Assessing school risks and ensuring compliance

Every day, school leaders face unforeseen challenges and must respond to events beyond their control. Dodge Consultants, LLC uses a straightforward matrix to systematically assess risk based on probability and severity. A custom, step by step process is designed to prevent tunnel vision and many peoples’ habit to jump straight to solutions without gaining a full understanding of the problem itself.

Compliance is a term often associated with unnecessary bureaucratic interference into effective programs and operations. When done properly, compliance protects all stakeholders: students, faculty, staff, and administrators. Most educational institutions adequately maintain legal compliance with government requirements and statutes but struggle with proper documentation and enforcement of school regulations. Properly written school policies and procedures can make internal compliance easy to attain.

For many schools, a strong student protection policy can reduce risks and meet compliance requirements. Regular audits of campus facilities can identify potential hazards. Comprehensive financial policies compiled into handbooks protect both employees and the school. HR policies that recruit and retain highly qualified personnel benefit long-term stability. Periodic reviews of de facto operational methods versus accepted and approved standard operating procedures can identify potential liabilities as well as instances where real-world methods have evolved beyond outdated documentation.

The review of just one department’s compliance and risk profile is a serious undertaking. A full review of school compliance with existing procedures is an exhaustive task even without an analysis of any operational or program risks. Adding an analysis of physical liabilities makes such a study daunting to many institutions. 

Dodge Consultants, LLC is available to partner with schools to teach risk analysis, guide schools through compliance and risk audits, and augment school efforts by adding expertise in areas where administrators and faculty could benefit from more training and experience.