In the wake of the Virginia Tech tragedy, many colleges have rushed in recent months to improve their policies and programs to prevent campus crime and to deal with any incidents that do take place. At many institutions, campus crime prevention is receiving more attention -- and more high-level attention -- than ever before.

On Thursday, November 15, at 3 p.m. Eastern, Inside Higher Ed -- the daily news Web site for higher education professionals -- will present “Smart Choices and Hard Questions on Campus Crime,” a one-hour audioconference. Ann Franke, one of the leading experts nationally on risk assessment and legal issues in higher education, will discuss what colleges are doing and the questions they should be asking about their crime prevention strategies. Her presentation will include such issues as:

--The push to buy. Colleges are being urged to buy loudspeakers, text-message systems, new software and many other products and services. How should they consider these questions?

--The policies that matter. What should be "on the books" in terms of how colleges handle crime prevention and actual crimes?

--The mental health dilemmas. How can colleges encourage students to seek help while making sure that people who are a danger to themselves or others are identified?

--Communication 101. What can colleges do to make sure the left hand knows what the right hand is up to on campus, so crises can be avoided, or dealt with.

Ann Franke's 30-minute presentation will be followed by a session in which she'll answer questions posed by participants in the audio conference. The entire event will last one hour.

The "Smart Choices and Hard Questions on Campus Crime" audio conference costs $175 for a single telephone line; listen yourself or with a group around a conference table. Upon registering, you'll be e-mailed information about how to dial in. A day before the conference, we'll send you a PowerPoint that you can use to follow along with Ann Franke’s presentation. This is an audio-only conference; you will not need to be connected to the Internet to participate.

For additional information or to register for the conference, please visit http://events.webeventservices.com/insidehighered/2007/11/15/. Questions? Contact Lori Holtz at Inside Higher Ed, 202-659-9208, x 116 or lori.holtz@insidehighered.com.

Inside Higher Ed is the leading source of free news, jobs and commentary for professionals in higher education. Sign up for your free daily e-mail alert at https://www.insidehighered.com/sign_up.