the SAMHSA, SPRC/AFSP Best Practices Registry.  At-Risk allows users to learn by engaging in simulated conversations with virtual students who show symptoms of depression, anxiety, paranoia and thoughts of suicide.  

In outcome surveys administered immediately after training and in a two-month follow-up, participants report increased confidence and likelihood in talking with distressed students as well as in making appropriate referrals to the campus counseling center.  A 2011 report of outcomes across 72 campuses is available at: http://atrisk.kognito.com/uf/kognito_study_faculty_version.pdf

 

The “At Risk” training in Virginia:  At Risk was piloted across 19 Virginia campuses during the spring of 2010.  Results of the pilot can be viewed at: 

During the 2010-2011 academic year, the Virginia Department of Health purchased 4,800 licenses to be distributed at no cost to Virginia campuses.  As of April 2011, about half of those licenses were allocated across 20 campuses. 

Licenses continue to be available for the 2012-2013 academic year.

 

For more information on bringing the At Risk training to your campus, contact
Dr. Jane Wiggins at 540-568-8901 or  wigginjr@jmu.edu.