MAHWAH, N.J. — Ramapo College of New Jersey has achieved the inaugural Campus Prevention Network Seal of Prevention™ for its “exemplary efforts to foster student safety, well-being and inclusion through online prevention programs,” according to EverFi, an international organization that enables institutions to provide digital learning curricula with a focus on equal access for all students.
Fewer than 15 percent of U.S. institutions has earned the distinction thus far.

Ramapo College continues to be a leader in meeting and exceeding students’ expectations of safety and social justice. In partnership with Everfi, the College has successfully implemented strategies to address sexual violence, substance misuse, and discrimination and mental health challenges in our student community. Further, in the wake of COVID-19, Ramapo is pleased to be recognized for its provision of quality digital learning, virtual student training, and community engagement.

Judith Green, Director, Center for Health and Counseling Services, said, Ramapo College has required incoming first-year students to participate in safety and well-being online programs for nearly a decade. Our College introduced “AlcoholEdu” in 2011. The College incorporated “Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates” in 2014 and added EverFi’s newer online modules “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Students” and “Mental Well-Being for Students” this fall.

“We are honored to be recognized for our outstanding prevention work,” said Green. “Ramapo is committed to educating students about alcohol and its effects as well as on critical issues of sexual assault, relationship violence, and stalking, which impact countless college students across the country. The College embraces diversity, equity and inclusion and we want our students to understand these values prior to joining our community. Lastly, the importance of one’s mental health cannot be underscored as a key contributor to academic success. For these reasons, Ramapo requires all of our new, first year students to complete EverFi’s suite of on-line mental well-being courses.”

She added, “These courses are a critical component of students’ Ramapo education and they assist our students in understanding their own responsibility for their health and safety, as well as how they can make positive contributions to the health and safety of others.”

Nicole Morgan Agard, Chief Equity & Diversity Officer at Ramapo College, said, the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Compliance (EDIC) implemented, through Everfi, mandatory training for all incoming freshman and transfer students. “The online and interactive training teaches students about topics related to inclusion, bias, power, privilege and oppression and helps to cultivate their skills as it pertains to creating inclusive spaces and serving as allies,” said Morgan Agard. “The training includes a pre- and post-test assessment so that the outcomes on student learning can be measured. The training is aligned with Goal 2 of the College’s Strategic Plan to cultivate and support equity, diversity and inclusion.”

The CPN Seal represents the highest standard for online prevention education, with a rigorous set of criteria to ensure institutions are making a measurable impact across the critical health and safety areas of sexual assault, alcohol and drug misuse, mental health, and diversity and inclusion. Research shows that, if unaddressed, these challenges can erode the campus fabric and impede student success.