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Higher Education Crises and Flashpoints Resource Center

Flashpoints at universities are increasing in both frequency and intensity. Most universities have experienced at least one flashpoint in the past year that brought everyday work at their institution to a screeching halt.

What is a flashpoint?

A “flashpoint” is a climate-related incident or event that causes disturbances in the community or media, including heightened levels of activism, media and public scrutiny, and reputational damage. Flashpoint topics can include, but are not limited to, on-campus incidents, alumni controversies, social movements, and widespread political and economic events.

To support our partners EAB has assembled the below resource center that brings together our best-practice research, tools, strategies, and resources for higher education leaders as they navigate each stage of the flashpoint lifecycle:

Bolstering flashpoint preparedness

When flashpoints occur, universities are expected to respond to their campus communities swiftly and effectively. Often, the capacity for leaders to respond this way largely depends on their institution’s preparedness.

This section of resources is dedicated specifically to helping university leaders prepare for flashpoints.
Research Report

Addressing Free Speech and Student Activism on Campus

EAB outlines five recommendations to assist university leaders in their preparation for the 2024 election and beyond.
Strategic Advisory Services
Tool

University Flashpoint Risk Register

EAB's University Flashpoint Risk Register allows universities to organize risks, track risk scoring, and prioritize responses.
Strategic Advisory Services
Tool

Flashpoint Tabletop Case Study Compendium

This flashpoint tabletop case study compendium is built to prepare your institution’s key decision-makers to respond to various…
Strategic Advisory Services
Podcast

Are You Ready for More Campus Protests?

Experts discuss recent campus protests and offer tips to university leaders on how to prepare for more student…
Tool

Your guide to defining staff involvement with student activists

No matter your campus context, EAB recommends that institutions define staff involvement with student activists at three critical…
Strategic Advisory Services
Tool

Free Speech Policy Audit

This free speech policy audit outlines three steps to audit your higher ed institution's current policy and awareness-building…
Strategic Advisory Services
Tool

BIT/CARE Team Assessment

Download this interactive assessment to improve the effectiveness of your university's behavioral intervention team/CARE team.
Strategic Advisory Services
Blog

4 tips to improve your college's behavioral intervention team

Use these 4 tips to ensure your institution has a high-functioning behavioral intervention team that is equipped to…
Student Success Blog
Research Report

Addressing Campus Climate Flashpoints

Explore EAB's five recommendations to improve preparation and response for climate flashpoints.
Strategic Advisory Services

Managing emerging and current flashpoints

Use the resources in this section to enhance your teams ability to manage issues on campus that have a high likelihood of developing into flashpoints or as in-the-moment resources as you are navigating a current flashpoint.
Tool

Flashpoints Communications Playbook

Access tools to help colleges and universities strengthen external and internal communications before, during, and after a campus…
Strategic Advisory Services
Blog

Use this tried-and-true framework to navigate today’s political fault lines

Today’s flashpoints require a new approach that allows leaders to reduce flashpoints’ impact on students and institutional strategic…
Higher Education Strategy Blog
Tool

Controversial Events Template

Controversial speakers and events are common flashpoints on campus. Manage the institutional response to these events with this…
Strategic Advisory Services
Tool

Flashpoint Statement Checklist

EAB developed a peer-reviewed checklist that senior institutional leaders can use to defuse tensions and avoid errors when…
Strategic Advisory Services
Research Report

How Flashpoint Response Impacts Faculty Wellbeing

To support faculty wellbeing when a campus climate incident occurs, consider these elements in your flashpoint response.
Strategic Advisory Services

Debriefing a flashpoint

Flashpoints often reveal important lessons regarding an institution’s preparedness to weather future flashpoints. Debriefing after a flashpoint is essential to equipping the response team for future success. Use the resources in this section to support your debrief process after a flashpoint.
Tool

Flashpoint Debrief Guide

Use EAB's guide to set your team up for a productive debrief session, prepare questions to assess your…
Strategic Advisory Services

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