ALBANY - Russell Sage College has received the Campus Prevention Network Seal of Prevention for the second consecutive year.

Presented by Vector Solutions, the CPN Seal of Prevention recognizes institutions of higher education that have taken action to create safer, more inclusive campuses through evidence-based digital prevention education on issues such as sexual assault, alcohol misuse, mental health, relationship abuse, harassment, and discrimination.

"This recognition speaks to how our college community works together to prioritize student well-being," said Amanda Bastiani, Title IX Coordinator and Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist at Russell Sage. "Online education is an important component of our approach to campus safety, but we complement it with in-person programming, including guest speakers and community events, so students have access to relevant information in multiple formats."

Examples of digital programming related to student safety and well-being include online sexual assault prevention training and online education about alcohol and other drugs. Student-athletes and coaching staff participate in annual online and in-person trainings around sexual assault prevention that are designed specifically for athletics.

"We collaborate closely with Sage's Title IX office to ensure our online prevention education meets NCAA requirements," said Erica Faas-Li, Associate Director of Athletics. "Additionally, we proactively utilize online programming to provide student-athletes with resources on topics they identify as priorities."

This year, RSC is offering an additional, optional, online mental health course to student-athletes. Based on their feedback, that course will potentially be made available to all RSC students, said Bastiani.

"The CPN Seal of Prevention recipients represent the top 12% of colleges and universities nationwide, underscoring their commitment to academic excellence and the well-being of their students," said Jonathan Cherins, CEO at Vector Solutions. "Our team at Vector Solutions is proud to recognize the great value these leading institutions and organizations are providing students and the commitment we share to making higher education communities safer and more inclusive."

The CPN Seal of Prevention criteria are based on the Principles of Effective Prevention Programs. Over 850 campuses were evaluated to determine eligibility.