Mini-ep: Crisis Management with Matthew Colpitts

Laura welcomes Matt Colpitts, the Emergency Preparedness Manager at the University of Washington Bothell. They discuss pertinent issues regarding crisis management in higher education, particularly the challenges posed by political polarization, protests, and large events. Matt emphasizes the importance of strategic planning, cultural competency, and adaptability to evolving student demographics and societal changes. They also underscore the need for higher education institutions to go beyond mere compliance and actively ensure the emotional and physical well-being of their campus communities. The discussion concludes with a resolution for student affairs leaders to push for comprehensive crisis preparedness plans that reflect the diverse needs of modern student populations.

 

Topics

00:21 Meet Matt Colpitts: Emergency Preparedness Manager

00:57 Current Concerns in Higher Education

01:35 Protests and Security Challenges

02:41 Impact of Global and Domestic Crises

02:58 Strategic Crisis Management

05:26 Polarization and Security Risks

09:25 Generational Differences in Crisis Response

10:47 Adapting Crisis Management to Changing Demographics

13:28 The Importance of Cultural Competency

17:06 Conclusion and Final Thoughts